Francesc Cruzate i Grenzner

Francisco Cruzate Grenzner (7 July 1878 – 2 September 1910) was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward for FC Barcelona during the first three seasons of the club's life and an athlete who stood out in athletic events, being considered the first Spanish record holder in the 800 metres run, which he set on 25 November 1900.

Biography On 10 December 1899, Cruzate participated in the first organized athletic event held in Spain, which took place in the surroundings of the Casanovas hotel in Barcelona, currently occupied by the San Pablo hospital, and consisted of a race over approximately 800m (two 400-meter straights and a curve), which he won ahead of second-placed Joan Gamper, who had founded FC Barcelona just two weeks before, on 29 November, and who had played in the club's first-ever match just two days before. Cruzate, however, only debuted for Barça two weeks later, on Christmas Eve, in a 3–1 win over Català FC. He played a further four matches for Barcelona between 1900 and 1902, although he did not get to play any official matches, only friendly matches.

In November 1900, on the occasion of the inauguration of the first FC Barcelona field, also next to the Casanovas hotel (supposedly on the same site where the previous year's race took place), two races were organized, 100 and 800 meters, this one going around the field four times, unlike the one organized the previous year, which had much longer straights.

According to the press of 20 October 1900, Cruzate was named director of foot races for FC Barcelona, a kind of precedent for the club's athletics section. He had a testimonial participation as a football player, but later he became a very active element in recruiting new players for the Blaugrana club.