Antoni Anguera i Bernaus

Antonio Anguera Bernaus (17 February 1921 – 1 September 1993) was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender for UE Lleida and FC Barcelona.

Early life Antonio Anguera was born on 17 February 1921 in Térmens, Lleida as the son of Antoni and Brígida, and began playing football in Lleida in 1933, at the age of just 12, in the (Lleida Labor School team). Despite quickly falling in love with this sport, his parents, who ran an awning business, did not view his son's hobby very favorably, but his father's first cousin, Enric Bernaus, was his number one fan. He quickly established himself as an undisputed starter, since he always offered his best and gave everything for the Barça shirt.

However, the annoyances were always there and they did not disappear. In the following season, 1941–42, Anguera did not play until the sixth matchday, against Real Sociedad in San Sebastián (2–0), but he had to take a step back after a match against Granada CF on 15 February 1942, which was his last official match. While at Barça, the club won the 1942 Copa del Generalísimo, but he did not contribute to the title since he did not play any cup match due to the discomfort he suffered. Before the matches in Les Corts, "they warmed up on the way to the field, walking with a firm step and taking a carajillo in the bar before dressing in shorts". In total, he played 37 official matches for Barça.

In Barcelona, he cultivated friendships with Manuel Rosalén, José Bravo, and the presidents Marqués de la Mesa de Asta and Josep Vendrell.

Later career Anguera had to have surgery, but his father told him to "stop fooling around, to get to work", but Anguera kept pursuing his passion and, with great pain, returned to Lérida Balompié in the 1942–43 season, although his injured heel only allowed him to line up in one match and he ended up retiring from football at the age of just 22.

Playing style From a hard-working family, Anguera transmitted these values on the field, protected by a well-built physique. Bernaus stated years later that Anguera "was all nerve, speed, and sacrifice".

Later life After retiring, Anguera joined the awning business run by his father, who also had a small store where he sold suitcases, wallets, purses, and other merchandise. He lived in Lleida, but regularly went down to Barcelona to watch their matches. On one occasion, Anguera told Nicolau Casaus, then vice-president of Barcelona, that the ex-players should have a seat in the Camp Nou, since he wanted his grandchildren to know in which team his grandfather had played, but Casaus replied that if the board did that, they would have to expand the field.

Fond of hunting, he exhausted even the dogs, and "sometimes he returned home burdened with how tired they were".

Death In May 1989, Anguera followed Barcelona by car to the 1989 European Cup Winners' Cup final in Bern with his cousins Josep, Francesc, and Lluís Bernaus, which Barça won 2–0. He died in Lleida five months later, on 1 September 1993 at the age of 72, the victim of an illness.

In July 2015, his widow, the 91-year-old Nati, was presented with the 'Great dictionary of Barça players', in which Anguera shines on page 32.