José Juncosa


José Juncosa Bellmunt also known as Josep Juncosa Bellmunt, was a Catalan football forward and manager from Spain. Until 1977, it was legally prohibited in Spain to register given names in Catalan, as only Spanish names were permitted under Francoist and early post-Franco civil registry laws.
He was an international with both the football team|Catalonia national team] and the Spain national team during the 1940s and 1950s.

Biography

Josep Juncosa was born in Les Borges Blanques on 29 January 1922. He began playing football with his hometown team before signing for Reus Deportiu. In 1942, he moved to RCD Espanyol, becoming a prolific forward and finishing as the club's top scorer during his seasons with the blanquiazules.
In 1944, he signed for Atlético Madrid, and remained there until 1955, winning two La Liga titles and one Copa Eva Duarte. He was part of the famed "silk forward line".
After retiring as a player, he managed CF [Reus Deportiu] in the Segunda División B during the 1980s.
He earned two caps for the Spain national team, including an appearance in the 1950 FIFA World Cup match against Sweden.
Circa 1970, together with Mr Cabello Rico, he developed residential buildings in Reus on land formerly part of the Mas de Torroja estate near the Barri Fortuny neighborhood. The development became known as the Juncosa plots, now within the Juroca neighbourhood.
He died in Reus on 31 October 2003 at the age of 81.

Playing career

Honours

Atlético de Madrid