Pepe Ortiz

José Luis Ortiz Peláez (19 March 1931 – 17 January 2001), more commonly known as Pepe Ortiz, was a Spanish professional footballer who played his entire career for Real Gijón as a right winger or attacking midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ortiz and the second or maternal family name is Peláéz.
Pepe Ortiz
Personal information
Full name José Luis Ortiz Peláez
Date of birth (1931-03-19)19 March 1931
Place of birth Gijón, Spain
Date of death 17 January 2001(2001-01-17) (aged 69)
Place of death Gijón, Spain
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Pelayo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1949–1963 Real Gijón 321 (131)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Gijón, Asturias, Ortiz firstly played in several teams of the city before joining Sporting de Gijón, in that years named as Real Gijón, in 1949 at the age of 18. He played is entire career with the rojiblancos achieving two promotions to the top tier in 1951 and 1957.

Ortiz became famous in 1961 when Real Gijón, after the end of the 1960–61 Segunda División was relegated to the third division after losing the relegation playoffs against Burgos. Weeks later, the resignation of Condal to continue playing in the second tier allowed Sporting to play a repechage playoff against Sevilla Atlético and Castellón.[1] In the first match, Sporting tied 3–3 against Castellón. The winner of the match would be decided by a coin toss. After winning the two previous coin tosses during the match, choosing tails in both, captain Pepe Ortiz decided to choose again tails, and Sporting became the winner of the game,[2] thus avoiding the relegation of the club for the first time ever.

After his retirement, Ortiz continued vinculated to Sporting Gijón, acting as delegate until 1995, when he retires.

Commemorative plaque at the Escuela de Fútbol de Mareo.

On 17 January 2001, Ortiz died. Three days later after his death, the main pitch of the Escuela de Fútbol de Mareo, the club's academy, was renamed to pay tribute to him and also a street was named as him in Ceares, his home neighbourhood. UC Ceares named their summer trophy Memorial Pepe Ortiz, considering him the best footballer in the history of the neighbourhood.[3]

See also

References
  1. "El Torneo Relámpago de Mallorca en 1961" (in Spanish). CIHEFE. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  2. "Los seis milagros que resucitaron al Sporting" (in Spanish). La Voz de Asturias. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  3. "III Trofeo 'Pepe Ortiz': UC Ceares – Real Avilés" (in Spanish). UC Ceares website. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
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