Manuel Cros i Grau

Manuel Cros Grau (1 September 1901 – 1 February 1986) was a Spanish footballer who played as a center-forward for CE Europa and Espanyol. He is considered the most emblematic player in the history of CE Europa and one of the great stars of Catalan football in the 1920s alongside the likes of Zamora and Samitier, with even his haircut (brush style) being known in the barbershops of the time as "Cros's style". He also played two unofficial matches for FC Barcelona, scoring four goals. He later became a manager.

Club career CE Europa Born in Calanda, Cros moved to Catalonia from an early age and always considered himself Catalan. He quickly established himself as an indisputable starter, forming a great attacking partnership with Mauricio, Pellicer and Alcázar. Nevertheless, Barcelona made him a sensational offer: 50,000 pesetas, when his salary was 500 plus bonus per goal scored, but he refused and stayed with Europa. Two months after this incident, in December 1928, Cros played two friendly matches for FC Barcelona against Hungarian club Ferencvárosi TC, netting a hat-trick on Christmas Day in a 4–0 win and scoring once in the following day in a 3–3 draw.

Cros was part of the CE Europa side that participated in the first-ever edition of the Spanish League in 1929, being one of the tournament's top scorers with 11 goals. The first player to score a hat-trick in La Liga was Real Madrid's Jaime Lazcano in matchday one against CE Europa, but his treble was interrupted by a goal from teammate Rafael Morera while Cros's netted his three goals consecutively.

Playing style Cros was a pure center-forward by the standards of the time. He was called the Tiger, a relentless auctioneer "with the charge of a buffalo".

Managerial career After retiring Cros coached several modest clubs such as CE Manresa (1941–42), UE Sant Andreu (1946–47), and CD Atlético Baleares (1948–49).

Legacy In 1967, Cros was awarded the silver medal by the Catalan Football Federation. Cros died in Barcelona on 1 February 1986, at the age of 84.

Despite being considered the most emblematic player in the history of CE Europa, no one with a profound interest in Europa's history knew that Cros had scored the first pure hat-trick in the history of La Liga until recently when an article by the football magazine Don Balón published in 2007, while the club was celebrating its centenary, revealed this fact that allowed Europa to star again in the history of national football.

On 26 March 2023, a plaque in memory of Manuel Cros Grau was unveiled in recognition of his sporting career in the passage located between Pau Alsina Street and Sardenya Street under the Nou Sardenya stadium. The event was attended by the councilor of the District of Gracia, Eloi Badia, the councilor of Nomenclàtor i Memòria of the District of Gracia, Àngels Tomás, as well as family and friends.

Honours CE Europa Catalan championship: Champions (1): 1922–23

Copa del Rey: Runner-up (1): 1923