hanged himself three years ago on this blog an interview published in El País by Victor Duque. Today marks 75 years of the completion of the first and only, league title for Real Betis Balompié (that was not Republican Real Betis). Like three years ago, the times are still fateful for this (my) Club, or worse, if possible, and do not speak of sport, but the majority owner of the shares and alleged looter who unfortunately have to suffer. For this reason and because I'm excited, I get it back and leave a small record its century-old history. Manquepierda.
April 27, 1935. The next day we play the last league match. Real Betis Balompié need a win in Santander champion. Betis coach, Patrick O'Connell, and his player Larrinoa, which had belonged to the Spaniard team, come to the hotel where it is concentrated to greet Racing and "poll" the environment.
"You no longer you play you anything. Tomorrow I will kill for no gain, right?, Asked O'Connell.
"Sorry, Mr. . Madrid is pushing us so that you win. Our president, Jose Maria de Cossio, who is Madrid, gives us a thousand pesetas per head if you win.
had no choice: they had to win on the pitch. Patrick O'Connell (Dublin, 1887-London, 1959) recalled that then surely match between Manchester United and Liverpool which became English football history as the most corrupt in its history: known as The fixed match (the match-fixing). The year was 1915 and Patrick O'Connell was captain of Manchester. A group of players from both teams was at a pub in Manchester, and agreed to cross an 8 to 1 bet that the outcome of the meeting was going to be 2-0 in favor of United. The match, played on Good Friday, 1915, was 2-0. Captain O'Connell had the opportunity to gain the penalty marker. But threw it near the corner flag ...
Someone must leave the language and eight players were suspended for life. Two of them died in the First World War, and five were spared to recognize fraud. Only one, Enoch Knoche West, served the punishment to maintain his innocence throughout life. Today, his name is on the honor roll of the players of Manchester United alongside Beckham, Cantona, Best or Bobby Charlton. O'Connell, curiously, was released without charge.
O'Connell, the defensive midfielder from Manchester, had become famous by winning the Triple Crown (British tournament between teams) a few years before with Ireland for the first time in its history. He succeeded in what was called The party of 9 and a Half Men . That meeting was contested by Ireland and Scotland. A bit of a start, Ireland lost to a man injured. There being no change followed by ten. Moments afternoon break an arm O'Connell. The Irish decided to follow the match and win the tournament.
O'Connell's life was always a destination: Soccer. A fate that made him leave his large family in the early twenties in England, and train in Spain to Racing Santander, whom he succeeded brilliantly to dispute the first League Championship in 1928. After passing the Oviedo docked at Betis in 1932 and Barcelona in 1935.
On July 18, 1936, the coach of FC Barcelona is vacationing in Ireland. Two months later did not hesitate to go to Barcelona to continue his work. If he had survived a World War playing football, could survive a civil war training absurd. The Republican said O'Connell is the star of Barca's famous tour of Mexico during the fratricidal conflict. That role has trouble leaving the country, where back in 1940, no one knows how to train the Betis and Sevilla, settling permanently in Seville. Specifically, Progress Street number 29.
In all that time, the O'Connell family, who lived in Manchester, occasionally receiving a money order with money from Spain. His sons idolized photos of a father he hardly knew whom they considered a hero. A June 12, 1949, in Dublin, Ireland, Spain faces. A young Irish fan asked the English delegation, after the game, if they knew such an O'Connell who had trained in Spain.
"I'm his son Daniel, and some time ago that we know nothing of it. Guillermo
Eizaguirre, coach, is Seville. O'Connell says he lives in Seville. One Irish fan enough money together and a year later, he traveled in search of an unknown father, who had not seen for thirty years. That trip is narrated by Daniel himself in his narrative Travel to Seville Third Class.
Upon arrival, what sounded like Daniel gets warm welcome in cold and distant treatment. O'Connell quotes him in the Parque de María Luisa. The first thing his father does not ask about the family, but by the progress of Manchester United. Daniel is presented to society in Seville and O'Connell's nephew. Signs become certainties in the youth's head. Begins to understand that his father has another family in Seville. The newcomer's questions vertiginous:
"Dad, how is Spain?
-Spain is like a football match in which two teams try to corrupt the referee.
"Dad, how is Sevilla?
-Sevilla is a place where people live as if you were to die this night.
"Dad, is it true that you won the league with Betis?
"Yes. An April 28, 1935, in Santander. We won 0-5. It was the April Fair, the festival here.
-Dad ... Daniel
never dared to ask his father the ultimate question. The myth had humanized cruelly on that trip to Seville. Daniel's mother never knew or ever wanted to know, and loved the missing captain of Manchester United until the end of his days. Today is again April 28. Feria de Abril. In Seville opens a monument to the Betis team that led the League to the Fair in 1935. Thank you, Mr. O'Connell.
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