Real Madrid and Cordoba will meet at the Nuevo Arcangel stadium on Saturday in a clash with no recent history in the first division. Yet, the Andalusian club has a very important link with Los Blancos: Vicente del Bosque.
The former Los Merengues manager made his La Liga debut as a player for Cordoba before becoming a Madridista legend. Cordoba signed Del Bosque from Real Madrid Castilla in the 1971/72 season. The current Spanish national team coach was 20 years old back then, and Los Blancos directors decided to send him on loan to the Andalusian club so he could get minutes under his belt in the first division.
Del Bosque made his official debut on October 17th 1921 in Cordoba’s 3-1 victory over Espanyol. That was his first game in La Liga, but that season he would go on to make 19 appearances and play a total 1439 minutes.
Del Bosque could not prevent Cordoba from being relegated that year. Thus, the following season he wouldn’t continue playing in the southern city and moved to Castellon, also on a loan deal.
However, before leaving Cordoba, he handed Real Madrid a big favour. Los Blancos were fighting for the title with Barcelona, and the Azulgranas faced Cordoba in La Liga’s last match of the campaign knowing that a victory would give them the championship. Yet the Andalusians, led by Del Bosque, beat Barca 1-0 despite being relegated and helped Real Madrid win the league.
