Bonifacio Echeverría

Bonifacio Echeverria Esponda (4 October 1886 – unknown) was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender for Club Ciclista and Real Sociedad in the early 20th century.

Early life Bonifacio Echeverria was born on 4 October 1886 in Ayacucho, Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the son of a Spanish Basque father from San Sebastián and a French Basque mother from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Lower Navarre.

Club career Early career Echeverria arrived in Spain in 1903, first in Barcelona, then in San Sebastián, where he played for the San Sebastián Recreation Club, and was then one of the founders of San Sebastián FC in 1908.

Club Ciclista Players from Club Ciclista celebrating with the 1909 Copa del Rey trophy. Echeverria returned to San Sebastián in time to participate in the 1909 Copa del Rey, this team under the umbrella of another local club, Club Ciclista de San Sebastián, and together with the Sena brothers (Alfonso and Miguel), Charles Simmons, and George McGuinness, he was a member of the Club Ciclista team that won the tournament, beating Español de Madrid 3–1 in the final. In total, he played seven matches for Club Ciclista, winning five of them.

Real Sociedad A few months after this victory, the players who had won the tournament together with José Berraondo founded the Sociedad de Football (now known as Real Sociedad) on 7 September 1909, definitively disassociating themselves from the Cycling Club. Sociedad participated in the 1910 Copa del Rey (UECF) using, again, the umbrella of another local club, the Vasconia Sporting Club, and this group proved their worth again by reaching the final (UECF), which they lost 0–1 to Athletic, courtesy of a goal from Remigio Iza. Also in 1910, Real Sociedad participated in the inaugural edition of the Pyrenees Cup, helping his side reach the final, which ended in a 1–2 loss to FC Barcelona.

Echeverría played his last Copa del Rey match in 1911; afterwards, he only played in the regional championship. He remained loyal to Sociedad until his retirement in 1913, aged 26.

Honours Club Ciclista Copa del Rey: 1909

Real Sociedad Copa del Rey: Runner-up 1910,