Benito Torregaray

Benito Torregaray Múgica (21 March 1908 – 27 December 1942) was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender for Valencia in the 1930s.

Club career Born in the Gipuzkoan town of San Sebastián on 21 March 1908, Torregaray began his career at his hometown club , from which he joined Valencia in 1928, aged 20. Despite being a good-natured man, he quickly stood out as a tough center back due to his imposing physique that overwhelmed his opponents, with the large size of his shoes earning him the nickname El Botas ("the Boots"). He stayed at Valencia for over a decade, from 1928 until 1939, playing more than 200 matches,

International career Torregaray was unable to make his international debut despite being called up for the Spain national team on several occasions, including against England in Highbury on 9 December 1931, due to doubts expressed by Real Madrid's Jacinto Quincoces, but the national manager José María Mateos ultimately opted for Barcelona's Ramón Zabalo, a fellow debutant. At the time, Torregaray and Valencia would earn a substantial bonus for the call-up, so when it was revealed that he was not going to cross the English Channel, the local press stated that "Torregaray, who had already packed his suitcase and distributed a handful of cigars on account of the allowances he was to receive, is left plunged into the greatest disappointment". The following week, on 22 May, Spain lost 3–1 to Sunderland, with Torregaray being one of the most criticized due to his slowness, which resulted in him being dismissed by García. Some sources state that Spain tried to register Torregaray at the last minute because José María Peña had sustained an injury, but the paperwork was not resolved in time.

Death In 1942, Torregaray left Valencia to return to his homeland, San Sebastián, where he worked as a municipal guard, and where he died on 29 December 1942, at the age of 34.

Honours Valencia Segunda División: Champions (1): 1930–31

Valencia Championship: Champions (4): 1931, 1932, 1933, and 1934

Copa del Rey: Runner-up (1): 1934