Pichichi

Pichichi, which means goalgetter, was born in the Basque Country and was a one-club man as he played only for the Athletic Club in Bilbao. The nephew of the Spanish writer Miguel de Unamuno started his career in 1911 and become one of the first great strikers in Spain. His brand was to wear a white scarf on his head and he played in six Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) finals and was on the winning team in 1914-16 and 1921. In addition he also won five Campeonato Regional del Norte (North Championship) titles. Pichichi played in 89 Cup and regional championship matches and scored 78 goals before retiring in 1921.

During the 1920 Olympics he was in the line-up of the first-ever Spanish international match against Denmark. He earned all his five caps when he participated in all matches during the 1920 Games and scored one goal. In 1921 after the end of his active career he tried to establish a career as football referee, but he died of typhus only one year later, aged only 29. In 1926 a bust was founded in the San Mamés Stadium of Bilbao and in 1953 the Spanish newspaper Marca created the Pichichi Trophy, which is awarded every year to the top scorer of the Spanish league.