Goodbye, Capella!: myth of a historic Europe

Carles Capella recounted, with that voice that enveloped you, like a costume captain, that when his wife went into labor to give birth to their first child, he nervously took the car from Molins de Rei and went through the Ronda del Mig towards the Nou Sardenya, the route he took every day to go to training with Europa. He had to turn around halfway. “My wife in labor, and I, unconsciously, had gone to the field instead of the clinic”he repeated amused. Comics that define a life hooked on a ball, which sadly ended this Friday, March 4 (1960-2022).

Capella will go down in history as a symbol of Europa, the founding club of the Spanish League in 1929, an icon of the 80s and 90s of an entity that fought in the Third Division with the dream of returning to Second B. Born in Berga, in 1982 he signed for the Gràcia neighborhood club. He spent three seasons until he was sent to Catarroja to do his military service (1985), but in 1988 he returned to the entity to experience his best moments. With 378 games between the league, the Copa del Rey and the Copa Catalunya, he is currently the third player with the most appearances.

As the club’s own website recalls, where he was always a “football and human” example, there are two indelible moments in the minds of those fans who still listened to the stories of their grandparents and that club that managed to play in the First Division. In the 91-92 campaign, against Rubí, a goal from Capella saved Europa from relegation at the last breath; At a collective level, in the 93-94 campaign, the midfielder was part of the promotion to Segunda B in Pinoso.

Europa has experienced three historic moments in its life. His three campaigns in the First Division, between 1929 and 1932; his five campaigns in Segunda A (1963-68) and the time of Capella culminated with that promotion to Segunda B. Once retired, He was a regular in the stands of the Nou Sardenya (his son followed in his footsteps and played in the base football of the escapulated club) and in the club’s events, such as the promotion the previous campaign to the Second RFEF. Rest in peace. Goodbye Cape!