The 1939–40 Athletic-Aviation Club season was one of the most successful seasons in the history of Atlético Madrid. Atlético, who merged with Club Aviación Nacional at the start of the season, on 4 October 1939, won three titles within the next 12 months, the 1939 Campeonato Mancomunado Centro in November,[1][2] the 1939–40 La Liga in April,[3] and the 1940 Spanish Super Cup in September, although the latter was won in the following season.[4]
| 1939–40 season | ||
|---|---|---|
 Cup for the winner of the regional championship | ||
| President | Luis Navarro | |
| Manager | Ricardo Zamora | |
| Stadium | Hippodrome of Lamiako | |
| 1939–40 La Liga | Champions | |
| Campeonato Mancomunado Centro | Champions | |
| Top goalscorer | League:  Enrique (11)All: Julio Elícegui (24) | |
| Biggest win | Athletic Club 8–1 New Foot-Ball Club | |
| Biggest defeat | Athletic Club 2–3 Athletic Bilbao | |
Summary
- 1 April: By the end of the Spanish Civil War, Atlético Madrid found itself in a difficult situation because they were lacking a suitable playing field since the Metropolitano had been completely destroyed by the war, lacking players because its squad had been decimated (including the club's star, Monchín Triana, who was shot down), and it accumulated an economic deficit that envisaged a dark future in its sporting and financial horizon.[5] However, the club managed to save itself from an almost certain disappearance by merging with Club Aviación Nacional, a club that had been founded by three aviation officers.[5]
- 4 October: After reaching a pre-agreement in September 1939, the representatives of both sides signed the absorption agreements on 4 October, and appointed the first Board of Directors with Commander Francisco Vives as president of the now Athletic-Aviation Club.[5][6] Ricardo Zamora was appointed coach of Athletic Aviación, later to become Atlético Aviación.[5]
- 5 October: Atlético Aviación played its very first match, the opening fixture of the 1939 Campeonato Mancomunado Centro, which ended in a 1–2 loss to AD Ferroviaria; Julio Elícegui was the author of the team's first goal.[1][7] Atlético only won one of its first four matches, beating Real Valladolid, but drawing with Imperio CF and losing to Real Madrid CF.[2]
- 19 November: Despite this rocky start, however, the team soon found its rhythm and style under the leadership of Zamora, and went on to win each of the remaining six Mancomunado matches, scoring a total of 24 goals for an average of four goals per game while only conceding three, keeping a clean-sheet against both Ferroviaria and Madrid, beating the later on the last matchday on 19 November as they finished level on points, but hedge out Madrid on goal difference, thus winning their first-ever title.[1][2]
- 26 November: At that time, Real Oviedo also had its field destroyed by the war, so it was decided to give up its place to another team, and that final spot was contested by Atlético and CA Osasuna, in a match held in Valencia on 26 November, which Atlético Aviación won with a score of 3–1, with two goals from Enrique and one from Juan Vázquez, thus achieving promotion to La Liga.[5][8]
- 3 December: Atlético Aviación defeated Athletic Bilbao 3–1 in their opening fixture of the 1939–40 La Liga, courtesy of a hat-trick from Enrique, which marked their first-ever win over the Basques in eleven meetings.[1][9]
- Mid-December: After just over two months as the president of the club, Francisco Vives was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Luis Navarro Garnica; José Maria Fernández as vice president, Cesáreo Galíndez as secretary, Paco Campos as technical secretary, José Bosmediano Toril as treasurer, and Juan Touzón as an accountant.[6]
- 31 March 1940: The club then reached new heights, surprising everyone by winning their first La Liga title in 1940, just one point ahead of the second-placed Sevilla FC.[3][5] The league's deciding match was, therefore, the return fixture between these two sides on 31 March, in which Atlético Aviación, who had lost in Seville 1–4, achieved their revenge with a 4–2 victory, courtesy of Paco Campos, Enrique, and Ramón Gabilondo (2).[1][10]
- 28 April: The club officially confirmed the 1940 La Liga title with a 2–0 victory over Valencia CF, with goals from Campos and Elícegui.[1][5]
- 28 May: In the 1940 Copa del Generalísimo, Atlético Aviación received a bye to the round of 16 in which they were set to face Real Zaragoza. As both legs ended in a draw, a tiebreaker was played on 28 May at a neutral ground, the Camp de Les Corts in Barcelona, which ended in a 2–4 loss.[11]
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | MF |  ESP | Germán Gómez |
| — | MF | ESP | Ramón Gabilondo |
| — | MF | ESP | Luis Urquiri |
| — | MF | ESP | Cesáreo Bachiller |
| — | MF | ESP | Enrique |
| — | FW | ESP | Juan Vázquez |
| — | FW | ESP | Paco Campos |
| — | FW | ESP | Julio Elícegui |
| — | FW | ESP | Adolfo Bracero |
| — | FW | ESP | José Rubio |
Source:
Results
| Atlético Aviación |
Campeonato Mancomunado Centro
| 5 October 1939 | Atlético Aviación | 1 – 2 | AD Ferroviaria | Madrid |
Elícegui  35' | Report1 | García de la Puerta 38' Trompi 61' |
| 12 October 1939 | Real Valladolid | 0 – 3 | Atlético Aviación | Valladolid |
| Report1 | Buiría 3' Elícegui 10' Escudero 77' |
| 15 October 1939 | Atlético Aviación | 1 – 1 | Imperio CF | Madrid |
| Elícegui 78' | Report1 | Bescos 30' |
| 22 October 1939 | Real Madrid | 2 – 1 | Atlético Aviación | Madrid |
| Lecue 15' Villanueva 88' | Report1 | Campos 30' | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín |
| 28 October 1939 | AD Ferroviaria | 0 – 4 | Atlético Aviación | Madrid |
| Escudero 15' Elícegui 35', 67' Enrique 87' | Report1 |
| 1 November 1939 | Atlético Aviación | 3 – 1 | AD Salamanca | Madrid |
| Campos 41', 56' Elícegui 69' | Report1 | Cano II 86' |
| 5 November 1939 | Atlético Aviación | 8 – 0 | Real Valladolid | Madrid |
| Enrique 10', 60', 75' Elícegui 50', 70', 86' Campos 53', 72' | Report1 |
| 11 November 1939 | Imperio CF | 2 – 3 | Atlético Aviación | Madrid |
| Pepote 15' Alday 65' | Report1 | Elícegui 55' Campos 68' Arencibia 88' |
| 19 November 1939 | Atlético Aviación | 3 – 0 | Real Madrid | Madrid |
| Campos 14', 26' Vázquez 54' | Report1 |
Promotion playoff
| 26 November 1939 | Atlético Aviación | 3 – 1 | CA Osasuna | Valencia |
| Enrique 35', 74' Vázquez 54' | Report1 Report2 | Vergara 20' | Stadium: Mestalla Stadium Referee:  Arribas Seijas |
La Liga
| 3 December 1939 1st matchday | Athletic Bilbao | 1 – 3 | Atlético Aviación | Bilbao, Basque Country |
| Garate 22' | Report1 | Enrique 49', 52', 55' | Stadium: San Mamés Referee:  Crespo Orradre |
| 10 December 1939 2nd matchday | Atlético Aviación | 0 – 0 | Real Betis | Madrid |
| Report1 | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee: Tamarit Falaguera |
| 17 December 1939 3rd matchday | Real Zaragoza | 4 – 3 | Atlético Aviación | Zaragoza |
| Enrique 28' Elícegui 50', 77' | Report1 | Antón 55', 88' Primo 58', 80' | Stadium: Estadio Torrero Referee: Arribas Seijas |
| 24 December 1939 4th matchday | Atlético Aviación | 3 – 0 | FC Barcelona | Madrid |
| Enrique 3', 54' (pen.) Arencibia 73' | Report1 | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee:  Rodríguez Mato |
| 31 December 1939 5th matchday | Hércules CF | 4 – 1 | Atlético Aviación | Alicante |
| Aparício 22' Tormo 56' Vilanova 71', 85' | Report1 | Arencibia 7' | Stadium: Bardín Referee: Tamarit Falaguera |
| 7 January 1940 6th matchday | Atlético Aviación | 2 – 1 | Real Madrid | Madrid |
| Enrique 25' Arencibia 82' | Report1 | Lecue 44' | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee: González Díaz |
| 14 January 1940 7th matchday | Sevilla FC | 4 – 1 | Atlético Aviación | Seville |
| Campanal I Raimundo 42', 55' Pepillo 85' | Report1 | Enrique 10' (pen.) | Stadium: Estadio de Nervión Referee: Sanchis Orduña |
| 24 January 1940 8th matchday | Atlético Aviación | 2 – 1 | Racing de Santander | Madrid |
| Vázquez 75' Elícegui 79' | Report1 | Chas 30' | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee: Gojenuri Eguiluz |
| 28 January 1940 9th matchday | RCD Espanyol | 2 – 0 | Atlético Aviación | Barcelona, Catalonia |
| Mas 7' Quique 23' | Report1 | Stadium: Sarrià Stadium Referee: Vilalta Bars |
| 4 February 1940 10th matchday | Atlético Aviación | 4 – 1 | RC Celta de Vigo | Madrid |
| Campos 23', 62' Enrique 66' Gabilondo 82' | Report1 | Toro 70' | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee: Ferrer Rodriguez |
| 11 February 1940 11th matchday | Valencia CF | 1 – 0 | Atlético Aviación | Valencia |
| Poli 10' | Report1 | Stadium: Mestalla Stadium Referee: Espelta Mussons |
| 18 February 1940 12th matchday | Atlético Aviación | 3 – 1 | Athletic Bilbao | Madrid |
| Vázquez 42' Elícegui 65', 89' | Report1 | Unamuno 16' | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee:  Escartín Morán |
| 25 February 1940 13th matchday | Real Betis | 1 – 2 | Atlético Aviación | Seville |
| Cobo 37' (o.g.) | Report1 | Gabilondo 20' Vázquez 45' | Stadium: Estadio Benito Villamarín Referee: Agustín Cruella |
| 3 March 1940 14th matchday | Atlético Aviación | 5 – 1 | Real Zaragoza | Madrid |
| Campos 25', 53', 87' Gabilondo 42'Elícegui 77' | Report1 | Antón 67' (pen.) | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee:  Ocaña Nieto |
| 10 March 1940 15th matchday | FC Barcelona | 1 – 2 | Atlético Aviación | Barcelona |
| Arencibia 73' | Report1 | Elícegui 7' Gabilondo 75' | Stadium: Camp de Les Corts Referee: Jáuregui Ansó |
| 17 March 1940 16th matchday | Atlético Aviación | 2 – 1 | Hércules CF | Madrid |
| Enrique 15' Elícegui 56' | Report1 | Tatono 48' | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee: Jáuregui Ansó |
| 24 March 1940 17th matchday | Real Madrid | 2 – 0 | Atlético Aviación | Madrid |
| Alday 2' Lecue 59' | Report1 | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee: Ramón Melcón |
| 31 March 1940 18th matchday | Atlético Aviación | 4 – 2 | Sevilla FC | Madrid |
| Campos 5' Enrique 38'Gabilondo 60', 89' | Report1 | Pepillo 61' Campanal I 77' (pen.) | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee: Crespo Orradre |
| 7 April 1940 19th matchday | Racing de Santander | 0 – 2 | Atlético Aviación | Santander |
| Report1 | Vázquez 70' Elícegui 76' | Stadium: El Sardinero Referee: Gojenuri Eguiluz |
| 14 April 1940 20th matchday | Atlético Aviación | 2 – 0 | RCD Espanyol | Madrid |
| Campos 39' Gabilondo 57' | Report1 | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee: Escartín Morán |
| 21 April 1940 21st matchday | RC Celta de Vigo | 1 – 0 | Atlético Aviación | Vigo |
| Agustín 18' | Report1 | Stadium: Balaídos Referee: Gojenuri Eguiluz |
| 28 April 1940 22nd matchday | Atlético Aviación | 2 – 0 | Valencia CF | Madrid |
| Campos 7' Elícegui 75' | Report1 | Stadium: Estadio Chamartín Referee: Arribas Seijas |
Copa del Generalísimo
| 23 May 1940 First leg | Atlético Aviación | 0 – 0 | Real Zaragoza | Vallecas |
| Report1 | Referee: Gojenuri Eguiluz |
| 26 May 1940 Second leg | Real Zaragoza | 2 – 2 | Atlético Aviación | Zaragoza |
| Bilbao 40' Antón 30' | Report1 | Elícegui 20' Arencibia 60' | Stadium: Estadio Torrero Referee: Agustín Cruella |
| 28 May 1940 Replay | Real Zaragoza | 4 – 2 | Atlético Aviación | Barcelona |
| Ruiz 11' Olivares 33', 42' Primo 57' | Report1 | Elícegui 65' Campos 87' | Stadium: Camp de Les Corts Referee: Vilalta Bars |
Statistics
| Competition | Points | Total | GD | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | V | N | P | Gf | Gs | |||
 La Liga | 29 | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 43 | 29 | +14 |
 Copa del Generalísimo | - | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| Campeonato Mancomunado Centro | 15 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 30 | 8 | +22 |
| Total | 44 | 35 | 21 | 4 | 10 | 77 | 43 | +34 |
Aftermath
In the following season, in 1940–41, Atlético Aviación won two more titles, the 1940 Spanish Super Cup in September, in which they beat RCD Espanyol 10–4 on aggregate,[4] and the Copa Presidente Federación Castellana, in which they beat Real Madrid 3–1 on aggregate.[12]
References
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