Cristóbal Salvó Saura, also known as Salvó I (1895 - 17 August 1927), was a Spanish footballer who played as a midfielder for FC Espanya and RCD Espanyol.[1] He was one of the most prominent Catalan footballers of the 1910s, being considered the best half-winger of his time.[2] His brother Pantaleón also played for FC Espanya.[3]

Cristóbal Salvó
Personal information
Full name Cristóbal Salvó Saura
Birth name Cristòfol Salvó Saura
Date of birth 1895
Place of birth Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Date of death 17 August 1927 (aged 32)
Place of death Barcelona, Catalonia
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1909–1918 FC Espanya
1918–1919 RCD Espanyol
1919–1922 FC Internacional
International career
1910–1918 Catalonia 12 (0)
Medal record
 Catalonia
Prince of Asturias Cup
Gold medal – first place 1916 Prince of Asturias Cup Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career edit

Born in Catalonia, he began his career at his hometown club FC Espanya in the late-1900s, playing with them for nearly a decade. He was one of the most important players in the team's rise to become a powerhouse in Catalonia, competing head-to-head against the likes of Barcelona and Espanyol, being crucial in helping the club win three Catalan championships (1912–13, 1913–14 and 1916–17), the 1914 Pyrenees Cup and he also was pivotal in helping Espanya reach the 1914 Copa del Rey Final, which still is the club's only Copa del Rey final appearance, but they lost 1–2 to Athletic Bilbao, courtesy of a brace from Severino Zuazo.[4] In the semi-finals of the 1914 Pyrenees Cup, Espanya defeated Barcelona with a resounding 5–2 win at the Camp de la Indústria, which prompted a pitch invasion where serious incidents happened including Cristóbal being attacked by Pere Molins, who gave him a punch that left him unconscious.[5]

After leaving Espanya he had spells in RCD Espanyol and FC Internacional before ending his career. He died in 1927, aged just 32.[2]

International career edit

Like many other FC Espanya players of that time, Salvó played several matches for the Catalonia national team, being a member of the Catalan side that won the 1916 Prince of Asturias Cup, an inter-regional competition organized by the RFEF.[6] At the tournament he teamed up with Emilio Sampere in the midfield. Salvó also participated in the following edition in 1917, in which Catalonia finished as runner-up to Madrid.[7][8]

Honours edit

Club edit

FC Espanya

International edit

Catalonia

References edit

  1. ^ "Cristòfol Salvó Saura - Footballer". www.bdfutbol.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Los que nos dejan" [Those who leave us] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 18 September 1927. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Cristòfol Salvo Saura". periquito.cat. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Spain - Cup 1914". RSSSF. 19 January 2000. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Challenge Internacional del Sur de Francia 1910-1914" [International Challenge of the South of France 1910-1914]. www.cihefe.es. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Squad of Cataluña 1916 Copa del Príncipe de Asturias". www.bdfutbol.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Squad of Cataluña 1917 Copa del Príncipe de Asturias". www.bdfutbol.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  8. ^ Vicente Martínez Calatrava (17 August 2009). "La Copa Príncipe de Asturias" [The Prince of Asturias Cup] (in Spanish). CIHEFE. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2022.