Antonio Puchades
A Spanish midfield anchor whose toughness and loyalty made him a symbol of Valencia CF during the club's formative golden age.
1925–2013 (age 88)·Spanish footballer·Birthday: June 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Antonio Puchades Casanova was the embodiment of grit and commitment in the heart of Valencia's midfield. Born in 1925, his career unfolded in the post-war era, a time when Spanish football was rebuilding its identity. Puchades spent his entire 12-year professional career at Valencia CF, a remarkable feat of loyalty. Stationed as a defensive midfielder, he was not a flashy player but an essential one—a breaker of attacks, a tireless runner, and a leader by example. His tenure coincided with a significant period for the club, as they solidified their place among Spain's elite. He was part of the Valencia sides that challenged for La Liga titles and became a fixture in the top half of the table. To the fans of *Los Che*, Puchades represented a core value: unwavering dedication to the shirt. His legacy is that of a one-club man whose work laid a foundation for future successes.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Antonio was born in 1925, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Antonio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1925
#1 Movie
The Gold Rush
Antonio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1925Born
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1930Started school
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1938Became a teenager
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Could drive
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1943Could vote
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1946Turned 21
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1955Turned 30
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 40
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 50
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 60
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 70
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 80
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Died at 88
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Made over 250 official appearances for Valencia CF between 1946 and 1958.
- Was a key component of the Valencia team that finished as runners-up in La Liga in the 1948-49 season.
- Earned a single cap for the Spanish national team in 1952.
- His consistent performances helped establish Valencia as a permanent top-flight club after a period of instability.
Did You Know?
A stand at Valencia's Mestalla stadium was named in his honor, the "Grada Antonio Puchades".
He was known by the nickname "Puchades de Siete Piernas" (Puchades of Seven Legs) for his incredible stamina and ground coverage.
After retiring, he served Valencia CF in various administrative and ambassadorial roles for decades.
He passed away in Valencia in 2013 at the age of 87.
“This shirt is my skin; I will only wear the colors of Valencia.”
