Isidro Lángara, the greatest Spanish goal scorer of all time according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), signed for Real Oviedo on this day 90 years ago, on the 1st December 1930.
He began his career as a professional footballer upon signing for Real Oviedo aged 18, and would go on to become the top scorer in the Primera División in three consecutive Spanish league seasons. He would also be considered the greatest centre forward on the planet following his performances in the 1934 World Cup.
The young Isidro arrived in Oviedo by train with both excitement and uncertainty regarding his future. At the age of 18 he had barely travelled outside of his native Basque Country prior to the move.
He made his debut in a Segunda División match against Athletic Club de Madrid at Teatinos stadium, just a few days after arriving in the capital of Asturias and having barely trained with his new team. Despite this, he left his mark on his very first Real Oviedo match. Los Carbayones triumphed 4-1 and Lángara scored two of his side's goals.
It could reasonably be said that from that point on he did not stop scoring goals. This was particularly true after he moved from his previous position as an inside left forward to instead play as a central striker.
Lángara was crowned top scorer in Segunda in the 1931-32 season. He continued to demonstrate his amazing goal scoring ability the following year and was a key figure in Real Oviedo's promotion to Primera.
Lángara's first three seasons in Primera saw him claim the top scorer title every year without fail. He won the annual award in the 1933-34, 1934-35, and 1935-36 seasons. His reign as the best goal scorer in Spanish football was only cut short by the Spanish Civil War. Lángara was forced to travel far from home, crossing the Atlantic, but even that wasn't enough to stop him scoring goals and enjoying success.
He was crowned top scorer in the Argentine First Division in 1940, before repeating the feat at the highest level of Mexican football in 1944 and 1946.
Towards the end of his playing days Lángara wanted to return to Real Oviedo. Upon doing so he was welcomed by the Oviedistas as what he was: a true icon. His return to the capital of Asturias in 1946, where he was truly adored, turned into a real social event. Thousands of people turned out onto the streets to welcome back somebody who was still considered to be one of their own, despite the years that had past since his first stint at the club. He had been dearly missed.
Now aged 34, Lángara did not have the same strength as before, but he was still a great footballer. He still scored a fair number of goals, including the odd hattrick, just like in the old days, and he still offered glorious afternoons to the Oviedistas. When he was eventually forced into retirement by injury and his advancing years, he left behind an incredible goal-per-game ratio. He scored 105 goals in 90 matches in the Primera División, at a rate of 1.16 goals per game. To this day, no other player has been able to equal or better that goal rate, in more than 90 years of Spanish league football. Isidro Lángara is the only Spanish player who features on the list of the greatest first-division goal scorers in the whole world, compiled by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
