Txetxu Rojo

Lore & Background

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Rojo joined Athletic Bilbao's youth academy at an early age. In 1965, he started playing for the reserves but, after only three appearances, was promoted to the first team, and stayed there until his professional retirement 17 years later. He made his La Liga debut on 26 September 1965 in a 1–0 away loss against Córdoba, and helped Athletic to win Copa del Rey trophies in 1969 and 1973. He totalled 414 games in the Spanish top flight, placing him among the club's most capped players. 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'. Rojo played 18 times for Spain, his debut coming on 26 March 1969 in a friendly against Switzerland held in Valencia. He scored three goals in his nine years with the national team, but never took part in any major international tournament. He died on 23 December 2022 at the age of 75, in Leioa.

In Their Own Story

The rain at Lezama never stops, it only pauses. Txetxu stood by the training pitch, his tracksuit soaked, watching the young keeper dive for the ball. The mud splattered against the white socks. He didn't shout; he waited until the boy got up. 'Again,' he said softly. 'But look at your feet first.' The boy nodded, wiping rain from his eyes. In that moment, under the grey Basque sky, a future custodian of San Mamés was being forged, not by glory, but by repetition and trust.

Reader's Guide

Rojo began a coaching career in 1982, aged 35, after a testimonial match was held in his honour with Athletic Bilbao hosting the England national team. His first managerial experience was with Athletic's reserves, and he was promoted to first-team duties early into the 1989–90 campaign, being dismissed at its conclusion. After a four-year spell at Celta de Vigo, achieving promotion to the top flight in his second season as champions, and also leading the side to the domestic cup final in 1994, Rojo returned to Segunda División and stayed there the next three seasons, in charge of Osasuna and Lleida. For 1997–98 he was appointed at Salamanca, helping the modest club to retain its first-division status, and the following season he joined Real Zaragoza, 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. Rojo returned to the San Mamés Stadium for 2000–01, 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, and ultimately being relegated from the top tier. He then took a sabbatical year, subsequently joining Rayo Vallecano in division two and again dropping down a league.

Did You Know?

• Rojo was given the nickname the 'Mozart of football' by composer Carmelo Bernaola.
• He and his brother José Ángel appeared together in an exhibition game with Turkey on 17 October 1973, in the latter's sole cap.
• Rojo's 414 La Liga appearances were eventually surpassed by Iker Muniain in 2023, though Óscar de Marcos had not yet reached that mark by 2024.