1. Overview
Enrique Pérez Díaz (28 December 1938 - 10 February 2021), widely known as Pachín (PachínSpanish), was a Spanish football defender and manager. Born in Torrelavega, Cantabria, he is best known for his impactful tenure at Real Madrid during the club's golden era in the 1960s, where he played a crucial role in winning numerous national championships and European Cups. He also represented the Spain national team in international competitions, including the 1962 FIFA World Cup. Following his playing career, Pachín transitioned into management, coaching various clubs in Spain.
2. Early Life and Career Beginnings
Enrique Pérez Díaz's journey into football began in his hometown, leading him to professional clubs before his notable career at Real Madrid.
2.1. Birth and Early Years
Enrique Pérez Díaz was born on December 28, 1938, in Torrelavega, a municipality in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain.
2.2. Youth and First Clubs
Pachín started his youth football development with local clubs, playing for Besaya FC and CD Amista Suniace. He began his senior club career in 1956 at Gimnástica de Torrelavega, which was then competing in the Tercera División. After a season there, he moved to Burgos CF in 1957. In 1958, he joined CA Osasuna, then a Segunda División club. It was with Osasuna that Pachín made his debut in La Liga, Spain's top professional football division. During his time at Osasuna, he played 23 league matches and scored 1 goal.
3. Playing Career
Pachín's playing career spanned several clubs, most notably a highly successful period with Real Madrid, and included appearances for the Spanish national team.
3.1. Club Career
Pachín's club career saw him transition from regional teams to a prominent role in one of Europe's most decorated clubs, followed by later stages of his career.
3.1.1. Real Madrid
Pachín signed with Real Madrid in 1959, moving from CA Osasuna. Despite having no appearances in the 1959-60 European Cup triumph, he rapidly established himself as a key player. From the 1960-61 season, he became a regular starter, maintaining this position for the subsequent four seasons. Pachín was known for his versatility in defensive roles, capable of playing as a right-back, center-back, or defensive midfielder. His adaptability and reliability were highly valued, making him an integral part of the legendary "Ye-yé Madrid" team, which is remembered for its strong attacking prowess supported by a solid defense. He departed from the "Merengues" in May 1968, having made 218 competitive appearances and scoring 2 goals. Over his nine seasons with the club, Pachín amassed an impressive 11 major titles, including seven La Liga championships and two European Cup titles in 1959-60 and 1965-66. He contributed significantly to the 1965-66 European Cup victory with eight appearances, bringing his total European competition appearances to 32 during his time at Real Madrid.
3.1.2. Other Clubs
After his successful spell at Real Madrid, Pachín returned to the Segunda División for the 1968-69 campaign, where he represented Real Betis. He played 24 matches for Real Betis during that season. He concluded his playing career in 1971 after a stint with the amateur club Club Deportivo Toluca.
3.2. International Career
Pachín earned eight caps for the Spain national team over a three-year period. His debut came on May 15, 1960, in a 3-0 friendly victory against the England national team. He was part of the Spanish squad that competed at the 1962 FIFA World Cup. During the tournament, he appeared in matches against the Mexico national team and the Brazil national team, but Spain ultimately exited at the group stage. Earlier in his career, from 1959 to 1960, Pachín also represented the Spain U-21 team, earning 3 appearances.
4. Managerial Career
Following his retirement as a player in 1971, Pachín transitioned into a career as a football manager, which spanned 16 years. He primarily managed clubs in the lower divisions of Spanish football, never coaching a team in the top tier of La Liga.
Pachín's managerial roles included:
- Real Madrid (Youth team / Cantera) (1973-1974)
- Galáctico Pegaso (1974-1975, 1989)
- Getafe Deportivo (1975-1976)
- CA Osasuna (1976-1977)
- AgD Ceuta (1977-1978)
- Real Valladolid (1978-1979)
- Levante UD (1979-1981, 1984-1985, 1987-1988)
- Córdoba CF (1981)
- AD Almería (1982)
- Hércules CF (1982-1983)
- Albacete Balompié (1985-1986)
- Granada CF (1988-1989)
His most significant achievement as a manager was successfully promoting Hércules CF to the top flight of Spanish football during the 1983-84 season. Notably, he achieved this feat despite only being in charge for six matches during that promotion campaign.
5. Honours
Pachín achieved significant success throughout his playing career, primarily with Real Madrid, where he collected numerous major titles.
| Competition | Title |
|---|---|
| La Liga | 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1963-64, 1964-65, 1966-67, 1967-68 (7 titles) |
| Copa del Generalísimo | 1961-62 (1 title) |
| European Cup | 1959-60, 1965-66 (2 titles) |
| Intercontinental Cup | 1960 (1 title) |
6. Death
Enrique Pérez Díaz, known as Pachín, passed away on February 10, 2021, in Madrid, Spain, at the age of 82.
7. Legacy and Assessment
Enrique Pérez Díaz, commonly known as Pachín, is remembered as a highly versatile and dependable defender who was central to the success of Real Madrid during its golden era in the 1960s. His ability to competently cover various defensive positions, including right-back, center-back, and defensive midfielder, earned him the description "the legend's handyman." This versatility was crucial for the team, allowing the strong attacking lineup to flourish. Pachín's consistent performance and dedication were instrumental in Real Madrid's remarkable run of seven La Liga titles and two European Cup victories during his tenure. His contributions to the club's dominance both domestically and in European competitions cemented his place as a significant and respected figure in the history of Spanish football.