Carlos Antonio Bernardo Garcés López (25 December 1900 – 21 September 1980) was a Mexican sprinter, footballer, and dental surgeon. Garcés is recognized as one of the founding members of Club América as well as one of the first players to officially represent the Mexico national football team. Garcés is also credited as the founder of the football club Cruz Azul. During his employment at Cemento Cruz Azul in the late 1920s, Garcés personally lobbied for the establishment of a company football team of which he also managed. Ironically the club would become fierce rivals with America decades later.[2] Garcés is also credited for the creation of the siquitibum chant.[1][3][4]
 Garcés in 1922 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Antonio Bernardo Garcés López | ||
| Date of birth | 25 December 1900 | ||
| Place of birth | San Luis de la Paz, Guanajuato, Mexico | ||
| Date of death | 21 September 1980 (aged 79) | ||
| Place of death | Churubusco, Mexico City, Mexico | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1916-1928[1] | Club América | ||
| 1927-? | Cruz Azul | ||
| International career | |||
| 1923 | Mexico | 6 | (2) |
| 1928 | Mexico Olympic | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Antonio Bernardo Garcés López |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Born | 25 December 1900 |
| Died | 21 September 1980 (aged 79) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Sprinting |
| Event | 200 metres |
As an Olympian, Garcés competed in the men's 200 metres at the 1924 Summer Olympics.[5] He also competed in the men's football tournament at the 1928 Summer Olympics.[4]
Club career
editAmerica
editCarlos Garcés was one of the founding members of Club America in 1916. From its inception until 1928, he played as a midfielder for the club winning multiple titles in the Primera Fuerza.[6]
Cruz Azul
editAs football in Mexico was not a lucrative occupation, Garcés López, a licensed dentist, found employment at the cement company Cemento Cruz Azul located in the small town of Jasso, Hidalgo providing dental care to its employees. He would travel regularly to Mexico City from Jasso to train and play for America.[7][1]
In 1925, Cemento Cruz Azul had voted to establish a company baseball team as the sport was popular in the town of Jasso.[8] Garcés López, however, personally lobbied for many months to change the official company sport to football. Initially receiving resistance from American employees, Garcés López eventually convinced the company directors to hold a referendum in which the workers would vote on the company team's main sport. On 22 March 1927, the vote was held where it was decided the company team's sport was to change from baseball to football.[9] Cemento Cruz Azul installed a football pitch on the company's premises in place of the baseball field and the football team was officially established on two months later on 22 May where Garcés López was appointed head coach of the newly founded team.[7][1]
International career
editGarcés López formed part of the first Mexico national team in 1923. Garcés López played in Mexico's first series of official international matches against Guatemala.[10]
Mexico did not form another national team until the 1928 Summer Olympics where Garcés López was once again called up. Garcés López played against Spain and Chile where Mexico lost both matches 7–1 and 3–1 respectively.[11]
Later career
editFrom 1937 to 1942 Garcés López was president of the Mexican Football Federation.[12]
Career statistics
edit| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 December 1923 | Parque España, México City, Mexico |  Guatemala |
2–0 | 2-0 | Friendly |
| 2. | 16 December 1923 | Parque España, México City, Mexico | Guatemala |
2–1 | 3-3 | Friendly |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "América y Cruz Azul. Carlos Garcés: Una anécdota compartida". www.mediotiempo.com.
- ^ Grupo Reforma (2007). UNIVISION.com (ed.). "Encuesta completa sobre el equipo más popular de México". Archived from the original on 12 October 2007.
- ^ "América Campeón de Liga 1927-28 * Club América - Sitio Oficial". Club América - Sitio Oficial. 11 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Carlos Garces". Olympedia. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Carlos Garces Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ^ CALDERÓN, CARLOS. "América y Cruz Azul. Carlos Garcés: Una anécdota compartida". Mediotiempo. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ a b Garrido, Raúl. "Cruz Azul, hijo del América". juanfutbol.com.
- ^ "Cruz Azul, el equipo que originalmente era de beisbol y se transformó". www.milenio.com.
- ^ Azul, Vamos. "¿Cuál es la fecha correcta de la fundación de Cruz Azul?". Vamos Cruz Azul.
- ^ "Mexico - International Results Details 1920-1939". RSSSF.
- ^ "Olympedia – Football, Men". www.olympedia.org.
- ^ Ramírez Aznar, Carlos F. (June 2010). 11 décadas de fútbol mexicano. Mexico: Octavio Colmenares. pp. 183–184. ISBN 978-607-00-3118-2.
