Former player Enrique Collar, legend and captain of Atlético de Madrid, dies

Former footballer Enrique Collar, one of the great legends of Atlético de Madrid and its captain for the longest time, has died at the age of 91, as reported this Monday by the red and white club, which is mourning the loss of one of the most recognizable symbols in its history.

Collar, a skilled left-footed winger, played for Atlético between 1953 and 1969, a period in which he played 470 official matches and scored 105 goals. He is the fifth player with the most appearances in the club’s history, tied with Antoine Griezmann, and the player who served as captain the longest, for ten consecutive seasons, between 1960 and 1969.

Born on November 2, 1934 in San Juan de Aznalfarache (Seville), he trained in the red and white youth categories after his beginnings at Imperial CF and Peña Norit. He debuted with the first team on September 13, 1953 against Espanyol and, after brief loan spells in Cádiz and Real Murcia, he established himself in the first team.

Over fifteen consecutive seasons, Collar won a League (1965/66), three Copa del Rey (1960, 1961 and 1965) and the 1962 European Cup Winners’ Cup, Atlético de Madrid’s first continental title. He lifted all of these trophies as captain, starring in iconic moments such as the inauguration of Manzanares in 1966.

Together with Joaquín Peiró he formed one of the club’s most brilliant offensive partnerships, known as ‘El Ala Infernal’, which marked an era on the left wing of the rojiblanco attack. Both were decisive in the 1960 Cup final against Real Madrid, Collar’s first title with Atlético.

Capped with the Spanish national team 16 times (with 5 goals scored), Enrique Collar played in the 1962 World Cup in Chile and participated in the qualifying phase of the 1964 Euro Cup, a tournament that Spain would end up winning. Upon his return from the World Cup, he was champion of the European Cup Winners’ Cup after Atlético beat Fiorentina in the tiebreaker in Stuttgart.

After leaving Atlético, he played a season for Valencia CF and hung up his boots in 1970. Two years later he received a tribute at the Vicente Calderón stadium, where he was honored with the club’s gold and diamond insignia and the silver medal for Sports Merit, saying goodbye to the red and white fans in a match against Bayern Munich.

His connection with Atlético was maintained especially through the Veterans Association and as president of the club’s Foundation between 2005 and 2011. In recognition of his career, he was the image of the membership card for the 2023/24 season.

Atlético de Madrid expressed its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Enrique Collar, stressing that with his death the club loses “a symbol who gave everything to take Atlético to the top of national and continental football.”