Isacio Calleja

Isacio Calleja García (born 6 December 1936 in Valle de Cerrato, Palencia) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Safe for a very brief loan spell with CD Guadalajara in the third division, Calleja spent his entire 14-year professional career with Atlético Madrid. He made his La Liga debut on 4 January 1959 in a 0–1 away loss against Real Oviedo, and finished his first season with only nine games (albeit all complete).

From there onwards, Calleja became an important first-team member for the Colchoneros, helping the team to back-to-back Copa del Rey trophies from 1959 to 1961, both won against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. In the 1961–62 European Cup Winners' Cup, which also ended in conquest, he contributed with nine appearances.

On 19 April 1970, Calleja scored his only goal of the campaign in a 2–0 win at CE Sabadell FC, which granted Atlético the national championship. He retired from football in July 1972 at the end of 1971–72 after winning his fourth Spanish Cup with the team, at the age of 35; during his spell with his main club, he appeared in 424 official matches (77 in the domestic cup and 45 in European competition).

International career

Calleja was a Spanish international for more than one decade. He made his debut on 19 April 1961 in a 2–1 win in Wales for the 1962 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Calleja helped the national team win the 1964 European Nations' Cup on home soil, contributing with four games the qualifying phase and the finals combined. In total, he earned 13 caps.

Post-retirement

After retiring, Calleja, who majored in law, worked as a solicitor.

Honours

Club

Atlético Madrid

• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1961–62
• La Liga: 1965–66, 1969–70
• Copa del Generalísimo: 1959–60, 1960–61, 1964–65, 1971–72

Country

• UEFA European Championship: 1964