Sebastián Fleitas

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fleitas and the second or maternal family name is Miranda.
Sebastián Fleitas
Personal information
Full name Sebastián Fleitas Miranda
Date of birth (1947-02-25)25 February 1947
Place of birth Asunción, Paraguay
Date of death 14 April 2000(2000-04-14) (aged 53)
Place of death Madrid, Spain
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1964–1968 Club Libertad
1968–1969 Málaga 29 (13)
1969–1972 Real Madrid 58 (18)
1972–1973 Nîmes 17 (4)
1973–1974 Sevilla
1974–1976 Marbella
International career
1966–1968 Paraguay 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sebastián Fleitas Miranda (22 February 1947 – 14 April 2000[1]) was a footballer from Paraguay who played as a striker.

Club career

Born in Asunción, Fleitas started his career at Club Libertad of Paraguay, making his debut at the age of 17 and quickly earning the nickname babygol.[1] In 1967, he was the top scorer of the Paraguayan League, coming to the attention of Spanish side CD Málaga, who eventually signed Fleitas in 1968. A good first season at Málaga was enough to attract the interest of Real Madrid, who signed him in 1969. At Real Madrid, Fleitas won the Copa del Rey in the 1969–70 season and one Spanish League title in 1971–72. He was the scorer of Real's only goal in the 1971 European Cup Winners' Cup Final replay game in Piraeus, Greece, won 2–1 by Chelsea.

After retiring in 1976, Fleitas worked in football in various capacities, ending up as a scout for Real Madrid.[1]

International career

Fleitas played three times for the Paraguay national team, all of them in friendlies scoring once.[2]

Personal life

Fleitas was married to the daughter of Spanish actor Fernando Rey[1] and living in Madrid, where he died prematurely, at age 53, while alone in his apartment, from what appeared to be a stroke.[3] Real's former manager Vicente del Bosque characterized Fleitas as "a man beloved by everyone who lived around the club".[3]

Honours

Real Madrid

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d CorazonBlanco.com (in Spanish)
  2. ^ "Sebastian Fleitas".
  3. ^ a b "Death at 53 for Fleitas, ex-player for Real Madrid", Terra, 14 April 2000 (in Spanish)