Francisco Garate

Francisco Gárate Bergareche (11 January 1907 – 27 September 1986) was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward for Athletic Bilbao in the early 1940s.

Playing career Born in the Biscayan town of Durango on 11 January 1907, Gárate began his career at his hometown club Cultural Durango in 1934, aged 17. He was soon signed by Athletic Bilbao, making his official debut with the first team on 21 October 1934, in a Biscay Championship match against Arenas de Getxo, helping his side to a 5–2 win. Together with Bata, Hermenegildo Elices, and Guillermo Gorostiza, he played a crucial role in the Bilbao team that won the 1935–36 La Liga, scoring 8 goals in 20 La Liga matches. His career was then interrupted by the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, in which he joined the Naval, where he briefly played for Deportivo Alavés in the 1938–39 season, as well as one friendly for Barcelona against Espanyol on 11 July 1939. although he only started in the latter final, helping his side to a 3–2 victory over Valencia. In total, he scored 57 goals in 135 official matches for Athletic, He managed to recover, however, announcing his return in September 1944, and playing with Athletic for a further two years, until 1946.

Death Gárate died in Durango on 27 September 1986, at the age of 79.

Honours

Athletic Bilbao La Liga: Champions (2): 1935–36 and 1942–43

Copa del Rey: Champions (3): 1943, 1944, and 1945

Biscay Championship: Champions (2): 1934–35 and 1939–40