Domènec Balmanya facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Domènec Balmanya Perera | ||
| Date of birth | 29 December 1914 | ||
| Place of birth | Girona, Spain | ||
| Date of death | 14 February 2002 (aged 87) | ||
| Place of death | Barcelona, Spain | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1933–1935 | Girona | ||
| 1935–1937 | Barcelona | ||
| 1937–1941 | Sète | ||
| 1941–1944 | Barcelona | 48 | (5) |
| 1944–1948 | Gimnàstic | 3 | (0) |
| 1948–1949 | Sant Andreu | ||
| 1949–1950 | Gimnàstic | 6 | (1) |
| National team | |||
| 1935–44 | Catalan XI | 4 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1949–1952 | Gimnàstic | ||
| 1952 | Girona | ||
| 1952–1953 | Zaragoza | ||
| 1954–1955 | Oviedo | ||
| 1956–1958 | Barcelona | ||
| 1958–1960 | Sète | ||
| 1960–1962 | Valencia | ||
| 1963–1964 | Betis | ||
| 1964–1965 | Málaga | ||
| 1965–1966 | Atlético Madrid | ||
| 1966–1968 | Spain | ||
| 1970–1971 | Zaragoza | ||
| 1972–1974 | Cádiz | ||
| 1974–1976 | Sant Andreu | ||
| 1980 | Sant Andreu | ||
|
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Domènec Balmanya i Perera (born December 29, 1914 – died February 14, 2002) was a famous Spanish football player and coach. He was also known as Domingo Balmaña.
Domènec played most of his career as a midfielder for FC Barcelona. As a coach, he led CF Barcelona to win the Copa del Generalísimo in 1957. He also helped them win the first ever Fairs Cup in 1958. Later, he coached Atlético Madrid to win the La Liga title in 1966. He even managed the Spanish national team from 1966 to 1968. After coaching, he worked as a sports director and a radio commentator.
Contents
Playing Career: Domènec Balmanya's Early Days in Football
Domènec Balmanya was born in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. He started his football journey with his hometown club, Girona FC.
In November 1935, he joined FC Barcelona. He played his first game in La Liga against RCD Espanyol. During his time at Barcelona, he played 111 games. He played alongside famous players like Josep Escolà.
Winning Titles as a Player
In his first season (1935–36), Domènec helped Barcelona win the Campionat de Catalunya. They also reached the final of the Copa de España.
The next season (1936–37), regular football games were stopped because of the Spanish Civil War. However, Barcelona and other clubs played in the Mediterranean League. Balmanya helped his team win this league title.
Touring for the Club
In 1937, FC Barcelona, including Balmanya, went on a special tour to Mexico and the United States. They played many games to raise money for the club. This tour helped save the club financially.
After the tour, many players, including Balmanya, stayed in exile. Balmanya joined FC Sète in France.
Returning to Spain and More Wins
When the Spanish Civil War ended in 1939, the government banned exiled players from returning for six years. However, Barcelona's president worked hard to bring some players back. Balmanya returned in 1941.
In his first season back, Barcelona almost got relegated. But they managed to win the Copa del Generalísimo (a major cup). They beat Athletic Bilbao 4–3 in an exciting final.
Between 1935 and 1944, Balmanya also played four games for the Catalan XI.
Coaching Career: Leading Teams to Success
After his playing career, Domènec Balmanya became a coach. He started at Gimnàstic de Tarragona in 1949, where he had also finished playing.
He then coached Girona FC and Real Zaragoza. His first big success as a coach came at Real Oviedo. He led them to second place in their league division in 1955.
Coaching FC Barcelona
Balmanya coached FC Barcelona for two seasons, from 1956 to 1958. He had a strong team with players like Ladislao Kubala and Luis Suárez.
He led Barcelona to win the Copa del Generalísimo in 1957. He also guided them to win the first ever Fairs Cup in 1958. Even with these wins, Barcelona finished third in La Liga both seasons. He was replaced by Helenio Herrera in 1958.
Success with Other Clubs
After Barcelona, Balmanya coached FC Sète in France. Then he returned to Spain to coach Valencia CF in 1960. He helped Valencia win their own summer tournament, the Trofeo Naranja, in 1961. He also led them to the 1962 Fairs Cup final. However, he had moved to another club before the final was played.
In 1963–64, Balmanya coached Real Betis, guiding them to third place in La Liga. The next season, he coached CD Málaga. He helped them get promoted to a higher league.
His biggest league success came in 1965–66 when he coached Atlético Madrid. With a strong team, he led them to win his only La Liga title.
Managing the Spanish National Team
Because of his success, Domènec Balmanya was chosen to coach the Spanish national team. He was in charge for 11 games between 1966 and 1968.
After retiring from coaching, he continued to work in football. He became a director of sport at RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona. He also worked as a director at a coaching school and as a radio commentator.
Honours
Player
- Copa de España/Copa del Generalísimo: 1942, runners-up 1936
- Mediterranean League: 1937
- Campionat de Catalunya: 1935–36
- New York Tournament: 1937
Manager
Real Oviedo
- Segunda División, Group 1: runners-up 1955
Barcelona
- Copa del Generalísimo: 1957
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: 1958
Valencia
- Trofero Naranja: 1961
Málaga
- Segunda División, Group 2: runners-up 1965
Atlético Madrid
- Spanish Champions: 1966
See also
In Spanish: Domènec Balmanya para niños
