AgustÃn Sauto Arana

Agustín Arana Sauto called Bata ( born May 11, 1908 in Barakaldo, † August 21, 1986 in Bilbao), a Spanish football player was ( striker ). He played for Athletic Bilbao and was one of the most famous players of Spain in the 1930s.

Club career

Bata began his career with the provincial club Unión de San Vicente de Barakaldo, where he played in youth. After one season he moved to the relatively well-known Basque club FC Barakaldo. At the time, the Primera División was not yet established. The highest league was the Basque. This was played out which teams were allowed to start in the Copa del Rey.

The introduction of the Primera División was the 1928/29 season. Bata initially remained in Barakaldo and landed in the third division with the team on the last place. For the season 1929/30 he moved to Athletic Bilbao in the Primera División. In his first season he was only replacement and came up with only seven missions and a goal. Thus, although he had no particular stake in it, but Athletic was 1930 champion, unbeaten so.

The season 1930/31 meant the final breakthrough for Bata, who scored 27 goals in just 17 games, of which seven in the 12-1 win against FC Barcelona, still the biggest win in the history of the league. At the end of the season he was the only time in his career scorer and helped his team to defend their title.

Was even more pronounced dominance of Bilbao in the Copa del Rey: In the years 1930-1933 the Basques won four consecutive times this prestigious cup competition. With the exception of the first final match Bata belonged always to the root formation of his team. In 1932, he scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win against FC Barcelona. The Cup victory in 1933 was his last with Athletic. The next Cup victory of the Basques took place only in 1943.

More titles could Sauto Arana but win in the league. So it was in 1934 and 1936 with his team of Spanish masters. In the season 1935/36, he managed the feat once again to score more goals than he completed games ( 21 goals in 20 games). Then, the regular operation due to the Spanish Civil War was interrupted for three years.

After the end of the war, Bata decided with 31 years División against a return to the Primera. Instead, he let his career at FC Barakaldo in the Segunda División finish.

National

Although Bata was without a doubt at the time, one of Spain's best strikers, he was only called once in the Spanish national team. This was on 19 April 1931, the case appropriately in a "home game" for Bata. The event took place namely San Mames, the stadium of Athletic Bilbao. The game ended 0-0.

As is customary for good Basque player, he also played for the Basque national team. This completed to date friendly matches with other regional teams of Spain, but also foreign teams.