Marcos Alonso keeps up generation game for Spain
The Chelsea defender has become the third Alonso to play for Spain after his father, Marcos Alonso Peña, and his grandfather Marquitos.
Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso followed in the family tradition on Friday by becoming the third generation of his family to receive a call-up to the senior Spain national team.
It is the first time in the history of La Roja that a father, son and grandfather have all represented the national team after the 27-year-old was included in Julen Lopetegui’s squad for the upcoming friendlies against Germany and Argentina.
Marcos Alonso Imaz 'Marquitos' (Santander 16/4/1933 – 6/3/2012)
The late Marquitos made two appearances for Spain, debuting in 1955 at 21 years of age in a 2-1 loss to France. It was five years until he would pull on the red jersey again, in a 4-2 defeat by England. Marquitos received three further call-ups, including one official fixture against Poland in the European Championship, but never made it on to the pitch for a third cap.
Marquitos’ club career included eight seasons with Real Madrid, during which he won five European Cups (1955-60) and six Liga titles before his retirement in 1965, after which he continued to play at amateur local side Toluca Santander.
Marcos Alonso Peña (Santander, 1/10/1959)
Marcos Alonso Sr didn’t enjoy as much success as club level as his father but his international career was longer, with 32 call-ups and 22 caps to his name between 1981 and 1985. He also made his debut at 21, but wasn’t called up again until four years later. Featuring in the entire qualification campaign for the 1984 European Championship, Alonso was on the pitch during Spain’s famous 12-1 victory over Malta, which was the required score to reach the finals in France. Although he was included in the squad for Euro 1984, he did not make an appearance as Spain reached the final, being beaten 2-0 by the host nation in the Parc des Princes.
Alonso featured in two World Cup 1986 qualification games against Iceland but then never played for Spain again.
Marcos Alonso Mendeza (Madrid, 28/12/1990)
On Friday, Marcos Alonso closed an historic circle with his first call-up to the senior squad after making three appearances for the under-19s in 2009. The former Real Madrid youth team player went on to represent Bolton, Fiorentina and Sunderland on loan before signing for Chelsea in 2016.
Alonso never represented Spain at under-21 level but his performances for Chelsea in a wing back position have caught Lopetegui’s eye and he now has the chance to stake his claim to a place in the final squad in Russia.
