Julián Retegi

Julián Retegui Barbería, also know as Retegi II (born in Eratsun, Navarre, Spain on October 10, 1954) is an ex-player of Basque pelota. He is also called "El mago de Erasun", since he is one of the best Basque pelota players of all times. He played as a foreplayer.

Nephew of Juan Ignacio Retegi (another pelotari who won the pelota championship six times, usually know as Retegi I), he started to get interested in the Basque pelota when he was a child. He worked as a stonecutter and in the industry of the wood. In July 14, 1974 he started his professional carrier as a pelotari in the Cinema fronton of Zarauz (Gipuzkoa), having as a partner another pelotari, Juaristi. They were defeated by Azorena and Etxeandia by 22-21. One year later, in 1975, he won his first championship, the "Manomanista de Segunda".

He has been the pelotari who has won more times the Basque championship playing alone ("Manomanista de Primera"). Eleven times: Every year from 1980 to 1988 and in 1990 and 1993. He has also won the Spanish Championship in pairs: in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995 and in 1997. In December 13, 1997 he won his last prize, the Basque Championship of 4 1/2 against Titin III in the "Ogeta" Fronton of Gasteiz. Since then, due to his regular lesions, he didn't won more prizes. He played his last match in September 20, 2001, in the "Adarraga" fronton, Logroño, with Barriola against Olaizola II and Armendariz. He lost 18-22. In total, he has won 22 prizes, being the pelotari who has won more prizes in the history of Basque pelota and has played around 1,407 matches, 843 of them won.

For some years now he has been working in Asegarce, the company which Karlos Arguiñano is partner of. His son, Julen Retegi, is also a pelotari. He debuted in the same town his father did, Zarauz, but in a different fronton called "Aritzbatalde" in July 2005. He wears the name "Retegi Bi" in honour of his father ("Bi" means two in Basque, the number Julián worn), although the name should have been "Retegi VIII" due to their dinasty as pelotaris.

Manomanista de Primera

He participated the first time in this championship 1979, but he didn't won. One year later he arrived to the final and he won against Maiz II. From that day on he started his brilliant career, getting to the finals from 1980 to 1993, and winning it eleven times. Here are the "Manomanista" finals Retegi II played.

External links

* [http://www.manista.com/textos/pelotaris_deleyenda06.html Pelotaris de Leyenda: Retegui II] es