Pedro Mendaro

Pedro Mendaro Sañudo (18 February 1909 – 15 July 1964) was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender for Racing de Santander and Atlético Madrid in the early 1930s.

Playing career Born on 18 February 1909 in the Cantabrian town of Torrelavega, Mendaro began his football career at his hometown club Gimnástica de Torrelavega in 1925, aged 16, where he coincided with both Fernando Ceballos and his first cousin, Fernando Sañudo, who at the time played in the club's youth team.

A left-back, Mendaro was noted for his personality, determination, and courage in his interventions at the back, Mendaro remained at Santander for three years, helping his side survive relegation each time and playing a total of 48 La Liga matches for the club.

In the Madrid derby of 1935, Mendaro came face-to-face with his cousin Sañudo, then a Real Madrid forward; during the first half, they had a violent collision that resulted in both leaving the pitch injured, but while Mendaro was taken to the infirmary, where a double fracture of the tibia and fibula was detected, Sañudo reappeared just a few minutes later, although the local press noted that he also suffered a moral injury "as he felt responsible for the serious injury that he caused on his cousin".

Death Mendaro died on 15 July 1964, at the age of 55.