Pelayo Novo García (1 November 1990 – 28 February 2023), known simply as Pelayo, was a Spanish professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
 Pelayo as an Elche player | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pelayo Novo García[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 November 1990[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Oviedo, Spain | ||
| Date of death | 28 February 2023 (aged 32) | ||
| Place of death | Oviedo, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2009 | Oviedo | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2009 | Oviedo B | 6 | (3) |
| 2008–2012 | Oviedo | 94 | (14) |
| 2012–2017 | Elche | 78 | (7) |
| 2013–2014 | → Córdoba (loan) | 24 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | → Lugo (loan) | 14 | (4) |
| 2017 | CFR Cluj | 0 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Albacete | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 218 | (29) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He appeared in 116 Segunda División matches over six seasons, scoring a total of 12 goals for Elche, Córdoba, Lugo and Albacete. He retired in 2018 after being paralysed in a fall, and was involved in wheelchair tennis until his death at age 32.
Club career
editBorn in Oviedo, Asturias, Pelayo began playing with his hometown side Real Oviedo, spending his first three full seasons as a senior in the Segunda División B.[2] In his last, he scored seven goals in 34 games (2,749 minutes of action) to help the team to finish in sixth position.[3][4]
On 6 July 2012, Pelayo signed a three-year contract with Elche CF of Segunda División.[5] He made his official debut on 19 August, coming on as a substitute for Carles Gil in the final minutes of the 4–2 home win against SD Ponferradina.[6] On 6 October he scored his first goal in the league, contributing to a 2–1 away victory over CD Mirandés.[7]
Pelayo agreed to a new two-year deal with the Valencian club in July 2013, and was immediately loaned to Córdoba CF.[8] On 29 July 2014, he moved to second-tier CD Lugo until 30 June.[9]
In mid-June 2017, immediately following Elche's relegation, 26-year-old Pelayo moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Liga I's CFR Cluj.[10] On 28 August, however, he terminated his contract and signed a two-year deal with Albacete Balompié.[11]
On 31 March 2018, Pelayo was rushed to hospital after falling from the third floor of his team’s hotel before their match with SD Huesca, which resulted in permanent paralysis.[12] As a result, he announced his retirement on the eve of his 28th birthday;[13] the severe injuries were reported by some media outlets as the result of a suicide attempt.[14][15][dubious – discuss] He had a history of clinical depression and had sought specialised mental health care before the incident in the hotel.[16]
Personal life and death
editPelayo married Iciar López in June 2022.[17] He had a degree in industrial technical engineering,[18] and together with his wife established a dog grooming business in his hometown.[19][20]
Pelayo died on 28 February 2023 at the age of 32, after being hit by a train in Oviedo's railway station of La Corredoria.[21][22] He had taken up wheelchair tennis prior to his death, first becoming regional champion in 2021 and later joining the Asturian Tennis Federation's board.[23][24]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Pelayo at WorldFootball.net
- ^ Iranzo, Pedro (31 March 2018). "Así es Pelayo Novo, ovetense y trotamundos del fútbol" [Meet Pelayo Novo, Oviedo-born and football globetrotter]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Pelayo: "Mi tanto de ayer fue muy importante"" [Pelayo: "My goal yesterday was very important"] (in Spanish). Real Oviedo. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ García, Ramón Julio (1 March 2023). "Fallece Pelayo Novo arrollado por un tren" [Pelayo Novo dies run over by train]. El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Pelayo llega al Elche C.F." [Pelayo arrives at Elche C.F.] (in Spanish). Elche CF. 6 July 2012. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "La pegada del Elche castiga a la Ponferradina" [Elche's pace punishes Ponferradina]. Marca (in Spanish). 19 August 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ Marín, David (6 October 2012). "El líder asalta Anduva y sigue demostrando que no va de farol" [Leaders storm Anduva and keep showing they are for real]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Pelayo Novo renueva por dos años y se va cedido al Córdoba" [Pelayo Novo renews for two years and goes on loan to Córdoba]. La Verdad (in Spanish). 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- ^ Díaz, José M. (29 July 2014). "Oficial: Elche, Pelayo cedido al Lugo" [Official: Elche, Pelayo loaned to Lugo] (in Spanish). Todo Mercado Web. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ Crăiţoiu, Andrei (17 June 2017). "EXCLUSIV CFR Cluj a obținut semnăturile a doi fotbaliști » Prima reacție oficială despre venirea lui Bokila: "Nu o să uit asta niciodată!"" [EXCLUSIVE CFR Cluj obtained the signature of two players » First official reaction about Bokila's coming: "I'll never forgive this!"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ "El Albacete Balompié se refuerza con Pelayo" [Albacete Balompié bolster with Pelayo] (in Spanish). Albacete Balompié. 28 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- ^ Villaescusa, Francisco (31 March 2018). "Albacete's Pelayo Novo is seriously injured after hotel fall". Marca. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ "Pelayo Novo se retira del fútbol como consecuencia de la caída que sufrió de un tercer piso" [Pelayo Novo retires from football as a result of third-floor fall]. El Correo (in Spanish). 31 October 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ "Pelayo Novo, joueur d'Albacete, tente de se suicider" [Pelayo Novo, Albacete player, tries to kill himself]. L'Équipe (in French). 31 March 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ Garrido, Antonio (1 March 2023). "La salud mental, un enemigo también para los futbolistas" [Mental health, enemy of footballers as well]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "No se teme por la vida de Pelayo Novo tras su accidente" [Pelayo Novo's life not in danger following his accident]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 31 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ Fuentes, Fran (29 June 2022). "Pelayo Novo y su pareja Iciar se casan en Asturias y cumplen su sueño: "Nos lo merecíamos y vaya si lo disfrutamos"" [Pelayo Novo and his partner Iciar get married in Asturias and fulfill their dream: "We deserved this and boy did we enjoy it"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ Botija, Julio (2 March 2023). "La conmovedora reacción de la mujer de Pelayo Novo: "Vuela alto, pequeño"" [The moving reaction of Pelayo Novo's wife: "Fly high, baby"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Álvarez, María (15 October 2019). "Pelayo Novo: "Me estoy reinventando"" [Pelayo Novo: "I am reinventing myself"]. El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "¿Quienes somos?" [Who are we?] (in Spanish). Dogs and Roses Oviedo. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Clark, Gill (1 March 2023). "Former Albacete & Oviedo midfielder Pelayo Novo dies aged 32 after being hit by a train". Goal. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ R. Barbero, Alberto (4 March 2023). "¿Hay que hablar de suicidio en caso de suicidio?" [Does one mention suicide in case of a suicide?]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ Sevilla, Juanma (22 September 2021). "Pelayo Novo: "El fútbol me eligió a mí, ahora he elegido el tenis"" [Pelayo Novo: "Football chose me, now I've chosen tennis"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ Trujillo, Jaime (28 February 2023). "Muere el exfutbolista Pelayo Novo tras ser arrollado por un tren" [Former footballer Pelayo Novo dies after being run over by train]. El Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 February 2023.