1. Early Life and Background
Agustín Sancho Agustina's early life saw him move from his birthplace to Barcelona, where his football journey began.
1.1. Childhood and Education
Sancho was born on July 18, 1896, in Benlloc, a municipality in the Province of Castellón, Valencia. Some sources indicate his birth date as September 3, 1896. As a child, he relocated to Sants, a district in Barcelona, where he spent his formative years.
1.2. Early Football Career
In Sants, Sancho began his football career playing for local clubs. He notably played for Gladiator de Sants, a club that was later effectively relaunched as CE Sants. His strong performances at Sants drew the attention of major Barcelona clubs. Despite having a pre-agreement with RCD Espanyol, Sancho ultimately joined FC Barcelona in 1916, marking the beginning of his professional career with the club.
2. Club Career
Agustín Sancho's club career was predominantly defined by his two stints with FC Barcelona, interspersed with a brief return to his roots.
2.1. FC Barcelona
Sancho joined FC Barcelona in 1916 and became an integral part of the team for the next 12 seasons, although his tenure was interrupted by a brief departure. He was a prominent member of the legendary Barcelona squad coached by Jack Greenwell, which also featured iconic players such as Paulino Alcántara, Sagibarba, Ricardo Zamora, and Josep Samitier. Alongside these teammates, Sancho played a crucial role in Barcelona's dominance in Spanish football during that era.
During his time at FC Barcelona, he helped the club secure nine Catalan championships and four Copa del Rey titles. The Copa del Rey victories occurred in 1920, 1922, 1925, and 1926. In the 1925 Copa del Rey final, Sancho notably scored Barcelona's second goal in a 2-0 victory over Arenas Club de Getxo.
2.2. Period with UE Sants and Later Barcelona Stint
In June 1922, Sancho, reportedly annoyed by criticism, particularly regarding his weight, requested to leave FC Barcelona. He returned to his hometown club, UE Sants, which had recently been formed from the merger of FC Internacional and his former club, Unió Esportiva Sants. During this period, UE Sants also offered him a position as a construction contractor for the City Council of Barcelona. This arrangement allowed Sancho to continue combining his football career with his work as a bricklayer, a common practice at the time as professionalism in Spanish football was not officially recognized until the late 1920s.
Sancho spent only one season with UE Sants. In June 1923, the leadership of FC Barcelona successfully convinced him to rejoin the club, and he returned for his second stint.
3. International Career
Agustín Sancho had a notable international career, representing both the Spanish national team and the Catalonia national team.
3.1. Spain National Team
Sancho was an original member of the Spain national team that participated in the football tournament at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. He featured in two matches during the tournament, playing against Belgium and Italy. The Spanish team achieved a significant feat by winning the silver medal in the competition. His third and final cap for the Spain national team came on December 16, 1923, in a friendly match against Portugal.
3.2. Catalonia National Team
As a player for FC Barcelona, Sancho was also called up to play for the Catalonia national team. He was a key member of the team that won the 1923-24 Prince of Asturias Cup, an inter-regional competition organized by the RFEF. Sancho started in both games of the final against a Castile/Madrid XI. He contributed to Catalonia's 3-2 victory in the replay match, securing the team's second title in the competition.
4. Managerial Career
After concluding his playing career, Agustín Sancho transitioned into football management, taking on various coaching roles.
4.1. Early Coaching Roles
In the summer of 1922, while on holiday in Castellón, Sancho was approached by the newly forming local football team, CE Castellón. Recognized as the most experienced and representative footballer in the province at the time, he was offered the opportunity to lead the club's inaugural matches. The following year, he also took charge of some matches in Valencia.
Sancho's managerial career included stints as head coach for various clubs. He managed Valencia CF from 1922 to 1923. Later, he coached CE Sabadell FC during the 1928-29 season. In the 1943-44 season, he was the manager of CF Reus Deportiu.
4.2. Assistant Coach at FC Barcelona
Following his retirement from playing, Sancho also served as an assistant coach for FC Barcelona. In this role, he worked alongside José Planas in the technical management of the club.
5. Playing Position and Style
Agustín Sancho Agustina primarily played as a midfielder. While specific details about his playing style are not extensively documented, he was known to be a robust player. He faced some criticism during his career, particularly regarding his physical condition, with mentions of him being overweight at one point.
6. Personal Life and Other Activities
Outside of his professional football career, Agustín Sancho maintained a working life. He combined his football commitments with his occupation as a bricklayer. During his brief return to UE Sants in 1922, he also worked as a construction contractor for the City Council of Barcelona. This blend of athletic and manual labor was typical for footballers in Spain during the early 20th century, before the full recognition of professionalism in the sport.
7. Honours
FC Barcelona
- Copa del Rey: 1920, 1922, 1925, 1926
- Catalan Championship: 1918-19, 1919-20, 1920-21, 1921-22, 1923-24, 1924-25, 1925-26, 1926-27, 1927-28
Spain
- Olympic Games: Silver medallist 1920
Catalonia
- Prince of Asturias Cup: 1923-24
8. Later Life and Death
Agustín Sancho Agustina passed away on August 25, 1960, in Barcelona, Catalonia.