Enrique Collar, an iconic figure of Atlético de Madrid, died on Monday at the age of 91, as confirmed by the club. The forward served as team captain for a decade and won several key titles in his career.
Enrique Collar, born in San Juan de Aznalfarache (Seville), joined Atlético de Madrid's youth academy at a young age. He made his league debut in September 1953 and played until March 1969, appearing in 468 matches and scoring 105 goals for the red-and-white team. As captain from 1960 to 1969, he led the club to memorable victories, including the 1966 League title, three Copas del Generalísimo in 1960, 1961, and 1965, and the 1962 European Cup Winners' Cup.
Known for his skillful left foot, speed, and dribbling, Collar paired with Joaquín Peiró to form the duo dubbed 'El Ala Infernal.' In 1960, he captained Atlético to its first Copa win at Chamartín against Real Madrid (3-1), with goals from Miguel Jones, Peiró, and himself. The following year, they repeated the success in the same stadium (3-2). The 1962 Cup Winners' Cup was sealed in Stuttgart with a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina, courtesy of goals from Jones, Mendonça, and Peiró.
In 1959, he featured in the European Cup under Ferdinand Daucik, where the team fell in the semifinals to Real Madrid. Collar bid farewell on May 28, 1972, in a testimonial match against Bayern Munich, receiving a gold badge from president Vicente Calderón.
He spent only two seasons away from Atlético: on loan at Real Murcia in 1955, achieving promotion, and with Valencia in 1969, playing 15 league games and two in the Fairs Cup. He ranks seventh in all-time appearances for the club, behind players like Koke and Adelardo.
For the Spanish national team, from 1955 to 1963, he earned 16 caps and scored five goals, but missed the winning Euro tournament and played just one match in the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, including a 1-2 loss to Brazil in Viña del Mar. Atlético mourned him as 'one of its symbols, an emblematic player, a reference of his era, and an unmatched footballer of his time'.
