Eduardo Alesson

Alesson was a man of great culture and very well regarded in the sporting environments of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Barcelona, as he represented the prototype of the sportsman, a man who enjoyed all the sports and practiced most of them that were in fashion at that time, such as fencing and football. In 1893, he became a fencing teacher at the Gimnàs Mèdic de Barcelona (Medical Gymnasium in Barcelona), and between 1897 and 1898, he opened the armory that bore his name, where renowned teachers such as Alfonso Ardura, a future president of RCD Espanyol, trained fencing. On 9 December 1898, Alesson participated in the first athletic race that took place in the city of Barcelona, organized by Jaime Vila, a teacher at the Tolosa Gymnasium.

In October 1900, Alesson played a fundamental role in the foundation of Hispània Athletic Club, which was formed, among others, by a group of football players from Català FC, which included several of Català's founding members.[2] Hispania AC, however, was not just a football club, but a Society that participated in other sports, such as athletics and tennis.[2] Hispania's first president was José Ortiz, but the soul of the club was Alesson, the sports patron Alfonso Macaya, Fermín Lomba, and Carlos Soley, who were the honorary president of Hispania during its first years and who played a key role in creating the Copa Macaya.[2]

The Copa Macaya trophy.

He was the first president of the Catalan Football Federation, with his mandate lasting from the entity's foundation on 11 November 1900 as the Football Associació de Catalunya (English: Football Association of Catalonia) until 1904, when he was replaced by Josep de Togores.[1] It was under his presidency that the Copa Macaya was created,[1] a football championship contested in a league format between the different clubs that had been created in Spain, which was hosted by Hispania AC, who won its first edition in 1901.[3] During his presidency,[4]

After being crowned the best Catalan team of the moment, Hispania started the 1901–02 season with a major setback: the departure of its captain and best player, Gustavo Green, to direct rivals FC Barcelona. Furthermore, Carlos Soley, club secretary and midfielder, returned to his native Costa Rica. This led to a few changes in the board of directors: José Ortiz took over as secretary to replace Soley, leaving the presidency of the club to Alesson. The 1901–02 Copa Macaya was won by Barcelona, in part thanks to Gustavo Green. By the end of 1902, Hispania was already in decline, but it still had the strength and courage to organize the third edition of its championship. Alesson was Hispania's president for as long as the club lasted, holding the position until its disappearance in November 1903, partly motivated by the departure of its most emblematic players, who joined other clubs, mainly FC Barcelona.[5]