Search Results - Vila, Jaime

Jaime Vila

Jaime Vila Capdevila (1860 – 21 July 1954) was a Spanish physical education teacher, sports promoter and leader. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the amateur beginnings of gymnastics and football in Catalonia, having been one of the fundamental heads behind the Tolosa Gymnasium, which he served as a teacher and later as director, as well as being the main driving force behind the foundation of Català FC, serving as the first president of the club between 1899 and 1905.

As the founder of Català, Vila was the great rival of FC Barcelona, founded by Joan Gamper, at the turn of the century. Jaime Vila's Català and Gamper's FC Barcelona would star in a long controversy about the "Deanery" of football in the city. In addition to gymnastics and football, he also promoted athletics, wrestling, fencing and boxing. He was also a member of the ''Center Excursionista de Catalunya'' for more than forty years. He received numerous distinctions, such as the honorary diploma of the Spanish Gymnastics Federation in 1900. In 1947 he received a tribute in which he was recognized as dean of gymnastics in Barcelona. Provided by Wikipedia