Spencer (Spanish footballer)

Enrique Gómez Muñoz (20 July 1898 – 14 March 1926), known as Spencer, was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Gómez and the second or maternal family name is Muñoz.
Spencer
Personal information
Full name Enrique Gómez Muñoz
Date of birth (1898-07-20)20 July 1898
Place of birth Seville, Spain
Date of death 14 March 1926(1926-03-14) (aged 27)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1913–1926 Sevilla
International career
1923 Spain 1 (0)
1922–1924 Andalusia 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Seville, Andalusia, Spencer spent the vast majority of his career at hometown club Sevilla FC, whom he joined in 1913 at the age of 15. In the 1914–15 season he changed his football nickname, which until then was Enrique, to Spencer, to mislead his father, who wanted him to stop playing football to concentrate on studies.[1]

Spencer also represented Real Oviedo, after being relocated to the city to perform his military service.[2]

International career

On 16 December 1923, in only the 12th fixture of their existence, Spencer received his only cap for the Spanish national team, a 3–0 friendly win over neighbours Portugal. The match took place in his native city, and he along with Herminio became the first Sevilla players to feature in international football.[3]

Being a Sevilla FC player he was eligible to play for the Andalusia national team, making his debut in the team's first-ever game on 19 November 1922, a quarter-final match of the 1922-23 Prince of Asturias Cup against the Valencian Community team, which ended in a 2–1 win. Both he and Herminio represented Andalusia in the 1923-24 edition, and both of them scored a goal in the tournament, Spencer netted the winner against the Valencian team in a 3–2 win in the quarter-finals, while Herminio netted the consolation goal against a Castille/Madrid XI in a 1–2 loss in the semi-finals.[4]

Death

Due to complications from surgery for appendicitis, Spencer died on 14 March 1926 aged 27. Later that day, a minute's silence was observed before Sevilla's home match against Real Madrid in that year's Copa del Rey. After the game, players from both teams carried his casket to the cemetery, with thousands of fans in attendance.[5]

References
  1. "Enrique Gómez Muñoz, 'Spencer': una apendicitis se llevó el arte de Triana" [Enrique Gómez Muñoz, ‘Spencer': appendicitis took away the Triana art] (in Spanish). Perarnau Magazine. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  2. "Spencer" (in Spanish). Palanganas. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  3. "España ha batido por tercera vez a Portugal, por 3 a 0" [Spain have beaten Portugal for the third time, 3 goals to nil] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 17 December 1923. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  4. Vicente Martínez Calatrava (17 August 2009). "La Copa Príncipe de Asturias" [The Prince of Asturias Cup] (in Spanish). CIHEFE. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  5. "El R. Madrid bate de extrema justeza al Sevilla por 1 a 0" [R. Madrid rightfully beat Sevilla 1 goal to nil] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 15 March 1926. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
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