José María Belauste 1889 – 1964

Biography

José María Belauste was born on September 3, 1889, in Bilbao, Spain, during a time when association football was still taking root in the Iberian peninsula. He would become part of the generation of athletes who helped establish the sport’s foundation in his homeland. Throughout his life, Belauste remained connected to the world of football, dedicating himself to the game that defined much of his era.

His life spanned nearly 75 years, witnessing tremendous change across Spain, Europe, and the wider world. Belauste eventually made his way to Mexico City, where he spent his later years. He passed away on September 4, 1964, just one day after his 75th birthday, from lung cancer. Though his final resting place remains unrecorded, his legacy endures as part of Spanish football’s early history, a reminder of those pioneers who helped shape the sport into what it became.