The story of Francisco Bru Sanz (1885-1962), known in the world of football as Paco Bru, is directly related to the development of football in Spain at the beginning of the 20th century. In fact, he was the first national coach. Although born in Madrid, he is considered from Barcelona because he spent there his childhood and the beginning of his professional career. He started as a footballer, eventually playing for FC Barcelona from 1906 to 1916, the date of his retirement. He was chosen to lead the Spanish football team at the Antwerp Olympic Games at only 35 years old. He then held various positions in the Catalan Federation and founded the Catalan College of Referees. He continued to set an example and refereed until 1923. It was in this facet that one of the most curious and striking episodes about him is remembered. It is said that he refereed a match in Catalonia armed with a Colt revolver and he even said: "We can do two things: either we end the game in order or tomorrow a few of us will be in the obituaries", according to an article dedicated to Bru in the Panenka Magazine. Jesus Ramos, columnist at Marca, remembers that he took a pistol out of his coat, left it on the table and, when he finished dressing, before going out onto the field of play, he inserted the weapon between his shirt and pants before the astonished eyes of the players. Then he went out to referee the match. He says that the gun was a toy, but only he knew that, so there were not too many protests to his decisions.
