José_Francisco_Rojo

Txetxu Rojo

Txetxu Rojo

Spanish footballer and coach (1947–2022)

Not to be confused with José Ángel Rojo.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rojo and the second or maternal family name is Arroitia.

José Francisco 'Txetxu' Rojo Arroitia (28 January 1947 – 23 December 2022), also known as Rojo I, was a Spanish football player and manager.

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During his career, the forward played solely for Athletic Bilbao, in a professional spell which spanned nearly 20 years. He was one of the club's most iconic players,[2][3] and later also worked as a coach with the team.

Rojo won 18 caps for Spain.

Club career

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Rojo joined local giants Athletic Bilbao's youth academy at an early age.[4] In 1965 he started playing for its reserves[5] but, after only three appearances, was promoted to the first team, and stayed there until his professional retirement 17 years later.[6][7]

Rojo made his La Liga debut on 26 September 1965 in a 1–0 away loss against Córdoba CF,[8] and helped Athletic to win Copa del Rey trophies in 1969[9] and 1973.[10] He totalled 414 games in the Spanish top flight, becoming the player with the second-most appearances in the Basque club's history, only behind José Ángel Iribar.[11]

For several seasons, Rojo shared teams with his younger brother José Ángel, with the pair being thus referred to as 'Rojo I' and 'Rojo II'.[12][13]

International career

Rojo played 18 times for Spain, his debut coming on 26 March 1969 in a friendly against Switzerland held in Valencia.[4] He scored three goals in his nine years with the national team, but never took part in any major international tournament; he and his brother José Ángel appeared together in an exhibition game with Turkey on 17 October 1973, in the latter's sole cap.[14]

Coaching career

In 1982, aged 35, Rojo retired as a footballer and began a coaching career – a testimonial match was held in his honour, with Athletic Bilbao hosting the England national team.[15][16][17] His first managerial experience would be with the former's reserves, and he was promoted to first-team duties early into the 1989–90 campaign, being dismissed at its conclusion.[18][19]

After a four-year spell at RC Celta de Vigo, achieving promotion to the top flight in his second season as champion, and also leading the side to the domestic cup final in 1994,[20] Rojo returned to Segunda División and stayed there the next three seasons, in charge of CA Osasuna and UE Lleida.[21] For 1997–98 he was appointed at UD Salamanca, helping the modest club to retain its first-division status,[22] and the following season he joined Real Zaragoza,[23] leading them to fourth position in 2000 but failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League because of a controversial decision to instead award their place to Real Madrid, winners of the continental tournament.[24]

Rojo returned to the San Mamés Stadium for 2000–01,[25] but moved back to Zaragoza the following campaign, being replaced by Luis Costa on 22 January 2002 after a 4–2 away loss against Sevilla FC,[26] and ultimately being relegated from the top tier.[27] He then took a sabbatical year, subsequently joining Rayo Vallecano in division two and again dropping down a league.[28]

Personal life and death

Rojo died on 23 December 2022 at the age of 75, in Leioa.[29][20] Athletic Bilbao released the following statement upon his death:[13]

"There are not enough words in the world to describe Txetxu Rojo and what he means for our Club. Those who enjoyed his unique style on the left wing for 17 seasons will remember the amazing runs, the surgical and unexpected passes, exquisite controls, beautiful goals, but, above all, the aura of an inimitable footballer, an artist, a creator of beauty, perhaps lacking in the brawn of other Athletic legends, but nonetheless possessing the enormous heart of a Lion. Although Txetxu's heart has stopped beating in his mortal body, it will continue to beat forever in the hearts of our fans."

Rojo was given the nickname the "Mozart of football" by composer Carmelo Bernaola.[30]

Career statistics

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rojo goal.[31]
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Honours

Player

Athletic Bilbao

Manager

Celta

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Txetxu Rojo at WorldFootball.net
  2. [2]
    "The Lions of Athletic Bilbao". FIFA. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  3. [3]
    "Leyendas del Athletic Club de Bilbao – 'Txetxu Rojo' o 'Rojo I'" [Athletic Club de Bilbao legends – 'Txetxu Rojo' or 'Rojo I']. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  4. [4]
    Cachorro, José Félix (23 December 2022). "Txetxu Rojo, un bilbaíno contra los mejores del mundo" [Txetxu Rojo, Bilbao native against the best in the world]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  5. [5]
    Orio, Iván (23 December 2022). "Txetxu Rojo, un puente entre dos generaciones campeonas del Athletic" [Txetxu Rojo, a bridge between two Athletic generations of champions]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  6. [6]
    Domínguez, B. (23 May 1975). "Los cachorros son casi leones" [The pups are almost lions] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  7. [7]
    Madden, Paul (28 January 2010). "Spanish Cumpleanos: Txetxu Rojo". Goal. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  8. [8]
    Luque, Ignacio (27 December 2022). "El Córdoba CF y Txetxu Rojo: en el principio y en el final" [Córdoba CF and Txetxu Rojo: at the start and at the end]. Diario Córdoba (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  9. [9]
    Herrán, Alfonso (14 January 2020). "Elche-Athletic en Copa 51 años después de su final del Bernabéu" [Elche-Athletic in Cup 51 years after their Bernabéu final]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  10. [10]
    Calvo, Juan Antonio (30 June 1973). "2–0: No tuvo rival serio en el Castellón" [2–0: Castellón were no serious match]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  11. [11]
    Artetxe, José Luis (14 May 2008). "Etxeberria ya se codea con Iribar y Txetxu Rojo" [Etxeberria already looking Iribar and Txetxu Rojo in the eye]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  12. [12]
    Herrán, Alfonso (18 October 2016). "Muere José Antonio Eguidazu, presidente del Athletic en los 70" [José Antonio Eguidazu, Athletic in the 70s, dies]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  13. [13]
    "Athletic Club legend Rojo I has passed away". Athletic Bilbao. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  14. [14]
    "0–0: España se defendió sin ahogos ante Turquia" [0–0: Spain had no problem fending off Turkey]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 18 October 1973. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  15. [15]
    Ingunza, Egoitz (6 May 2013). "Históricos de San Mamés VIII: Athletic – Brasil, la fiesta del centenario" [San Mamés Historics VIII: Athletic – Brazil, the centenary party] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  16. [16]
    "Athletic Club 1–1 Inglaterra" [Athletic Club 1–1 England]. Athletic Bilbao. 23 March 1982. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  17. [17]
    "Testimonials, clubs and forces". England Football Online. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  18. [18]
    Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (30 May 2000). "Rojo afirma que rechazó ofertas de clubes importantes porque quería ir al Athletic" [Rojo says he rejected offers from big clubs because he wanted to go to Athletic]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  19. [19]
    Toro, Carlos (23 December 2022). "Muere Txetxu Rojo, leyenda del Athletic de Bilbao" [Death of Txetxu Rojo, Athletic de Bilbao legend]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  20. [20]
    "Fallece Txetxu Rojo, técnico del Celta entre los años 1991 y 1994" [Death of Txetxu Rojo, Celta manager from years 1991 to 1994]. Atlántico Diario (in Spanish). 24 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  21. [21]
    Fiuza, Gorka (23 December 2022). "Fallece el exentrenador de Osasuna Txetxu Rojo" [Death of former Osasuna manager Txetxu Rojo]. Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  22. [22]
    "Fallece Txetxu Rojo, el entrenador de las goleadas de la UDS" [Death of Txetxu Rojo, manager of UDS's routs]. La Gaceta de Salamanca (in Spanish). 23 December 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  23. [23]
    "La muralla quebrada" [The broken wall]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 6 November 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  24. [24]
    "Txetxu Rojo, el técnico que tuvo al Zaragoza a 90 minutos de la Liga" [Txetxu Rojo, the manager who had Zaragoza 90 minutes away from the League]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). 25 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  25. [25]
    Latxaga, Juan Carlos (23 December 2022). "Muere Txetxu Rojo, leyenda del Athletic" [Death of Txetxu Rojo, Athletic legend]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  26. [26]
    "Luis Costa sustituye a Txetxu Rojo como entrenador del Zaragoza" [Luis Costa replaces Txetxu Rojo as Zaragoza manager]. ABC (in Spanish). 22 January 2002. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  27. [27]
    Martín, Ignacio (4 February 2013). "Txetxu Rojo: "Conmigo el Zaragoza no habría bajado, segurísimo"" [Txetxu Rojo: "Zaragoza would not have been relegated with me, that's a given"]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  28. [28]
    "Fallece el ex entrenador del Rayo Vallecano, Txetxu Rojo" [Death of former Rayo Vallecano manager, Txetxu Rojo] (in Spanish). Pasión por el Rayo. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  29. [29]
    Rivas, Jon (23 December 2022). "Muere Txetxu Rojo, un futbolista fiel al Athletic" [Death of Txetxu Rojo, footballer true to Athletic]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  30. [30]
    "Rojo I: The Mozart of Football". Athletic Bilbao. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  31. [31]
    "Chechu Rojo". European Football. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  32. [32]
    Rovira, Ramón (26 June 1977). "2–2: Los andaluces remontaron dos ventajas vascas" [2–2: The Andalusians countered Basques' advantage twice]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  33. [33]
    "Athletic 2–1 Juventus". UEFA. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
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