Estebán Pelaó Gratacós (10 January 1898 - 28 July 1980) was a Spanish

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...

who played as a midfielder who played for CE Europa,

Espanyol Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona (; "Royal Spanish Sports Club of Barcelona"), commonly known as Espanyol, is a professional sports club based in Barcelona, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top tier of the Spanish football league sy ...

, and the Catalonia national team.

Club career

He spent most of his career at CE Europa, being a pivotal piece in turning the club into an important team in Catalonia, competing head-to-head against the likes of FC Barcelona and

, and together with

Juan Pellicer Juan Pellicer Palau (21 February 1901 - 29 January 1956) was a Spanish Association football, footballer who played as a Association football positions#Winger, right winger for CE Europa. Club career Born in Catalonia, he began playing football w ...

Manuel Cros Manuel Cros Grau (1 September 1901 - 1 February 1986) was a Spanish footballer who played as a center-forward for CE Europa and Espanyol. In the 1920s, he was one of the great idols of Catalan football, alongside the likes of Zamora and Samiti ...

and

Antonio Alcázar Antonio Alcázar Alonso (2 May 1902 - 6 December 1966) was a Spanish footballer who played as a left winger. He was the first footballer born in Murcia to have played for the Spain national team. A historical member of CE Europa in the 1920s, he ...

, he helped the club win the 1922-23 Catalan Championship after beating Barça 1–0 in a play-off title-decider on 21 March 1923, thanks to a lonely goal from Alcázar. Pelaó was the

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

of the club that day, and he then lead CE Europa to their first-ever Copa del Rey final in

1923 Events January–February * January 9 – Lithuania begins the Klaipėda Revolt to annex the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory). * January 11 – Despite strong British protests, troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area, t ...

, which they lost 0–1 to

Athletic Bilbao Athletic Club ( eu, Bilboko Athletic Kluba; es, Athletic Club de Bilbao), commonly known as Athletic Bilbao or just Athletic, is a professional Association football, football club based in the city of Bilbao in the Basque Country (autonomous com ...

, courtesy of a goal from Travieso. He retired in 1928 after a 12-year career.

International career

Being a CE Europa, he was eligible to play for the Catalonia national team, and together with Paulino Alcántara, Sagibarba and

Josep Samitier Josep Samitier Vilalta (; 2 February 1902 – 4 May 1972), also known as José Samitier, was a Spanish Association football, football player, manager and scout who played as a midfielder for FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, Real Madrid, OGC Nice, ...

, he helped the Catalan XI win the last edition of the Prince of Asturias Cup, an inter-regional competition organized by the

RFEF The Royal Spanish Football Federation ( es, Real Federación Española de Fútbol; RFEF) is the governing body of football in Spain. It is based in La Ciudad del Fútbol of Las Rozas, a municipality near Madrid. It was founded on 14 October 1909 ...

, helping Catalonia beat Asturias in a two-legged title-decider.

Managerial career

As a coach, he managed CE Europa in the 1939–40 season.

Honours

Club

; CE Europa Catalan championship: *Champions (1): 1922–1923 Copa del Rey: *Runner-up (1):

International

; Catalonia XI Prince of Asturias Cup: *Champions (1):

1926 Events January * January 3 – Theodoros Pangalos declares himself dictator in Greece. * January 8 **Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud is crowned King of Hejaz. ** Crown Prince Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thuy ascends the throne, the last monarch of V ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pelaó, Estebán 1898 births 1980 deaths Footballers from Barcelona Spanish men's footballers Men's association football midfielders CE Europa footballers RCD Espanyol footballers Catalonia men's international footballers Spanish football managers CE Europa managers