 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Venancio Pérez García | ||
| Date of birth | (1921-04-22)22 April 1921 | ||
| Place of birth | Sestao, Spain | ||
| Date of death | 28 November 1994(1994-11-28) (aged 73) | ||
| Place of death | San Sebastián, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1943–1945 | Erandio | ||
| 1945–1955 | Athletic Bilbao | 167 | (68) |
| 1947–1949 | →Barakaldo (loan) | 43 | (29) |
| 1955–1956 | Barakaldo | 12 | (8) |
| Total | 222 | (105) | |
| International career | |||
| 1949–1954 | Spain | 11 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Venancio Pérez García (22 April 1921 – 28 November 1994), known simply asVenancio, was a Spanishfootballer who played mainly as aforward.
From a poor family inSestao,Biscay, Venancio started working at a young age in theAltos Hornos de Vizcaya factory. Tall and powerfully built, he playedpelota mano (an offshoot ofBasque pelota) in his youth, and only became a full-time professional footballer at the age of 24.[1]
Venancio started playing the sport as a hobby, whilst he was performing hismilitary service inVitoria-Gasteiz.[1] After starting out atSD Erandio Club[2] he signed withAthletic Bilbao in early 1945 for 25.000pesetas, but appeared sparingly in his first seasons, being loaned toBarakaldo CF fromSegunda División.[1]
In February 1949, Venancio was recalled. In his first game upon his return, he scored twice in a 3–0 home win againstCD Alcoyano. He finishedthe campaign with a further five in only six appearances, and went on to be part of one of the most legendary attacking lines in the club's history alongsideAgustín Gaínza,Rafael Iriondo,José Luis Panizo andTelmo Zarra, winning four titles which included threeCopa del Generalísimo.[1]
Venancio left theSan Mamés Stadium in 1955, aged 34, retiring after a spell in the second tier with former team Barakaldo. With his main club, he amassed overall totals of 208 games and 91 goals over one decade, and was often deployed as acentral defender in his last years.[3]
Venancio earned 11caps forSpain in slightly less than five years. His debut came on 12 June 1949, in a 4–1friendly win over theRepublic of Ireland inDublin.[4]
On 6 January 1954, Venancio scored the last of his four goals for the country to help to a 4–1 defeat ofTurkey for the1954 FIFA World Cupqualifiers, but the opposition would eventually reach the finals in Switzerland after a drawing of lots.[5]
After retiring, Venancio settled inBilbao and opened a metal shop. Married with two sons,[6] he died inSan Sebastián on 28 November 1994, at 73.[1]
Athletic Bilbao