José Eulogio Gárate

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Lore & Background

Gárate was born to Basque parents in Argentina and grew up in Eibar, Spain. He began his career with SD Eibar in 1960 before joining SD Indautxu in 1963. Just like two earlier Indautxu players, Chus Pereda and Miguel Jones, he was controversially overlooked by Athletic Bilbao and like Jones he eventually joined Atlético Madrid. Along with Luis Aragonés, Adelardo, Javier Irureta, Enrique Collar, and Ufarte, he was a prominent member of the successful Atlético side of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Gárate helped the team win La Liga three times, the Copa del Generalísimo twice, reach the final of the European Cup and win the Intercontinental Cup. He was a notable goalscorer, winning the Pichichi three consecutive seasons (1968 to 1970) and scoring the winning goals in the 1972 and 1976 Copa del Generalísimo finals. During his time at Atlético, Gárate played 241 games and scored 135 goals.

In Their Own Story

Gárate's career began with SD Eibar in 1960 before moving to SD Indautxu in 1963. Overlooked by Athletic Bilbao, he joined Atlético Madrid, where he became a key figure. In the 1972 Copa del Generalísimo final, he scored the winning goal. Four years later, in the 1976 final, he again scored the winner. His three consecutive Pichichi titles from 1968 to 1970 marked him as one of the most consistent scorers in Spanish football. He played 241 games for Atlético, scoring 135 goals, and made 18 appearances for Spain, netting 5 times. His international career spanned from 1967 to 1975, but Spain's failure to qualify for major tournaments meant he never played in a World Cup or European Championship finals.

Reader's Guide

Gárate played 18 times for Spain and scored 5 goals. He made his debut on 22 October 1967 against Czechoslovakia and played his last game against Romania on 17 April 1975. During this period Spain failed to qualify for either the European Championships or World Cup, and as a result he never played in the finals of a major international competition.

Did You Know?

• Gárate won the Pichichi Trophy three consecutive seasons (1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71).
• He scored the winning goals in the 1972 and 1976 Copa del Generalísimo finals.
• Gárate was born in Argentina to Basque parents and grew up in Eibar, Spain.