Emilio Butragueño
El Buitre: Real Madrid legend and Spanish striker.
Emilio Butragueño Santos (Spanish pronunciation: [eˈmiljo βutɾaˈɣeɲo ˈsantos]; born 22 July 1963) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a striker. He was best known for his spell with Real Madrid. Nicknamed El Buitre (The Vulture), he was a member of the La Quinta del Buitre along with Manolo Sanchís, Rafael Martín Vázquez, Míchel and Miguel Pardeza. Butragueño scored 123 La Liga goals in 341 games for his main club over 12 seasons, and represented the Spain national team in two World Cups (being the second-top scorer in the 1986 edition) and as many European Championships, scoring 26 goals for his country in a record that stood for several years.
- Affiliation
- Real Madrid CF
- Era
- 1984–1995
- Honours
- Six La Liga titles, two UEFA Cups
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Butragueño was a prominent member of the squad during the 1980s, winning numerous honours: he received the Ballon d'Or Bronze in 1986, and was awarded the Pichichi Trophy in 1991, while also being instrumental in the capital club's six La Liga trophies, two Copa del Rey and two consecutive UEFA Cups.
In Their Own Story
The Santiago Bernabéu held its breath as the rain slicked the grass, turning the pitch into a mirror of anticipation. The crowd murmured, bracing for a safe long ball to the wing, but 'El Buitre' saw what others missed: a microscopic gap in the defense that existed only in his mind. With a single, fluid touch to kill the high bounce, he didn't sprint past the defender; he glided through him with deceptive ease, leaving the opponent chasing shadows. The stadium erupted before his boot even connected with the leather—a goal born of pure anticipation where time seemed to suspend itself for the Vulture, allowing him to feast on a moment that would define an era.
Reader's Guide
Butragueño was known for his intelligence, movement and finishing ability on the pitch. He never received a single red card during his entire career.
Did You Know?
- Butragueño made his senior debut for Real Madrid on 5 February 1984 against Cádiz CF, scoring twice and assisting for the third goal in a 3–2 away comeback win.
- He scored a hat-trick in his European competition debut on 12 December 1984 against RSC Anderlecht in the UEFA Cup.
- Butragueño scored four goals as Spain beat Denmark 5–1 in the round-of-16 match of the 1986 World Cup.
- He had a computer game with his name released in 1988, for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and MSX.
More in Club History & Eras
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