Marcos Alonso (footballer, born 1959)


Marcos Alonso Peña is a Spanish retired footballer and manager.
Known simply as Marcos in his playing days, he played mainly as a right winger but appeared also as a forward, amassing La Liga totals of 302 games and 46 goals over the course of 13 seasons, ten of which were spent with Atlético Madrid and Barcelona.
A Spanish international during the 1980s, Marcos represented the nation at Euro 1984, helping it finish second.

Club career

Marcos was born in Santander, Cantabria. After passing unsuccessfully through Real Madrid's youth ranks, he made his La Liga debuts for hometown's Racing Club de Santander, still not aged 18, being already an automatic first-choice in his second professional season, which ended in relegation.
His 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 the 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 Bucureşti, in a penalty shootout loss, as goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam saved all taken attempts. He retired in 1991 after an unassuming return to Atlético Madrid, and after helping first club Racing return to the second division.
Subsequently, Marcos became a coach. In his first experience he led lowly Rayo Vallecano to a first-ever win at Real Madrid in the latter's ground, managing Sevilla FC afterwards.
In the 2000s, Alonso coached Atlético Madrid – second level, no promotion – Real Zaragoza, Real Valladolid, Málaga CF and Granada 74 CF.

International career

Marcos 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.

International goals

Personal life

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

Honours

Club

Barcelona
Racing Santander
Spain