José Manuel Ochotorena has amicably terminated his contract with the Royal Spanish Football Federation. Ochotorena thus ceases to be part of the technical staff of the Spanish National Team, in which he has collaborated as a goalkeeper coach since 2003. Thus, he leaves the National Team one of the last remaining pillars of the years in which Spain was proclaimed European champion (2008 and 2012) and World champion (2010).
José Manuel Ochotorena (Hernani, 1961), lover of sports literature, has material to write a best seller. As goalkeepers, of course. From life experiences, too. Luis Enrique was the seventh coach with whom he worked on the Spanish National Team. The figure rises to 19 in Valencia. There he started with Rafa Benítez and there he continues with Marcelino. In between, Quique, Óscar Fernández, Koeman, Voro González, Emery, Djukic, Valverde, Pellegrino, Nico Estévez, Pizzi, Nuno, Neville, Ayestaran, Prandelli, Marcelino, Celades and Javi Gracia. I said, a best seller.
He arrived at La Roja in 2003. He was recruited by Iñaki Sáez. Curiously, he called him on the recommendation of Julen Lopetegui, who was his goalkeeping coach, a position he left a year before the European Championship in Portugal to start his career as a coach at Rayo Vallecano. In addition to them, Ochotorena has been with Luis Aragonés, Vicente Del Bosque, Fernando Hierro and Robert Moreno. And with him they have worked under clubs in the final stages from Iker to Kepa, through Cañizares, Aranzubia, Palop, Valdés, Reina, Sergio Rico, De Gea and Unai Simón.
Ochotorena, Zamora award with Valencia in 1989 (25 goals in 38 games) and World Cup in Italy’90, he was a goalkeeper for wanting to be like Iribar. Later he admired Arconada and competed with Zubizarreta. The three marked an era in the National Team. Continuity in goal is something Ochotorena has always believed in. He understands it as a synonym for project. This is what happened with Iker Casillas, who remained fixed even when José Mourinho did not put him at Real Madrid.