Francesc de Paula de Moxó i de Sentmenat (18 March 1880 – 17 April 1920) was a Spanish politician and sports executive, who served as the 10th president of the football club FC Barcelona in 1913 and 1914, as well as the 5th and 13th president of the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona and Catalan Football Federation respectively.[1] He was also a journalist and financial manager of Stadium magazine.[1]
Francesc de Moxó | |
|---|---|
| Born | Francesc de Paula de Moxó i de Sentmenat 18 March 1880 |
| Died | 17 April 1920 (aged 40) |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | President of FC Barcelona |
| 5th President of the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona | |
| In office 1911–1920 | |
| Preceded by | Kendall Park |
| Succeeded by | José Vidal-Ribas |
| 10th President of FC Barcelona | |
| In office 30 June 1913 – 30 June 1914 | |
| Preceded by | Joan Gamper |
| Succeeded by | Àlvar Presta |
| 13th President of the Catalan Football Federation | |
| In office 1913–1913 | |
| Preceded by | Josep Preckler |
| Succeeded by | Narciso Masferrer |
Early life and education edit
Moxó was born on 18 March 1880 in Calle dels Caçadors, Barcelona, as the son of Dídac Moxó (also spelled Moixó) (1857–1926), and of the Marquise de Sant Mori, Maria Mercè de Sentmenat i de Patiño (1857–1935), both born in Barcelona. The Marquise de Sant Mori was the promoter of the La Salut neighborhood in Badalona.
Sporting career edit
Throughout his life, Moxó was heavily involved in Catalan sport, presiding over the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona for nine years, between 1911 and 1920, and under his mandate the club was moved to Carrer Ganduxer, where seven courts were installed.[1] He was also the co-founder and president of the Federació de societats esportives de Barcelona in 1911 and directed the Catalan Football Federation in 1913.[1] He practiced fencing and competed in numerous competitions, and was also one of the founders and the first president of the Barcelona Fencing Association in 1913.[1] From 1914, he directed the Yacht Club Barcelona and, later, the Aeroclub de Barcelona. He also acted as a motor racing judge in some events, such as the Volta a Catalunya.[1]
In the Assembly held on 30 June 1913, De Moxó was elected as the 10th President of FC Barcelona.[2][3] He put an end to the existing schism between the club and the Catalan and Spanish Federations, and managed to get Barça reintegrated into both states.[3] Despite his diplomatic ability, he was unable to resolve the internal conflict that existed at the club, which divided its members between the personalists who supported authoritarianism, grouped around Joaquim Peris de Vargas, and those who wanted a true democracy at FC Barcelona.[3]
The other outstanding aspect of his time in charge of Barça was the progressive increase in professionalism among the players, a very controversial aspect at the time.[3] In the sporting field, De Moxó was unable to celebrate a title, as the Barcelona team finished third in the Catalan Championship, while in the national tournament, it was unable to get past the regional classification phase. At the end of the season, and after just one year in the presidency, on 30 June 1914, De Moxó resigned and was replaced by Àlvar Presta.[3]
Death edit
De Moxó died on 17 April 1920, at the age of 40.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f "Francesc de Moxó de Sentmenat". www.enciclopedia.cat (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ "Presidents del Barça" [Presidents of Barça]. www.fcbarcelona.cat (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Francesc de Moxó (1913-1914)". www.fcbarcelona.cat (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ "Mañana se cumple el primer aniversario de la muerte del señor don Francisco de Moxó" [Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the death of Mr. Francisco de Moxó]. hemeroteca-paginas.lavanguardia.com (in Spanish). La Vanguardia. 16 April 1921. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.