Emilio Butragueño
El Buitre: Real Madrid legend and Spain's second-top scorer at the 1986 World Cup.
Emilio Butragueño Santos (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.
- Role
- Striker
- Affiliation
- Spain National Team & Real Madrid
- Era
- 1980s - Early 1990s
- Group
- La Quinta del Buitre (The Eagle's Quintet)
- Status
- Retired Legend
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Butragueño earned 69 caps for Spain, and scored 26 goals. His debut came on 17 October 1984 against Wales in a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifier, and he closed the 3–0 win in Seville. He had already been picked as an uncapped player for the UEFA Euro 1984 tournament, where his team finished runners-up. Butragueño was also selected for the 1986 World Cup where he played a major part, scoring four goals as Spain beat Denmark 5–1 in the round-of-16 match. He also took part in the 1990 edition in Italy, scoring no goals in four games. Butragueño left the national team after playing two games in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers, aged 29. His last appearance was on 18 November 1992, in a 0–0 draw with the Republic of Ireland.
In Their Own Story
On 17 October 1984, Butragueño made his Spain debut against Wales in a World Cup qualifier in Seville. He closed the 3–0 win with a goal, announcing his arrival on the international stage. Two years later, at the 1986 World Cup, he delivered his most famous performance: in the round of 16 against Denmark, he scored four goals as Spain won 5–1, making him the second-top scorer of the entire tournament. He also represented Spain at Euro 1984 (where he was an uncapped pick and the team finished runners-up) and Euro 1988, though the source does not detail his role in the latter. His last cap came on 18 November 1992 in a 0–0 draw with the Republic of Ireland.
Reader's Guide
Butragueño was widely regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, known for his intelligence, movement and finishing ability. He never received a single red card during his entire career. After retiring, he replaced former Real Madrid teammate Jorge Valdano as the club's director of football and also served as its vice-president until the end of the 2005–06 season, subsequently acting as head of public relations for the organisation.
Did You Know?
- Butragueño scored four goals in the 1986 World Cup round-of-16 match as Spain beat Denmark 5–1.
- He was the second-top scorer at the 1986 World Cup.
- He left the national team after playing two games in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers.
- A computer game with his name was released in 1988 for Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and MSX.
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