José Manuel Ochotorena

José Ochotorena

Personal information
Full name	José Manuel Ochotorena Santacruz
Date of birth	January 16, 1961 (1961-01-16)
Place of birth	San Sebastián, Spain
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Youth career
	Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1979–1984	Castilla
1982–1988	Real Madrid	29	(0)
1988–1992	Valencia	105	(0)
1992–1994	Tenerife	12	(0)
1994–1995	Logroñés	20	(0)
1995–1996	Racing Santander	1	(0)
National team
1989	Spain	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Ochotorena and the second or maternal family name is Santacruz.

José Manuel Ochotorena Santacruz (born 16 January 1961 in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa) is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Football career

Ochotorena emerged through Real Madrid's youth ranks, making his professional debuts late in 1981–82, due to a professional's strike, as he was still part of the reserve squad setup. He would have to wait until 1985–86 to become a starter, helping the capital side to the season's La Liga and UEFA Cup titles, but lost his spot the following season, after the signing of Sevilla FC's Francisco Buyo.

After that, Ochotorena moved to Valencia CF, winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in his first season, being replaced mere minutes into the last game, at Real Madrid, which helped him maintain his average. After three solid seasons at Estadio Mestalla, he was sent off in a game against Real Madrid, and never appeared officially for the Che again.

Ochotorena retired in 1996, after unassuming spells with CD Tenerife, CD Logroñés (he played most of the games in 1994–95, but the Riojan were relegated) and Racing de Santander. He earned one cap for Spain on September 20, 1989, taking over for Andoni Zubizarreta for the final ten minutes in a friendly with Poland, in A Coruña, and was in the final squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Ochotorena then assumed goalkeeping coach duties at both Valencia and the national team but, when countryman Rafael Benítez joined English Premier League team Liverpool in July 2004, he replaced Joe Corrigan.

In July 2007, he returned to Valencia once again, replaced at Liverpool by Xavi Valero.

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Stats and biography at CiberChe (Spanish)