Pirri


José Martínez Sánchez, nicknamed Pirri, is a Spanish former footballer. A central midfielder in the early part of his career, he finished up as a sweeper.
He spent the vast majority of his career with Real Madrid, appearing in 561 competitive matches and scoring 172 goals while winning 15 titles. He also served as captain of the club.
A Spanish international for 12 years, Pirri represented the country in two World Cups.

Club career

Born in Ceuta, Pirri signed with Real Madrid in 1964 as a 19-year-old, from Segunda División club Granada CF who received 200 million pesetas. He made his debut with the former on 8 November of that year as a replacement for suspended Ferenc Puskás, in a 4–1 home win against FC Barcelona; late in the same month he scored the first of his 123 goals in La Liga, contributing to a 2–0 home victory over Deportivo de La Coruña also at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
During his tenure for Real, Pirri won ten national championships, netting in double digits in five of those seasons including a career-best 13 goals in 1975–76. He added nine appearances in the 1965–66 European Cup, including the final against FK Partizan ; he was part of a generation of players of the team dubbed Yé-Yé.
In 1980, Pirri signed for Mexican Liga MX side Puebla FC. He scored his first goal for them on 28 September, in a 2–0 home defeat of Atletas Campesinos.
Pirri retired from the game at the age of 37 due his club's poor economic situation, even though he had one year more running in his contract. He then completed his studies to qualify as a physician, and joined Real Madrid's medical staff; in late December 1999, he was named their general manager after Jorge Valdano rejected the offer.

International career

Pirri earned 41 caps for Spain, scoring 16 goals. He made his debut in the group stage opener of the 1966 FIFA World Cup, netting in the 1–2 loss to Argentina in an eventual group stage exit.
The 33-year-old was also in squad for the 1978 World Cup held in Argentina, playing twice in another group phase elimination.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.13 July 1966Villa Park, Birmingham, England1–11–21966 FIFA World Cup
2.7 December 1966Mestalla, Valencia, Spain2–02–0Euro 1968 qualifying
3.22 October 1967Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain1–02–1Euro 1968 qualifying
4.17 October 1968Gerland, Lyon, France1–11–3Friendly
5.15 October 1969José Antonio, La Línea, Spain1–06–01970 World Cup qualification
6.11 November 1970Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain2–03–0Euro 1972 qualifying
7.20 February 1971Sant'Elia, Cagliari, Italy1–02–1Friendly
8.17 March 1971Luis Casanova, Valencia, Spain1–22–2Friendly
9.17 March 1971Luis Casanova, Valencia, Spain2–22–2Friendly
10.9 May 1971GSP, Nicosia, Cyprus1–02–0Euro 1972 qualifying
11.24 November 1971Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain1–07–0Euro 1972 qualifying
12.24 November 1971Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain4–07–0Euro 1972 qualifying
13.12 October 1974Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina1–01–1Friendly
14.12 October 1975Sarrià, Barcelona, Spain1–02–0Euro 1976 qualifying
15.10 October 1976Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain1–01–01978 World Cup qualification
16.25 January 1978Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain1–02–1Friendly

Style of play

Pirri was well known for his ferocity, leadership skills and versatility. Other than his two main positions, he was also deployed as a makeshift forward.
Pirri played the 1971 European Cup Winners' Cup Final with his arm in a cast, and the decisive game of the 1974 Copa del Rey with fever and a broken clavicle. For his services to Real Madrid, he was only one of two players to have the Laureada being bestowed upon him by president Santiago Bernabéu – the other being Gregorio Benito.

Personal life

In 1969, Pirri married Spanish actress Sonia Bruno. In February 2009, he started working as a commentator for Radio Nacional de España's Tablero Deportivo.

Honours

Real Madrid