1. Overview
Sabino Barinaga Alberdi (15 August 1922 - 19 March 1988) was a Spanish football forward and manager. His life in football was marked by resilience, beginning his playing career as a refugee during the Spanish Civil War. As a player, he appeared in 205 La Liga matches, scoring 92 goals almost exclusively for Real Madrid. Among his significant achievements at Real Madrid, he holds the distinction of scoring the first goal at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, contributed to two Copa del Generalísimo titles, and delivered a legendary four-goal performance against FC Barcelona in a semi-final match. Following his playing career, Barinaga embarked on an extensive managerial path that lasted nearly 25 years, overseeing various clubs in Spain and internationally, and notably serving as head coach for the national teams of Nigeria and Morocco.
2. Early Life and Playing Beginnings
Barinaga's formative years were shaped by his experience as a child refugee in England, where his football talent was discovered before he returned to Spain to begin his professional career.
2.1. Childhood and Refugee Life
Sabino Barinaga was born on 15 August 1922, in Durango, Biscay, Spain. At the tender age of 14, following the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, he was forced to flee his homeland. He moved to England as a teenager, accompanied by two of his three siblings, seeking refuge from the conflict. This journey was shared by other Spanish child refugees in 1937 who would also later become notable footballers, including Emilio Aldecoa, José Gallego, and Raimundo Lezama. While playing football for his local high school team in England, Barinaga's talent was recognized by Southampton. He subsequently spent one season with Southampton's reserve team, where he showcased his impressive scoring prowess by netting an remarkable 62 goals.
2.2. Early Professional Development in Spain
Upon the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War, and as the global conflict of World War II commenced, Sabino Barinaga returned to Spain. Despite receiving an offer from the prominent Basque club Athletic Bilbao, Barinaga famously chose instead to join Real Madrid C.F.. Primarily playing as an inside forward on the right flank, he made his La Liga debut on 28 April 1940. This debut occurred in a 1-3 away loss against Athletic Bilbao, which would be his only appearance during the 1939-40 La Liga season. From 1941 to 1943, Barinaga was loaned to Real Valladolid in the Segunda División for almost two years. During this productive loan spell, he scored 38 league goals in 48 matches.
3. Major Playing Career and Achievements
Barinaga achieved significant milestones during his peak years at Real Madrid, including historic goals and major trophies, before concluding his playing career with other Spanish clubs.
3.1. Success at Real Madrid
Sabino Barinaga had a highly significant nine-year tenure at Real Madrid. On 14 December 1947, he achieved a lasting place in the club's history by scoring the first-ever goal at the newly constructed Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (then known as Nuevo Estadio Chamartín). This historic goal came in a 3-1 victory against Portugal's C.F. Os Belenenses. Throughout his time with the Merengues, he played a pivotal role in securing three major trophies for the club. He won two consecutive Copa del Generalísimo titles in 1946 and 1947. Notably, he scored a goal in the 1946 final, contributing to a decisive 3-1 win against Valencia CF. Additionally, Barinaga was part of the squad that won the Copa Eva Duarte in 1947. One of his most memorable performances came on 13 June 1943, during the domestic cup semi-finals against bitter rivals FC Barcelona. After a discouraging 0-3 loss at Camp de Les Corts in the first leg, Barinaga produced an extraordinary display in the second leg at home, scoring four goals in a mere 13 minutes, which propelled Real Madrid to an astonishing 11-1 victory and secured their progression to the final.
3.2. Concluding Years as a Player
Sabino Barinaga concluded his long and successful career with Real Madrid in 1950, departing the club as a free agent. In his final season with Real Madrid (the 1949-50 La Liga season), he demonstrated his versatility by primarily playing in a central defender role. Following his departure from the capital, he continued to play top-tier football for an additional three seasons with Real Sociedad, based in his native Basque region. In the summer of 1954, at his own request, he was released from Real Sociedad and subsequently joined Real Betis. Sabino Barinaga ultimately retired from his playing career shortly after joining Real Betis.
4. Coaching Career
After retiring from play, Barinaga embarked on an extensive managerial career, leading various clubs in Spain and Mexico, as well as national teams for Nigeria and Morocco.
4.1. Club Management
Sabino Barinaga promptly began his coaching career with his last playing club, Real Betis. For the 1957-58 La Liga season, he moved to the top division to take charge of CA Osasuna, and he largely remained a first-division coach for most of the following decade. In the 1961-62 Segunda División season, he successfully guided CD Málaga to promotion from the second division, though they were unfortunately relegated back to the lower tier in the subsequent 1962-63 La Liga season. This experience of achieving promotion only to face relegation was repeated during his tenures with Real Betis in the 1967-68 La Liga season and RCD Mallorca in the 1969-70 La Liga season.
His extensive club management career included roles at several other prominent Spanish clubs such as Atlético Madrid, Valencia CF, Sevilla FC, and Cádiz CF. Beyond Spain, Barinaga also had a brief but notable spell managing Club América in Mexico for several months. His final club coaching position was with Real Oviedo, a team he had previously managed in the top flight. Despite his prior experience with the club, he was unable to prevent their relegation from the second division during the 1977-78 Segunda División season, marking the end of his active club management career.
4.2. National Team Management
In addition to his club coaching roles, Sabino Barinaga also took on the significant responsibility of managing national football teams on the international stage. He served as the head coach for the Nigeria national team from 1968 to 1969. Following this, he managed the Morocco national team from 1971 to 1972, further extending his influence across the global football landscape.
5. Honours
5.1. Player
Real Madrid
- Copa del Generalísimo: 1946, 1947
- Copa Eva Duarte: 1947
6. Death
Sabino Barinaga Alberdi passed away on 19 March 1988, at the age of 65. His death occurred in Madrid, Spain, and was attributed to a heart disease. He was interred at the Almudena Cemetery in the city of Madrid.
7. Legacy
Sabino Barinaga Alberdi's multifaceted career as both a distinguished player and a long-serving manager left an indelible mark on the world of football. His journey, notably starting as a child refugee from the Spanish Civil War, highlights a profound resilience and dedication that characterized his entire professional life. As a player, he remains a celebrated figure at Real Madrid, forever recognized for scoring the first goal at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and for his extraordinary four-goal performance in the decisive 11-1 victory over FC Barcelona, a result that is etched into the annals of Spanish football history. These achievements, coupled with his multiple cup victories, firmly establish him as a significant contributor to Real Madrid's success in the post-war era. His extensive managerial career, spanning nearly 25 years across various clubs in Spain and internationally, including national teams, further underscored his enduring passion for the game. Despite facing the challenges of promotions and relegations, Barinaga's commitment to coaching and his widespread influence speak to a lasting legacy that extends beyond individual accolades, embodying a narrative of perseverance and deep involvement in the sport.