Julián Cuenca

Julián Cuenca Sánchez (14 November 1923 – 3 February 1969) was a Spanish footballer who played as a midfielder for Atlético Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña.

Biography
Born in Madrid, Cuenca began playing football at his hometown club first in Mediodía and later in Imperio CF in 1943, which at the time served as a subsidiary of Atlético Madrid, who signed him in 1944, and he turned out to be one of the revelations of the colchonero team in that season. He spent the rest of his entire career in the Spanish First Division, playing with Atlético for six years until 1950 and then with Deportivo de La Coruña for seven years until 1957.

At Atlético, he managed to win the League title in 1949–50, and also the 1941–47 FEF President Cup, the longest tournament in the history of Spanish football, playing in the decisive match against Valencia CF in 1947, which had been in stand by since 1941, featuring in defense alongside Aparicio and keeping a clean sheet in a 4–0 win. For the colchonero side, he played 108 competitive matches, including 95 in the league, and scored 7 goals for the club, all of which were in the league; at Deportivo, he scored 11 goals in 135 competitive matches, which were all in the league, so in total, Cuenca scored 18 goals in 230 league matches.

On 29 May 1955, Cuenca received a tribute at the Riazor stadium with a friendly match between Brazilian club Vasco da Gama and Deportivo, which was reinforced by the likes of Alfredo Di Stéfano, as well as the Celtics Pablo Olmedo and Carlos Torres, although Deportivo still lost 1–6.

Cuenca was always a great ball handler, with measured passes into space, very difficult to intercept; he was also very noble on and off the field, never having problems with his teammates.

Death
After hanging up his boots, Cuenca set up a sports equipment establishment in La Coruña next to his colleague Waldo Botana. Cuenca died in Madrid on 3 February 1969, at the age of 45, as a result of cancer.

Honours

 * Atlético Madrid
 * FEF President Cup (1): 1941–47
 * La Liga (1): 1949–50