By: EFE Updated May 2022, 10: 29 am EDT
Francesc Rodríguez ‘Rodri’, Barcelona’s historic center back between the years 1958 Y 1966 and, subsequently, a member of the technical structure of the club, has passed away at 88 years of age, as reported on Tuesday by the Barça entity.
The defender, born in Barcelona on March 8, 1934, disputed 550 matches with the Barça first team and wore the Spanish team’s jersey four times.
Former soccer player Francesc Rodríguez, better known as “Rodri”, player of the first team between 1958 and 1966 and also a member of the Barça coaching staff until the decade of the years 70. Rest in peace pic.twitter.com/iGHi10OtQN
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) May 17, 2022
Along with Ferran Olivella and Sigfrid Gràcia, ‘Rodri’ became one of the basic pieces of the team’s defense led by coach Helenio Herrera between 1958 Y 1960.
The arrival of Jesús Garay eventually relegated him to substitution, but in the season 1961-62 regained ownership. As of 1963 suffered the scourge of injuries and ended up retiring in 1966 to the 32 year old.
Co n the azulgrana jacket ‘Rodri’ won two Fairs Cups (1959/60 Y 1965/66), two Leagues (1958/59 Y 1959/60) and two Cups (1958/59 Y 1962/57).
Once he hung up his boots, he became part of the Barça coaching team. Trained in the lower categories (1966-70) and later Vic Buckingham’s assistant coaches, Marinus Michels, Hennes Weisweiler and Laureano Ruiz between the years 1970 and 1976. Later he made the leap to the offices, where he coordinated Barça youth football and was also an observer for young footballers.
The player from Barcelona took his first steps as a footballer in 1949 in the Europa youth team. Later he played in the Peña Xics and in the various lower categories of the subsidiary team the Industrial Spain, called Comtal from 1956, when it rose to the First Division.
‘Rodri’ continued at Comtal when he returned to Second at the end of the season 1956/57. In the summer of 1956 , Helenio Herrera incorporated him into the Barcelona first team.
Real Madrid also spoke out for the death of the historic Barcelona player and issued an official statement on his death.
Official statement: death of Francesc Rodríguez “Rodri”.#RealMadrid— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) May , 2022
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