Mundo, the Barakaldo great who became Valencia’s record scorer and twice denied Athletic | OneFootball

Barakaldo-born Edmundo Suárez, Mundo, is Valencia’s record goalscorer and twice beat Athletic in Copa finals. El Correo reports that his family remember a man fiercely proud of Bizkaia who never forgot Athletic.

Born in 1916, he left school to work as a turner before football took over. After a brief Athletic stint, including one official game in 1935 against Barakaldo, he was loaned back when Unamuno returned from Betis in July 1936.

He fought in the war, later served as an artilleryman in the Nationalist Army and took part in the Ebro. After the conflict he scored five in a friendly against Valencia, which prompted his signing.

Across 11 seasons from 1939 to 1950 he led the delantera eléctrica with Epi, Amadeo, Asensi and Gorostiza, scoring 269 in 286. He won three Ligas, three Copas and two Pichichis, and in title years started every match, being replaced only once in 1941-42.

Valencia defeated Athletic in the 1949 final with Mundo playing and in 1967 with him coaching. Relatives say he cherished Athletic yet put professionalism first.

After retiring at Alcoyano he opened Casa Mundo in 1953, famed for calamari sandwiches, and coached widely, including Sporting, Zaragoza, Lérida, Leonesa, Barakaldo in 1960-61, Murcia and three seasons at Valencia. He helped recruit players like Juan Cruz Sol and later was key to signing Kempes. He died in 1978, with his legacy marked by Casa Mundo and Casa Mundo GastroSport, though his family feel Valencia have not honoured him as Bilbao would.

Source: El Correo