Marcos Alonso (footballer, born 1959)

Marcos Alonso Peña (1 October 1959 – 9 February 2023) was a Spanish football player and manager.

Known simply as Marcos in his playing days, he played mainly as a right winger but also as a forward. He amassed La Liga totals of 302 games and 46 goals over 13 seasons, with five being spent at Atlético Madrid and five at Barcelona.

A Spain international during the 1980s, Marcos represented the nation at Euro 1984, helping it to finish second. He later worked as a coach.

Club career
Marcos was born in Santander, Cantabria. Following an unsuccessful spell in Real Madrid's academy, he made his La Liga debut aged 17 with his hometown side Racing de Santander. He was first choice in his position during his second professional season, which ended in relegation.

Marcos' reputation continued to grow at Atlético Madrid, and he was at the time the country's most expensive signing when FC Barcelona paid 150 million pesetas for his services in 1982. In his first year he scored six goals in 30 matches in the league, and also an injury time header against Real Madrid in that campaign's Copa del Rey final, which ended with a 2–1 win.

However, Marcos was also one of four Barça players who failed to find the net in the final of the 1985–86 European Cup against FC Steaua București, in a penalty shootout loss, as goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam saved all taken attempts. He retired in 1991 after a return to Atlético Madrid, marred by a serious knee injury, and after helping his first club Racing to return to the Segunda División.

Subsequently, Alonso became a coach. In his first experience he led lowly Rayo Vallecano to a first-ever victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (2–1), managing Racing and Sevilla FC afterwards (one top-flight promotion with the latter followed by immediate relegation).

In the 2000s, Alonso was in charge of Atlético Madrid – second tier, no promotion – Real Zaragoza, Real Valladolid, Málaga CF and Granada 74 CF.

International career
Alonso earned 22 caps for Spain, the first coming on 25 March 1981 in a 2–1 friendly win in England. He represented the nation at UEFA Euro 1984, being an unused squad member in an eventual runner-up finish.

Personal life and death
Alonso's father, Marcos Alonso Imaz, was also a footballer, who represented Real Madrid in the 1950s and 1960s. His son Marcos Alonso Mendoza also played in the club's youth system and with Spain.

Alonso died on 9 February 2023 at age 63, due to cancer.

Career statistics

 * Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Alonso goal.

Honours
Barcelona
 * La Liga: 1984–85
 * Copa del Rey: 1982–83; runner-up 1983–84, 1985–86
 * Supercopa de España: 1983; runner-up 1985
 * Copa de la Liga: 1983
 * European Cup runner-up: 1985–86

Racing Santander
 * Segunda División B: 1990–91

Spain
 * UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1984