Roberto Bertol

Robert Bertol Garrastazu was a Spanish footballer. He was born in Lizarza (Province of Guipuzcoa) in 1917.

It was a key part of the great Athletic Bilbao of the 1940s, a club where he spent 11 seasons and would eventually become its captain.^[1]

Career

Robert Bertol was born in Lizarza, a small town in Guipúzcoa near the border with Navarre. His first steps as a player in the modest gave his hometown team. At the outbreak of Spanish Civil War (1936) had just 18 ½ years old.

Like many boys his age Bertol was forced to fight the war. When charging is completed in 1939 is playing in the SD Deusto by Bilbao team that won a national amateur Biscay this year.

After the civil war, the Athletic Bilbao was forced to rebuild the team almost from scratch, because most players who had proclaimed league champions 1936 were retired or in exile. This started a campaign in which he sought new players are appearing on the second row Vizcaya equipment. Bertol was one of the players selected in that talent search campaign, one of the first on thenewAthletic. Bertol's debut in the Spanish Primera División takes place on 3 December 1939 with just turned 22 years.

The professional football career lasted Bertol the next 10 years in the ranks of the Athletic Bilbao, between the 1939-40 season and 1949-50. During those years formed one of the best teams in the history of Athletic, the team known as the "historic" second front consisting of Iriondo, Telmo Zarraonaindia, Perez García, Panizo and Gaínza. Bertol was one of the key pieces in that team, especially between 1942–43 and 1948-49 seasons, although his role was in second place to the stars of the club, who were members of the front and the goalkeeper Lezema.

Their role was to provide security defensive midfield. Bertol was half that brought the team defensive large doses of struggle and honor on the field. At the end of his career also served as team captain because of his charisma and seniority.

Bertol includes honors for a league title (1942–43), two runner-up championships (1940–41 and 1946–47), 4 Cup titles (1943,1944,1945,1950) and two runners-up Cup (1942 and 1949). Bertol participated in the Cup finals 1942, 1944, 1945 and 1949.

After defending the jersey 186 part of the Athletic Bilbao for 11 seasons Bertol played his last official match in league 9 October 1949. That season he rounded out his resume with the last Cup title, but did not participate in their implementation.

He paid tribute farewell on 21 December 1950 in San Mames Stadium.

National team

Bertol was called to play with the Spain national football team twice. His international debut was on 26 January 1947 in the friendly Portugal 4-1 Spain. His second and final match was played in 1948 in Switzerland, where he tied a 3.

Honors

References

External links

• Stats at Sportec.es