José Manuel Ochotorena

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ochotorena and the second or maternal family name is Santacruz.

José Manuel Ochotorena
Ochotorena in 2010
Personal information
Full name José Manuel Ochotorena Santacruz[1]
Date of birth (1961-01-16)16 January 1961[1]
Place of birth Hernani, Spain
Date of death 26 October 2025(2025-10-26) (aged 64)
Place of death Valencia, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position Goalkeeper
Youth career
1970–1976 Hernani
1976–1979 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1984 Castilla 76 (0)
1982–1988 Real Madrid 29 (0)
1988–1992 Valencia 105 (0)
1992–1994 Tenerife 12 (0)
1994–1995 Logroñés 20 (0)
1995–1997 Racing Santander 1 (0)
1997–1998 Logroñés 0 (0)
Total 243 (0)
International career
1989 Spain 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

José Manuel Ochotorena Santacruz (16 January 1961 – 26 October 2025) was a Spanish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He appeared in 167 La Liga matches over 11 seasons, with Real Madrid, Valencia, Tenerife, Logroñés and Racing de Santander, winning five titles with the first of those clubs. He was part of the Spain squad at the 1990 World Cup.

After retiring, Ochotorena became a goalkeeping coach, working for over two decades with Valencia and the Spain national team and also spending three seasons at Liverpool in the Premier League.

Club career

Born in Hernani, Gipuzkoa,[2] Ochotorena emerged through Real Madrid's youth ranks, making his first-team debut late in the 1981–82 season due to a professionals strike as he was still part of the reserve side setup.[3][4] He would have to wait until 1985–86 to become a starter, helping the capital club to that year's La Liga and UEFA Cup titles,[5] but lost his spot the following campaign after the signing of Sevilla's Francisco Buyo.[6]

Subsequently, Ochotorena signed for Valencia, winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in his first year by being replaced mere minutes into the last match at Real Madrid to maintain his average.[7] On 17 September 1989, he was in goal in a 6–2 loss to his previous employers.[8]

Ochotorena was first-choice for the better part of his first three seasons at the Mestalla Stadium, but was sent off in a game against the same opponents on 15 April 1991.[9] Afterwards, he played second-fiddle to youth graduate José Manuel Sempere.[10]

Ochotorena retired in 1998 aged 37, following unassuming spells with Tenerife,[11] Logroñés (he played most of the matches in the 1994–95 campaign, but the Riojans were relegated)[12][13] and Racing de Santander.[14]

International career

Ochotorena earned one cap for Spain, taking the place of Andoni Zubizarreta for the final ten minutes of a friendly against Poland in A Coruña on 20 September 1989.[15] He was included in the final squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, alongside Zubizarreta and Juan Carlos Ablanedo.[16][17]

Coaching career

After retiring, Ochotorena assumed goalkeeping coach duties at both Valencia and the Spain national team. When his compatriot Rafael Benítez joined Premier League club Liverpool in July 2004, he replaced Joe Corrigan.[18] During his time at Anfield, the side won the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, the 2005 UEFA Super Cup and the 2005–06 FA Cup, finishing runners-up in the 2006–07 Champions League.[19]

Ochotorena returned to Valencia once again in the summer of 2007, being replaced at Liverpool by Xavi Valero.[20] He also continued to work with Spain, leaving his post in February 2021.[21][22][16]

Ochotorena was part of the national team staff under Vicente del Bosque as they won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships.[23] He remained at the Mestalla Stadium for the rest of his career, taking part in the team’s 2018–19 Copa del Rey triumph.[24]

Death

After nearly four decades dedicated to football, Ochotorena retired to his home in Valencia. His health declined in his final years due to an aggressive form of cancer, which he had battled for a long time. He died in the early hours of 26 October 2025, at the age of 64.[25]

Ochotorena's passing was widely mourned across Spanish and European football, reflecting the respect he earned during his long career as both player and coach.[26][27][19]

Honours

Castilla

Real Madrid

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c José Manuel Ochotorena at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ Cantero, Unai (27 October 2025). "De parar en las porterías de Hernani a ganar un mundial con España, el eterno legado de José Manuel Ochotorena" [From saving in Hernani's goals to winning a World Cup with Spain, José Manuel Ochotorena's eternal legacy] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  3. ^ Domínguez, M. (13 May 2015). "Profesionales por un día gracias a la huelga" [Professionals for a day thanks to the strike]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  4. ^ Forjanes, Carlos (23 November 2020). "Un día en el Real Madrid" [A day at Real Madrid]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  5. ^ Cañada, Gonzalo (30 April 2013). "Remontadas históricas: Real Madrid – Inter de Milán 1985/1986, la prórroga como travesía a la final" [Historic comebacks: Real Madrid – Inter Milan 1985/1986, extra time as path to the final] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Muere José Manuel Ochotorena, exportero del Real Madrid y del Valencia y preparador de guardametas" [Death of José Manuel Ochotorena, former Real Madrid and Valencia goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach] (in Spanish). RTVE. 27 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  7. ^ "2–1: colaboró el Valencia con buen fútbol en la fiesta de los campeones" [2–1: Valencia cooperated with good football to the champions' party]. ABC (in Spanish). 24 June 1989. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  8. ^ Galaz, Mábel (19 September 1989). "Ochotorena: "Nunca me habían marcado tantos goles en un partido"" [Ochotorena: "I had never conceded this many goals in one match"]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  9. ^ Carbajosa, Carlos (15 April 1991). "Hagi demuestra lo que vale" [Hagi shows his worth] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. ^ Puig, Darío (15 July 2017). "Ochotorena, el 'superviviente' del Valencia" [Ochotorena, Valencia's 'survivor']. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Fallece José Manuel Ochotorena, portero del CD Tenerife entre 1992 y 1994" [Death of José Manuel Ochotorena, CD Tenerife goalkeeper between 1992 and 1994]. El Diario (in Spanish). 27 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  12. ^ Fuster, Pau; Gallart, María Carmen (27 October 2010). "Voro y Otxotorena volvieron a Las Gaunas" [Voro and Otxotorena returned to Las Gaunas]. Super Deporte (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  13. ^ Casado, María (25 July 2018). "Lo que el CD Logroñés unió, la casualidad suiza ha querido revivir" [What CD Logroñés united, Swiss hazard wanted to relive] (in Spanish). Nueve Cuatro Uno. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  14. ^ Gómez Samperio, Raúl (27 October 2025). "Fallece Ochotorena, guardameta racinguista en la temporada 1995–96" [Death of Ochotorena, Racing goalkeeper in the 1995–96 season]. El Diario Montañés (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  15. ^ Torrijos, Ignacio (21 September 1989). "1–0: El pie de Míchel marcó ante Polonia el camino que España buscará en Hungria" [1–0: Míchel's foot set track in Poland that Spain will seek in Hungary]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Ochotorena abandona la selección y le sustituye Sambade" [Ochotorena leaves national team and Sambade replaces him] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Ochotorena, del 'Zamora' a participar en la etapa más gloriosa de La Roja" [Ochotorena, from the 'Zamora' to being a part of the Reds' most glorious age]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 27 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  18. ^ Hall, Andy (12 August 2005). "Anfield's new boot room boys". UEFA. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  19. ^ a b "Rest in peace, Jose Manuel Ochotorena". Liverpool F.C. 27 October 2025. Archived from the original on 29 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  20. ^ Bailey, Graeme (14 July 2007). "Aurelio doubt for Reds". Sky Sports. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  21. ^ Martín, Luis (7 July 2010). "El mejor portero de España" [Spain's best goalkeeper]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  22. ^ Martín, Luis (29 June 2012). ""Es cuestión de confianza"" ["It's a question of confidence"]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  23. ^ Flood, George (27 October 2025). "Jose Manuel Ochotorena: Liverpool pay tribute as former goalkeeping coach dies aged 64". Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  24. ^ Martín, Eric (27 October 2025). "El mundo del fútbol muestra su cariño a Ochotorena" [The world of football shows its love for Ochotorena]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  25. ^ Álvarez, Fernando (27 October 2025). "Muere Ochotorena, exjugador de Real Madrid y Valencia y leyenda de la Selección" [Death of Ochotorena, former Real Madrid and Valencia player and national team legend]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  26. ^ Romanchuk, Slava (27 October 2025). "Real Madrid, Valencia, and Spanish football mourn Jose Manuel Ochotorena's passing". Tribuna.com. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  27. ^ De la Peña, Jesús (27 October 2025). "Reacciones a la muerte de Ochotorena: "Sin ti nada hubiera sido posible"" [Reactions to Ochotorena's death: "Nothing would have been possible without you"]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  28. ^ Sánchez-Flor, Ulises (1 October 2022). ""Yo tenía valentía". La historia de Amancio, el nuevo presidente de honor del Real Madrid" ["I was brave". The story of Amancio, Real Madrid's new honorary president]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  29. ^ Menéndez, Ángel Luis (30 November 2023). "Aquel llenazo en el Bernabéu, 80.000 espectadores, para ver un Castilla-Bilbao Athletic" [That sold-out Bernabéu, 80.000 spectators, to see a Castilla-Bilbao Athletic]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Muere a los 64 años José Manuel Ochotorena, ex portero del Valencia y del Real Madrid" [Death at age 64 of José Manuel Ochotorena, former Valencia and Real Madrid goalkeeper]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). 27 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  31. ^ Torre, Raúl. "Spain – List of League Cup Finals 1983–1986". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  32. ^ González, Luis Miguel (11 April 2016). ""Presidente, tranquilo, que en Madrid nos comemos a los alemanes"" ["Take it easy, president, we'll eat the Germans up in Madrid"]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  33. ^ "Todos los porteros que se quedaron con el Premio Zamora" [All the goalkeepers that got the Zamora Trophy] (in Spanish). Goal. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
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