| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Casas Gris | ||
| Date of birth | 16 November 1931 | ||
| Place of birth | Valencia, Spain | ||
| Date of death | 12 October 2010 (aged 78) | ||
| Place of death | Las Palmas, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Discóbolo | |||
| Sorolla | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1948–1949 | Discóbolo | ||
| 1949–1951 | Alzira | ||
| 1951 | Alicante | ||
| 1951–1960 | Las Palmas | 175 | (0) |
| 1960–1965 | Betis | 78 | (0) |
| 1965–1967 | Las Palmas | 6 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 1963 | Spain | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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José Casas Gris, aka Pepín (born 16 November 1931 in Valencia - died 12 October 2010 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands), was a Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
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After playing in several clubs in the Valencian Community as a youth - finishing his formation with UD Alzira and Alicante CF - Pepín joined UD Las Palmas in La Liga in 1951, making his competition debuts in the 1951–52 season, still not aged 20, appearing in 14 games in a relegation-ending campaign.
The Canary Islands outfit returned to the top level in 1954, and he continued to be first-choice until his departure to Real Betis six years later, as Las Palmas were again relegated. Pepín played five years in Andalusia, only managing to start in two seasons, and returned to his previous club, retiring in 1967 at the age of 35. In 14 first division seasons, he appeared in 259 games.
He died in the Doctor Negrín Hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on 12 October 2010, one month shy of his 79th birthday.[1]
Pepín played twice for Spain, his debut coming on 3 October 1963, in a 1964 European Nations' Cup match against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, his displays in the 1–0 win (2–1 on aggregate) earning him the nickname The hero of Belfast.[1] The national team eventually qualified for the finals which were held on home soil, going on to win the tournament.
On 1 December 1963, Pepín earned his second and last cap, appearing in a friendly with Belgium in his hometown of Valencia.