Thought you guys might be interested in this entry I wrote on bigsoccer:
Not too long ago at the behest of our readers, I was asked to write a short summary of some of our Filipino players from the golden age of Filipino Football during the first half of the 20th century, when Filipinos were the first Asians to be recruited by teams in Europe particularly Spain.
After writing about Juan Garchitorena, I never got the chance of including the others.
Recently, I came across a piece on our best player, Paulino Alcantara, who a lot of people also consider among the best Asian players of all time(the Asian Messi) and is considered a legend at the famous Barcelona FC club in Spain. Here is his story as researched by Joey Capones:
www.azkalsfootballteam.com/news.php?id=28History of Paulino Alcántara
By Joey Capones 2012-02-03 22:01:42
The Legend of the Net Breaker
If I told you that there was once a football player who had such an incredulously powerful kick that he once sent a ball flying all the way through the back of the net, ripping it in the process, would you believe me or would you simply dismiss my story as an urban legend? What if I tell you later on that the football player with net-breaking abilities was a Filipino, would you even consider the possibility?
You should. This double-shocker is a true story, after all.
It was on April 30, 1922, in a game between Spain and France, that Filipino football player Paulino Alcántara earned his nickname ‘El Romperedes’ or ‘The Net Breaker’. He got the moniker after he kicked a ball so hard from a 30-yard distance that the ball ended up, not only making the goal, but breaking the net, as well.[1] This extraordinary play made an instant football hero and legend out of Alcántara.
Filipino Roots
Paulino Alcántara was born on October 7, 1896.[2] Like a good number of the current members of the Philippine national team, Alcántara was of mixed ancestry, the son of a Spanish father and a Filipino mother.[3] But despite having Caucasian genes, Alcántara wasn’t tall or burly, like Filipino–Spanish Azkal Angel Guirado. On the contrary, he was of medium built (reports say he is about 5’7 in height and weighed a measly 123 lbs.[4]) and considered by most as not having the physique of a professional athlete. Obviously, this did not keep Alcántara from pursing a career as a professional football player.
Appropriately enough, Alcántara hailed from the province of Iloilo, one of the few places in the Philippines where football is more popular than basketball or boxing. He stayed there with his family until he was about fourteen years old, at which time, his father brought their family back to his homeland.[5]
Early Career Milestones
It was in Barcelona where Alcantara’s football career started to take off. Alcántara, who played football since his early years in Iloilo, initially joined a football club formed by his classmates. The club was called “Galeno”.[6] Not long after, he was discovered by Joan Gamper, founder of FC Barcelona (Barça, for short), and signed him up for the club. This made Alcántara the first Asian ever to sign up and play for a European club.[7]
At the tender age of fifteen, Alcántara became (and still is) the youngest player ever to play for Barça. Moreover, in his debut game, Alcántara scored the first three of the nine goals that Barça was able to score against opponent Catalá SC. As such, he also holds the distinction of being the youngest player in Barça history to score in a competitive match.[8]
Alcántara went on to become one of the most valuable members of the club. With the Filipino footballer on the pitch, Barça ended up winning a Copa del Rey/Championat de Catalunya double in 1913 and a Championat de Catalunya in 1916.
[9]
Return to the Homeland
In 1916, Alcántara went back to the Philippines with his parents against his own will. He was constrained to continue his medical studies in the country and to look for a new football club. Eventually, Alcántara went on to join and play for a team called Bohemians of Manila.[10]
Barely a year after his return, Alcántara became, what we would call today, a full-fledged Azkal—that is, he was selected to play for the Philippine national football team. The team’s first agenda at that time was to represent the country in the Far Eastern Championship Games (former Asian Games) in Tokyo. On the pitch, Alcántara was unstoppable. He eventually led the team to defeat Japan in an embarrassing score of 15–2. Up to this day, the team’s performance is considered to be the greatest performance of the Philippine national football team in a single game.[11]
Meanwhile, back at Barcelona, winning a major trophy proved to be impossible for Barça without Alcántara. This prompted the club to beg Alcántara’s parents to allow him to go back to Spain and play for the club. Alcántara’s parents did not oblige. It was not until Alcántara contracted malaria and refused to take the prescribed medicine unless he was allowed to return to Spain, that he was able to prevail against his parents wishes.[12] Such a brash move can only come from a dedicated sportsman like Alcántara.
The Rise of a Star
In no time, Alcántara was back in the starting line up of FC Barcelona. Then Coach Jack Greenwell initially fielded him as a defender, but he was switched back to his original position as a striker after a short while, at the club membership’s behest[13]. And the rest, as they say, is history.
With Alcántara’s help, Barça was able to win five Spanish championships and ten Catalan titles. His individual contribution to the club is apparent as he is now credited for being the highest goal scorer in the history of FC Barcelona. Scoring 357 goals in a total of 357 games, his one goal per match ratio is still unrivaled[14] (To illustrate, today’s golden boy Lionel Messi has only made 202 goals in 286 matches[15]).
Aside from club football, Alcántara also made five appearances and scored six goals (one of which was the famed net-breaking ball) for the Spanish national football team.[16] He was handpicked to join the Spanish team for the 1920 Olympics, but he reportedly passed on the opportunity in order to take his final medical exams in the Philippines.[17]
Life after Football
Alcántara officially retired on July 5, 1927, at the young age of 31, to become a full-time doctor. Aside from being club director from 1931 to 1934[18] and the three-game stint as coach for the Spanish national football team in the 1950s,[19] that was goodbye for Alcántara’s professional football career. He later died in Barcelona on February 13, 1964 at the age of 67.[20]
To this day, Alcántara remains to be a revered figure in the international football community.
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An educated, well respected scholar and physician, Paulino is also among the first football players to write an autobiography about his football career, which was written and published in Spain.
He was so well respected as a football player, that Spain and Barcelona gave him a final testimonial game in his honor, on July 5, 1927 where he played for Barcelona against the Spanish national team.
Honours
Club
Barcelona
Copa del Rey (5): 1913, 1920, 1922, 1925, 1926
Campionat de Catalunya (10): 1913, 1916, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927
Bohemian Sporting Club
Philippines Championship (2): 1917, 1918
International
Philippines
Far Eastern Games: 1917 (Silver medal)
If you want to see pictures of Alcantara that came with this article, please check the link posted above.
We all know his story, but I thought this article was interesting and a good read.