Albert de Quintana de León

Albert de Quintana de León (5 October 1890 – 18 June 1932) was a Spanish lawyer, politician, and sports leader. Politically, he was the provincial deputy for Gerona in 1918 and 1921, and during the Second Spanish Republic, he was civil governor of Girona and deputy of ERC in the parliament in 1931 and 1932. He is best known, however, for being the first president of Girona FC from 1930 until he died in 1932.

Early life and education Albert de Quintana de León was born on 5 October 1890 in Girona into a family of agricultural owners from Torroella de Montgrí, which had several prominent members in politics, literature, and law, such as his grandfather Alberto de Quintana Combis and cousin , also politicians, this last linked to the CEDA. During his grandfather's last term as overseas minister, he went to Cuba, where his eldest son, Pompeyo de Quintana y Serra (1858–1939), married in 1889 Flora de León y Dorticós, niece of the island's captain general and when the Quintanas returned to the Empordà, this couple had an only child: Albert. On 1 August, the City Council of Girona authorized the club to make use of the city's emblem on its badges. Under his leadership, the board agreed with the Catalan Football Federation to include Girona in the planned expansion of the second division of the Catalan championship, playing its first match against Colónia Artigas.

The board of directors was determined to carry out "a sporting work from Girona, scrupulously democratic and clean of all mercantilism". The fans, who were asked to pay an extraordinary and voluntary fee of at least 2 pesetas to "cover the considerable expenses arising from the competition", made it their own, which led to the renaissance of football in the city. Girona's first squad was built with the footballers linked to the old UD Girona, and three-quarters of the dressing room was from the youth team to reduce the import of players, who received neither salaries nor fixed bonuses, with the club only allocated a modest percentage to them at the end of each match that, according to the local press, "were kept exemplary in a collective book of the Caixa d'Estalvis.

Death In June 1932, when he was only 41 years old and in full parliamentary activity, Quintana de León fell seriously ill, due to sepsis from meningitis. Settled in Madrid's Clínica del Rosario, he was assisted by his wife and the deputy Margarita Nelken, who were joined by his father, Pompeu de Quintana, and numerous personalities and friends, such as Miquel Santaló, Pere Coromines, and many others. Despite the efforts of the medical team, he died suddenly. At the time of his untimely death, he was preparing the defense of the Statute of Catalonia.

His body was transferred to Barcelona, where he received the first expressions of condolence. A car caravan was then formed, with the president Francesc Macià, the councilor Ventura Gassol, and numerous authorities and friends, which accompanied him to Girona. In his city, a procession was formed on foot, which traveled through the streets amid popular commotion, with town halls and republican houses showing their flags at half-mast. The caravan then accompanied him to Torroella de Montgrí. He was buried in the family cemetery, in the middle of persistent rain, with the assistance of Macià, Gassol, and hundreds of friends at all times.