Pedro’s now our Illustrious Son - 23.07.2010

PEDRITO RODRÍGUEZ, better known as Spanish World Cup hero Pedro, has been honoured by the Tenerife government.

The home-grown striker, from Abades ‒ just a few minutes up the TF1 from Las Chafiras ‒ on the east coast of Tenerife, was one of seven Barcelona stars in the all-conquering Spain team in South Africa.
He is the only born-and-bred Tenerifian (Tinerfeño) ever to appear in football’s World Cup finals, and his magnificent achievements did not go unnoticed in Santa Cruz.
Last Friday, just days after his triumph, the Cabildo honoured him with the title “Illustrious Son of Tenerife (“Hijo Ilustre de Tenerife”).
The ceremony took place at the Cabildo, and Pedro later made a public appearance alongside Ricardo Melchior, the Cabildo President, and Eladio Morales, Mayor of Arico, the municipality of Abades.

 

After scoring 23 goals in all competitions for Barcelona last season, 22-year-old Pedro was awarded a new four-year contract, and was valued by the club at a mind-blowing 60 million euros.
On top of all the accolades, he is by far and away the finest footballer ever produced by the Island ‒ and he is still only 22.
Little Pedrito has come much, much further than he could ever have dreamed while playing as a prolific goalscorer for CD Raqui, in San Isidro, as a ten-year-old.
He was nicknamed “Mascot” by the club because he was so tiny. But Pedro has grown a lot since then!