Pere Gratacós
Encyclopedia
Pere Gratacós Boix is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a central defender, and a current coach.
, Catalonia
, Gratacós arrived at FC Barcelona
's youth system in 1974, aged 16, going to play for several of its youth teams. He made his professional debuts with Real Valladolid
in 1979–80, on loan, helping to a Segunda División
promotion, and returning to play a further three years with Barças reserves
, where he was awarded team captaincy.
Gratacós appeared in five official games with Barcelona's first team, but never in La Liga
, leaving the club in 1983, and joining fellow top-divisioner CA Osasuna
, playing in only two games in his first season in the main division, and none whatsoever in the second. In the 1985 off-season he returned to his native region and signed for UE Figueres
in Segunda División B
, helping to an immediate promotion to the second level.
Gratacós was an automatic first-choice for Figueres during his eight-year spell, when healthy - started in all but seven of the league games he appeared in. After the club's relegation in 1993, he retired from football, at the age of 35.
manager, he was in charge of two amateur teams - also in Catalonia - during four 1/2 seasons, returning to his main club in 2001, and making history as the club became the first team in the third division to reach the semifinals of the Copa del Rey
, eventually losing 1–2 on aggregate against Deportivo de La Coruña
, after previously ousting, amongst others, Barcelona and Osasuna.
In 2003, Gratacós returned to Barcelona's reserves, leading the side to two midtable finishes in level three; Subsequently, he coached the Catalonia national team
in six friendly games
.
In January 2010, Gratacós returned to Barcelona, being appointed director of Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper
, the club's training ground and academy.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who played as a central defender, and a current coach.
Playing career
Born in BesalúBesalú
Besalú is a town in the comarca of Garrotxa, in Catalonia, Spain.The town's importance was greater in the early Middle Ages, as capital of the county of Besalú, whose territory was roughly the same size as the current comarca of Garrotxa but sometime extended as far as Corbières, Aude, in France....
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Gratacós arrived at FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
's youth system in 1974, aged 16, going to play for several of its youth teams. He made his professional debuts with Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
in 1979–80, on loan, helping to a Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
promotion, and returning to play a further three years with Barças reserves
FC Barcelona B
Futbol Club Barcelona B is a Spanish football team. They are the reserve team of FC Barcelona. Reserve teams in the Spanish football league system play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their...
, where he was awarded team captaincy.
Gratacós appeared in five official games with Barcelona's first team, but never in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, leaving the club in 1983, and joining fellow top-divisioner CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
, playing in only two games in his first season in the main division, and none whatsoever in the second. In the 1985 off-season he returned to his native region and signed for UE Figueres
UE Figueres
Unió Esportiva Figueres is a Spanish football team based in Figueres, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1919 and refounded in 2007, it plays in Primera Catalana, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Vilatenim, with a seating capacity of 9,472.-History:Figueres was first...
in Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, helping to an immediate promotion to the second level.
Gratacós was an automatic first-choice for Figueres during his eight-year spell, when healthy - started in all but seven of the league games he appeared in. After the club's relegation in 1993, he retired from football, at the age of 35.
Coaching career
Gratacós started coaching one year after retiring, although he had already worked with Figueres in directorial capacities. After a brief spell as an interimInterim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
manager, he was in charge of two amateur teams - also in Catalonia - during four 1/2 seasons, returning to his main club in 2001, and making history as the club became the first team in the third division to reach the semifinals of the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
, eventually losing 1–2 on aggregate against Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
, after previously ousting, amongst others, Barcelona and Osasuna.
In 2003, Gratacós returned to Barcelona's reserves, leading the side to two midtable finishes in level three; Subsequently, he coached the Catalonia national team
Catalonia national football team
Catalonia national football team is the official football team of Catalonia. It is organized by the Catalonia Football Federation. The team has been referred to by various names including Selecció Catalana, Selecció de Barcelona and the Catalan XI...
in six friendly games
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
.
In January 2010, Gratacós returned to Barcelona, being appointed director of Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper
Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper
The Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper is the training ground and academy base of Catalan football club, FC Barcelona, it was officially opened on June 1, 2006, and was named in honor of Joan Gamper, founder of the club....
, the club's training ground and academy.