Pepín (footballer, born 1931)

Pepín
Personal information
Full name José Casas Gris
Date of birth (1931-11-16)16 November 1931
Place of birth Valencia, Spain
Date of death 12 October 2010(2010-10-12) (aged 78)
Place of death Las Palmas, Spain
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Youth career
Discóbolo
Sorolla
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1948–1949 Discóbolo
1949–1951 Alzira
1951 Alicante 16 (0)
1952–1960 Las Palmas 175 (0)
1960–1965 Betis 78 (0)
1965–1967 Las Palmas 6 (0)
National team
1963 Spain 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Casas and the second or maternal family name is Gris.

José Casas Gris (16 November 1931 – 12 October 2010), known as Pepín, was a Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Club career

After playing in several clubs in the Valencian Community as a youth – finishing his formation with UD Alzira and Alicante CF – Valencia-born Pepín joined UD Las Palmas in La Liga in 1951, making his competition debuts in the 1951–52 season (still not aged 20) and appearing in 14 games in a relegation-ending campaign.

The Canary Islands outfit returned to the top level in 1954, and he continued to be first-choice until his departure to Real Betis six years later, as Las Palmas were again relegated. Pepín played five years in Andalusia, only managing to start in two seasons, and returned to his previous club, retiring in 1967 at the age of 35; in 14 seasons in the main category, he appeared in 259 matches.

Pepín died in the Doctor Negrín Hospital in Las Palmas on 12 October 2010, one month shy of his 79th birthday.[1]

International career

Pepín played twice for Spain, his debut coming on 3 October 1963 in a 1964 European Nations' Cup match against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, his displays in the 1–0 win (2–1 on aggregate) earning him the nickname The hero of Belfast.[1] The national team eventually qualified for the finals which were held on home soil, going on to win the tournament.

On 1 December 1963 Pepín earned his second and last cap, appearing in a friendly with Belgium in his hometown of Valencia.

References

  1. 1 2 Fallece Pepín, mítico portero de Las Palmas y Betis (Pepín, legendary Las Palmas and Betis goalkeeper, dies); Marca, 13 October 2010 (Spanish)
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