Pedro Parages

Life & Legacy

Pedro Parages Diego-Madrazo (17 December 1883 – 15 February 1950) was a Franco-Spanish footballer, manager, and the 5th President of Real Madrid from July 1916 until 16 May 1926. During his mandate, Madrid FC received the Royal title (Real) from the hands of the King Alfonso XIII.
He played as a forward for Association Sportive Amicale before joining Madrid FC (now Real Madrid) in 1902. Parages was thus the first French player to represent Los Merengues. Parages was one of the most important footballers in the amateur beginnings of Madrid FC, being one of the main architects of the team's football power in the 1900s and playing a pivotal role in the club's four back-to-back Copa del Rey titles between 1905 and 1908, playing in all the finals and netting twice in the 1906 final. After retiring he became the club's fifth president, a position he held for 10 years between 1916 and 1926. During that period he also coached the Spain national team at the 1924 Summer Olympics held in Paris, being eliminated in the preliminary phase in the only competitive match of the three that he was at the helm of the team. He is regarded as one of the most influential and recognized personalities of the entity.
His outstanding work in favor of the growing sport of football earned him in the 1931–32 season the recently inaugurated distinction of the Medalla al Mérito del Fútbol awarded by the Madrid Football Federation.