Rafael Lesmes

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Lesmes and the second or maternal family name is Bobed.
Rafael Lesmes
Personal information
Full name Rafael Lesmes Bobed
Date of birth (1926-11-09)9 November 1926
Place of birth Ceuta, Spain
Date of death 8 October 2012(2012-10-08) (aged 85)
Place of death Valladolid, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
África Ceutí
1940–1944 Ibarrola
1944–1945 Betis Jadú
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1945–1949 Atlético Tetuán
1949–1952 Valladolid 78 (1)
1950 → Atlético Madrid (loan) 0 (0)
1952–1960 Real Madrid 163 (0)
1960–1962 Valladolid 27 (0)
Total 268 (1)
International career
1955–1958 Spain 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rafael Lesmes Bobed (9 November 1926 – 8 October 2012) was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Lesmes was born in Ceuta. Over 12 La Liga seasons, he played for Real Valladolid (two spells) and Real Madrid,[1] appearing in 263 games in the competition. He began his career with local Atlético Tetuán, and retired in 1962 at the age of 35.

With Real Madrid, Lesmes was part of the team that won five consecutive European Cups.[2][3][4]

International career

Lesmes was selected for Spain's 1950 FIFA World Cup squad as an uncapped member. He would have to wait nearly five years to make his debut, however, appearing in a 1–2 friendly loss to France on 17 March 1955, in Madrid.

Lesmes' second and last international was a 6–2 win against Northern Ireland on 15 October 1958, in another exhibition game.[5][3]

Personal life and death

Lesmes' older brother, Francisco, was also a footballer and a defender. Often referred to as Lesmes I as he shared teams with his sibling for four seasons, he spent his entire professional career with Valladolid, also being a Spanish international.[6]

Rafael died in Valladolid on 8 October 2012, one month shy of his 86th birthday.[7]

Honours

Real Madrid

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Lesmes II". Real Madrid CF. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Falleció Lesmes II" [Lesmes II has died] (in Spanish). Real Madrid CF. 10 October 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Rafa Lesmes, muere la última leyenda" [Rafa Lesmes, the last legend dies]. La Información (in Spanish). 9 October 2012. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  4. ^ Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Rafael Lesmes Bobed – Matches in European Cups". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  5. ^ L. Jimeno, Emilio (16 October 1958). "España, 6 – Irlanda del Norte, 2" [Spain, 6 – Northern Ireland, 2]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Leyendas del Real Valladolid C. F. – Lesmes I" [Real Valladolid C. F. legends – Lesmes I]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Fallece Lesmes II, ganador de 5 Copas de Europa consecutivas" [Death of Lesmes II, winner of 5 consecutive European Cups]. ABC (in Spanish). 9 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.