Emili Sagi-Barba

Emilio "Emili" Sagi Liñán (15 March 1900 – 25 May 1951), was a footballer who played as a forward for FC Barcelona. Born in Argentina, he played for the Catalan XI and Spain national teams during the 1920s and 1930s. He was the son of Emilio Sagi Barba, the Catalan baritone singer, and Concepción Liñán Pelegrí, a dancer, and as a result, was widely referred to as Sagi-Barba (father's surnames together in a single surname).

Emili Sagi-Barba
Sagi-Barba in 1929
Personal information
Full name Emilio Sagi Liñán
Date of birth (1900-03-15)15 March 1900
Place of birth Bolívar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Date of death 25 May 1951(1951-05-25) (aged 51)
Place of death Barcelona, Spain
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Catalònia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1915–1932 Barcelona 25 (2)
International career
1927 Spain B 1 (0)
1926 Spain 1 (0)
1924–1931 Catalan XI
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sagi and the second or maternal family name is Liñán.

During his playing career he played 455 games and scored 134 goals for FC Barcelona and is best remembered for forming a successful partnership with Paulino Alcántara. Together with Josep Samitier, Ricardo Zamora, Félix Sesúmaga and, later, Franz Platko they were prominent members of the successful FC Barcelona team coached by Jack Greenwell.

His younger brother, Luís Sagi Vela, followed in his father's footsteps and also became a successful baritone singer. His son, Victor Sagi, later ran one of the biggest advertising agencies in Spain and in 1978 announced his candidacy for the presidency of FC Barcelona, but withdrew before the election was held.

Early life

Sagi-Barba was born in Bolívar, Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father regularly toured and performed, but returned to Catalonia when he was three. He was educated at the Colegio Condal and Colegio Bonanova and his childhood friends included Salvador Dalí and Josep Samitier.[1] During holidays at the Catalan resort of Cadaqués, the trio played football together. He also played football at school and as a junior with FC Catalònia, before joining FC Barcelona in 1915.

FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona 1928-1929

In 1917, as a 17-year-old, Sagi-Barba made his senior debut with FC Barcelona and during the 1918–19 season he helped the team win the Championat de Catalunya. In 1919 he left FC Barcelona to study in Terrassa. After getting married, he briefly retired from the game. However in 1922 he rejoined FC Barcelona and embarked on a successful career which saw him win ten Championats de Catalunya, four Copa del Rey and the inaugural La Liga.

International career

Between 1922 and 1936 Sagi-Barba played at least 15 games and scored at least 5 goals for the Catalan XI. However, records from the era do not always include accurate statistics and he may have played and scored more. Together with Paulino Alcántara, Josep Samitier and Ricardo Zamora he helped the Catalan XI win an inter-regional competition, the Prince of Asturias Cup, twice during the 1920s. In the 1924 final, he scored a late equalizer in extra-time to salvage a 4–4 draw and force a replay, in which he helped the Catalan XI win 3–2. He also played once for Spain, in a 4–2 win over Hungary in 1926.

Honours

Barcelona

Catalan XI

See also

References
  1. Martín Otín, José Antonio (2011). "Un tanguito de arrabal". El fútbol tiene música. Córner. ISBN 978-8415242000.
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