Canito (footballer, born 1931)
Spanish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicanor Sagarduy Gonzalo (previously Nicanor Trapero Gonzalo), known as Canito (18 March 1931 – 24 June 1998), was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nicanor Sagarduy Gonzalo | ||
| Date of birth | 18 March 1931 | ||
| Place of birth | Barakaldo, Spain | ||
| Date of death | 24 June 1998 (aged 67) | ||
| Place of death | Barakaldo, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| El Carmen | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1947–1948 | Barakaldo | 25 | (9) |
| 1948–1963 | Athletic Bilbao | 354 | (4) |
| 1963–1964 | Alavés | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 380 | (13) | |
| International career | |||
| 1955 | Spain B | 3 | (0) |
| 1957 | Spain | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Canito signed with Basque Country club Athletic Bilbao in 1948, from neighbours Barakaldo CF in the Segunda División.[1] Immediately after arriving, on 12 September, the 17-year-old made his La Liga debut, helping to a 7–2 home demolition of Real Valladolid.[2] He scored his first goal for the Lions in his tenth appearance, in the 4–0 win against Sevilla FC also at the San Mamés Stadium.[3]
In the 1955–56 season, Canito appeared in 27 games as Athletic won the top-division title. He would also be an essential defensive player as they claimed three Copa del Generalísimo trophies in just four years (for a total of four during his spell).[4][5]
After 15 years in the senior squad, and 440 competitive matches to his credit,[6] Canito moved to another side in the region, Deportivo Alavés, but retired a few months later. He died aged 67 in his hometown of Barakaldo, Biscay.[1]
International career
Canito won his only cap for Spain on 10 March 1957, as he featured the full 90 minutes of a 2–2 draw in Madrid against Switzerland for the 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification stage. Neither team would make it to the finals, both trailing group winners Scotland.[7]