Luis Saura del Pan (8 June 1890 – 18 March 1980) was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward for Athletic Bilbao and Madrid FC.[1][2] He served as both the 10th president of the Spanish Football Federation between 1940 and 1941,[3] and the 12th president of the National Committee of Referees from 1951 to 1952.[4]
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Luis Saura del Pan | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 8 June 1890 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Madrid, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 18 March 1980 | (aged 89)|||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Valencia, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||
1908–1909 | Athletic Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1909–1910 | Vasconia | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1911–1917 | Madrid FC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Playing career
Early career
Luis Saura del Pan was born in Madrid as the son of Pedro Saura y Coronas (1851–1943), a doctor, and Luisa del Pan.[5] He developed a deep interest for football from a young age and became a Real Madrid member in 1905, at the age of 15.[4] However, it was with Athletic Bilbao that he began his football career in 1908, scoring once in the only Copa del Rey match that he played for the club, a 2–4 loss to Club Ciclista in the quarterfinals of the edition.[6]
Saura del Pan then joined Real Sociedad, which participated in the 1910 Copa del Rey under the umbrella of local club Vasconia Sporting Club (since the club was not a year old as the tournament statutes required), and in his first season with the club, Saura del Pan helped the club reach the final, which ended in a 0–1 loss to his former club, Athletic Bilbao, courtesy of a goal from Remigio Iza.[7]
Madrid FC
Saura del Pan stayed at Madrid FC for five seasons between 1912 and 1917. In his first season in 1912–13, he played only one cup match,[1] starting as a forward in the semifinals against his former club Athletic Bilbao, which ended in another loss, this time by 0–3.[8] In the following season, he scored twice in four matches in the regional championship, and after a two-year hiatus, he returned for the 1916–17 season, playing four cup matches and scoring once,[1] in a 1–3 loss to FC Espanya in the second leg of the semifinals.[9] Saura did not play the subsequent replay, which ended in a 2–2 draw, but then played in the second replay, helping his side to a 1–0 victory, thus reaching the 1917 cup final against Arenas Club. Despite forming an attacking partnership with René Petit and Sotero Aranguren, the match ended in a goalless draw, and he was then not called up for the replay which Madrid won 2–1.[10]
Later life
During the years of the Second Spanish Republic (1931–39), Saura del Pan was a military doctor, national category referee, and secretary of the National Committee of Referees.[11]
In 1940, Saura del Pan was appointed as the 10th president of the Spanish Football Federation (replacing Julián Troncoso), a position that he held for one year until 1941, when he was replaced by Javier Barroso.[3][11][12]
In 1951, the 61-year-old Saura del Pan was appointed as the 12th president of the National Committee of Referees, replacing Pedro Escartín.[4] By the time he reached this position, he had been registered as a Real Madrid member for almost 50 years, since 1905. He held the presidency for one year until 1952, when he was replaced by Arturo Espinosa.[4]
Death
Saura del Pan died in Valencia on 18 March 1980, at the age of 89.[2]
Honours
Real Sociedad
Real Madrid
- Copa del Rey:
- Winners: 1917