Chuzo (footballer)

Chuzo
Personal information
Full name Antonio González Álvarez
Date of birth (1940-01-28)28 January 1940
Place of birth Antequera, Spain
Date of death 11 December 2025(2025-12-11) (aged 85)
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position Defender
Youth career
Antequerano
Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1957–1963 Atlético Madrid 103 (13)
1963–1971 Málaga 128 (18)
Total 231 (31)
International career
1957–1958 Spain U18 9 (13)
1960 Spain B 1 (0)
1960 Spain 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Antonio González Álvarez, commonly known as Chuzo (28 January 1940 – 11 December 2025), was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Born in Antequera, Málaga, Chuzo made his professional debut with Atlético Madrid, first appearing in La Liga at the age of just 17. Even though he never played one full schedule during his six-year spell with the capital club, he started in all but one of the games he appeared in.

In the 1962–63 season, after having helped the Colchoneros to back-to-back Copa del Rey trophies and the 1962 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (he played in the first match of the final against ACF Fiorentina, in Glasgow)[1] Chuzo scored an astonishing nine goals in only 14 matches, with Atlético finishing in second position in the league behind neighbouring Real Madrid.

After winning the European accolade, Chuzo signed for local CD Málaga, playing with the Andalusians during eight years,[2] suffering top flight relegation twice and appearing rarely in his final years. Over the course of ten professional seasons he appeared in 146 games, netting 14 goals.

International career

On 30 October 1960, Chuzo played his first and only game for the Spain national team, appearing in a 3–0 friendly loss to Austria in Vienna.[3]

Personal life and death

Chuzo's hometown of Antequera has named a street after him.[4] He died on 11 December 2025, at the age of 85.[5]

Honours

Atlético Madrid

Spain U18

References

  1. ^ "El Atletico de Madrid y La Fiorentina empataron a uno después de 120 minutos de juego" (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 11 May 1962.
  2. ^ "Los 25 mejores jugadores de la historia del Málaga" (in Spanish). Diario AS. 7 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Homenajean al ex internacional antequerano Chuzo" (in Spanish). Diario Sur. 21 June 2008.
  4. ^ "La calle Chuzo de Antequera ya luce imagen renovada" (in Spanish). Málaga Hoy. 8 July 2022.
  5. ^ Fallece Chuzo, el primer internacional malagueño con España (in Spanish)