Khaberni - Today, Valencia CF Spanish club announced the death of their former goalkeeper and current goalkeeping coach, José Manuel Ochotorena.
"Los Murciélagos" expressed their "deep regret" for the passing of their former goalkeeper (aged 64) who they described as a "club legend," a winner of the "Zamora Trophy," and also "a reference for Spanish football."
The club highlighted in a message on social media the "indelible impact" Ochotorena left as a "goalkeeping coach" and noted his role in the technical staff of the Spain national team that won the UEFA Euro 2008 and the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Ochotorena completed his goalkeeping training at Real Madrid, the club where he first appeared in the first division in 1982 and within just two years was playing regularly for the first team.
Ochotorena was the main goalkeeper for the "Royal" team, which earned him the King's Cup of Spain in 1985. However, injuries and the emergence of goalkeeper Paco Buyo prevented him from maintaining continuity with Los Blancos.
In the 1988-1989 season, the goalkeeper signed for Valencia and in the following season was the one who conceded the fewest goals, which led him to win the "Zamora Trophy" and opened the door to joining the national team, with which he participated in the World Cup 1990.
After later joining clubs such as Tenerife, Racing Santander, and Logroñés, Ochotorena began his journey as a goalkeeping coach with the latter club before joining "Los Murciélagos" in 2001 under coach Rafael Benítez, with whom he won two league titles and the UEFA Cup.
