Luis Cela, Castellón’s great captain, dies aged 89 | OneFootball

Luis Alonso Poncela, known as Cela, has died aged 89 after two years of ill health. The CD Castellón icon played 357 official matches, third most in the club’s history. He captained the 1973 Copa final against Athletic.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, his story endures at Castalia and in promotions, that final and old photographs. His son Daniel, former team-mate Tonín and author Guillermo Sanahuja reflected on his legacy.

Daniel, one of four children, said football shaped his father’s life and their own. Cela took them to Castalia, spoke football with supporters and instilled devotion to the albinegro colours.

He remembered nerves when Castellón failed to win and quiet pride when success came. As a Fundación Albinegra youth coach he equated competing with winning, sometimes by 10-0, and often summed himself up as honest, hard-working and dependable across every division.

Tonín, 12 years younger, shared four seasons with him and praised his fierce, winning character. He called Cela the greatest in club history, a midfielder turned libero who stepped out to thread passes and created space for team-mates, adding he would be worth huge money today.

Sanahuja, co-author with Emilio Nadal of El eterno capitán, noted that Cela also coached, served as sporting director and was Di Stéfano’s assistant, later still helping the club. In 2005 he publicly backed Castellón over hometown Zamora and, after he criticised Quero on a panel, the forward barely featured and Castellón won promotion.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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