Ángel Arocha: Tenerife's First Spain International, Barcelona Star, Civil War Casualty

Ángel Arocha Guillén, born in Santa Cruz but originally from Granadilla de Abona, was one of the most talented strikers to come from CD Tenerife's youth academy. He made his debut with the first team at just 15 years old. Although his time with the senior squad was short, his connection to the club remains very symbolic.

His exceptional skills led to him being called up for the Spanish national team, making him the first player from Tenerife to play for "La Roja." He also played for FC Barcelona, where he made club history by becoming one of their top ten goal scorers of all time.

After a later period at Atlético de Aviación (now Atlético de Madrid), Arocha tragically died in a bombing on September 2, 1938, on the Balaguer front in Lleida, during the Spanish Civil War.

The story and career of this football legend might have been largely forgotten if not for the work of journalists Juan Galarza, Luis Padilla, and Juan S. Sánchez. These authors have written two books documenting the history of the 36 Canary Island players who have played for Spain. Arocha's story is central to this collection.

In 1927, football in the Canary Islands was still dealing with the effects of a recent provincial split. Because of this, clubs weren't yet competing in official regional tournaments. Instead, they mostly played friendly matches while waiting for the new setup. "There had been attempts at tournaments before, but nothing really took off," explains Luis Padilla, one of the authors.

It wasn't until the 1927-28 season that official competitions became established in the Islands.

Going back to the early 1920s, a strong, dark-haired young man was already making a name for himself on the island. "He came from a football-loving family; two of his brothers had previously played for CD Tenerife," notes Padilla.

Arocha debuted in a tribute match for two club legends, Joaquín Cárdenas and Raúl Molowny. It was on April 5, 1925, and the result was a clear 2-0 victory, with both goals scored by the new star for CD Tenerife. In total, he would score 73 goals in 77 matches for the club.

His impressive performances caught the eye of FC Barcelona. The Catalan club signed Arochita, adding him to a dream team that included Paulino Alcántara and Josep Samitier. During six seasons with Barcelona, he played 210 matches, including official and friendly games, scoring 203 goals. This record places him among the players with the best goal-scoring average in the club's history.

One of Arocha's most famous moments happened in the summer of 1929. After winning their first league title, Barça stopped in Tenerife's capital on their way to South America. Thousands of people flocked to the pier to welcome their former player. Reports from that time say he was "carried on shoulders to CD Tenerife's headquarters" on Clavel Street.

"He was always very close to Tenerife, playing numerous friendly matches with the club and even giving away the match ball from a Copa del Rey final," Padilla recalls.

The forward was also known for playing as a goalkeeper. In fact, in the inaugural match at the Heliodoro stadium, he is remembered for defending the goalposts and also scoring the second goal of the match. This dual talent, as both a scorer and a shot-stopper, led to him being a minor character in a famous work from Spain's Silver Age of literature.

"Bleeding in the buttonholes, bleeding for you, Platko, for you, blood of Hungary, without your blood, your impulse, your save, your leap, the insignia feared. No one, Platko, no one, no one forgets." This is how Rafael Alberti, a key figure of the Generation of '27, immortalized Atlético de Madrid's goalkeeper, Franz Platko. Platko was injured after a hard blow during the first match of the 1928 Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona.

The goalkeeper left the field, leaving his team with one less player (substitutions weren't allowed back then).

At this point, Arocha stepped in. Though the poem didn't mention him, he took over as goalkeeper in place of the Hungarian until Platko recovered.

"It's a small detail, but what's amazing is that no goals were scored against him in those 30 minutes," Padilla notes with a laugh, recalling the historic episode that inspired one of the famous works by the poet from Cádiz.

On April 26, 1931, Arocha debuted with the Spanish national team at Montjuïc stadium, in a 1-1 draw against Ireland. This made him the first player from Tenerife in history to play for Spain.

The match was played just twelve days after the proclamation of the Second Republic, which meant changing the emblem on the jersey and removing the crown.

He only played one more match with the national team, the return game against the Irish team, which Spain won convincingly 5-0, with Arocha scoring two goals.

The Civil War interrupted his career, and he ultimately lost his life in the conflict. He volunteered for the Nationalist army (the authors suggest "due to religious beliefs") and fought on the Balaguer front, where Republican forces launched several counterattacks in the spring and summer of 1938. Arocha was killed during an air raid while resting in a trench near Castelló de Farfaña.

His sporting legacy, however, has gained recognition over time. Luis Padilla emphasizes the importance of remembering him: a legend for both CD Tenerife and Barcelona, deeply connected to his home island, and a pioneer of football there.

"He is recognized as an institution within Barcelona's history. With his eventful, successful life and tragic end, Arocha is undoubtedly one of the first true legends of Tenerife football," concludes Padilla.