Atletico Madrid on Monday announced the death of club legend Enrique Collar, who passed away at the age of 91. Collar captained the team to a league title and three domestic cup victories during the 1960s.
In a statement, the club said that “the red and white family loses a symbol who gave everything to take Atletico Madrid to the pinnacle of national and continental football.”
Collar, who played as a left winger, scored 105 goals in 470 appearances for Atletico Madrid between 1953 and 1969. He captained the side for ten years during the 1960s, making him the club’s longest-serving captain.
He scored in the 1960 cup final as Atletico Madrid defeated their long-standing rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. He went on to win two more domestic cups with the club in 1961 and 1965.
His leadership also guided the less glamorous Madrid side to the 1965/66 league title, during a period largely dominated by Real Madrid in the Spanish top flight.
Collar was also part of the Atletico Madrid squad that won the 1962 European Cup Winners’ Cup. At the international level, he earned 16 caps for Spain and featured at the 1962 World Cup in Chile.
He retired from professional football in 1970 after spending a season with Valencia.
