Manuel Oro

Manuel Oro Comas (3 January 1909 – 11 May 2002) was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender for FC Barcelona, RCD Espanyol, and Real Murcia.

Footballing career Club career Born on 3 January 1909 in the Barcelona neighborhood of La Sagrera, Oro began his footballing career in the ranks of CE Júpiter, a team from the Barcelona neighborhood of La Verneda, where he played until 1930, year in which was acquired by FC Barcelona. He stayed at Barcelona for only one season, in which he played 23 games, including four competitive matches in the Catalan championship, which Barça won. when he was signed by RCD Espanyol, where he again had few chances, playing in only three La Liga matches in two seasons. During this period, he was sort of a Blaugrana ambassador in Murcia, since he always maintained a very good relationship with Barça and its sports commission, which was mostly made up of "friends" and Pepe Planas, who had also played for Murcia and to whom Oro reported about interesting players in Murcia, such as José Bravo, Luis Miró, Galcerán, and Benito García, who were all successful in Les Corts. On 16 May 1937, Oro earned his second and last cap for Catalonia against his former club FC Barcelona, in a match directed to help the Mutual Sports Club and the State's Civil War front, ending in a 4–4 draw.

Military career During the Civil War, Oro was mobilized by the Republic and, despite not having a driving licence, he spent the entire war driving a Katiuska truck; he never got behind the wheel of a vehicle again.

Death Oro was the oldest living player in the history of Barcelona at the time of his death in Barcelona on 11 May 2002, at the age of 92. On the following day, Barcelona players wore black armbands in the last matchday of the league season against Real Zaragoza as a sign of mourning.

Honours FC Barcelona Catalan championship: Champions (1): 1930–31

Real Murcia Segunda División: Champions (1): 1939–40