Cristóbal Ortega
Encyclopedia
Cristóbal Ortega Martínez (born July 25, 1956 in Mexico City
, Mexico
) is a former football/soccer who played for Club América
in the Mexican First Division
from 1974 to 1991. A versatile player who played at every midfield position for almost two decades. He also played for Mexico's national team, including playing in the 1978 and 1986 - he earned 53 caps in his international career. He is currently the head coach of Albinegros de Orizaba
which play in Mexicos Liga de Ascenso
.
against Ciudad Madero when manager José Antonio Roca started him for all 90 minutes. In his Primera Liga debut on June 8, 1975, Ortega scored his first goal against Veracruz
- so began an 18 year career in which he remained in the Club América midfield. He was a part of a golden generation for the club which included stars Carlos Reinoso
, Mario Pérez
, Enrique Borja
, Rafael Puente
among others. Club América
won league titles in the seasons 75-76, 83-84, 84-85, Prode 85, 87-88 and 88-89. The club won three Supercups, in 1976, 1988–89; three CONCACAF
Cup titles in 1978, 1987, and 1991; and the Interamerican Cup in 1991.
Ortega proved invaluable to the club's league title in the Prode 85 tournament. In a game that was otherwise forgetful for Club América
fans (a 1-4 first-leg thrashing to Tampico Madero at Tamaulipas on October 3, 1985), Ortega scored the lone goal that would prove to be the difference, as the team won the second-leg at Azteca Stadium
4-0 (with a final aggregate of 5-4).
Ortega retired in the middle of the 1991-92 season. In his final game for Club América
, on December 15, 1991 at Santos Laguna
, he started and was substituted for at the start of the second half by manager Isaac Terrazas
; his last goal scored three years prior on January 3, 1988 against Cruz Azul. In his career at Club América
, Ortega played in 711 games, including a team-record 75 playoff games.
, held in Argentina, and 1986
, held in Mexico.
| 1. || September 27, 1977 || San Nicolás
, Mexico
|| || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 2. || April 4, 1978 || Guadalajara
, Mexico || || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 3. || March 18, 1980 || Tegucigalpa
, Honduras
|| || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 4. || August 30, 1980 || Suva
, Fiji
|| || 2–0 || Win || Friendly
|}
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) is a former football/soccer who played for Club América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
in the Mexican First Division
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
from 1974 to 1991. A versatile player who played at every midfield position for almost two decades. He also played for Mexico's national team, including playing in the 1978 and 1986 - he earned 53 caps in his international career. He is currently the head coach of Albinegros de Orizaba
Albinegros de Orizaba
The club Albinegros de Orizaba, is a football team of the city of Orizaba, Orizaba Athletic Club was founded in 1898, a sporting club who also practice Cricket among other sports in the city of Orizaba, Veracruz...
which play in Mexicos Liga de Ascenso
Liga de Ascenso
The Liga de Ascenso is the second professional level of the Mexican football league system. The champion of the competition is promoted to the Primera División de México ....
.
Club career
On October 5, 1974, Cristóbal Ortega debuted for Club AmericaClub América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
against Ciudad Madero when manager José Antonio Roca started him for all 90 minutes. In his Primera Liga debut on June 8, 1975, Ortega scored his first goal against Veracruz
CD Veracruz
Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz, known as Veracruz, is a Mexican professional football club. Veracruz plays in the Liga de Ascenso de México. Their nickname "Tiburones Rojos" means red sharks. The club was founded in 1943 after two clubs from the city state of Veracruz, Iberia de Córdoba and Veracruz...
- so began an 18 year career in which he remained in the Club América midfield. He was a part of a golden generation for the club which included stars Carlos Reinoso
Carlos Reinoso
Carlos Enzo Reinoso Valdenegro is a Chilean football coach. He played in the 1970s and 1980s, most notably as a member of the Club América Mexican team. He is one of the best foreigner who played in Mexico, and the best that ever played at Club América.-Player:He began his career in his home...
, Mario Pérez
Mario Pérez
Mario Pérez Saldivar is a retired long-distance runner from Mexico. He won the gold medal in the men's 5.000 metres event at the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games, and competed for his native country at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany.-References:*...
, Enrique Borja
Enrique Borja
Enrique David Borja García is a Mexican football striker who played 65 games for the Mexico national team between 1966 and 1975, scoring 31 goals.Borja played in two World Cups in 1966 and 1970....
, Rafael Puente
Rafael Puente
Rafael Puente Del Río is a Mexican actor and retired football striker. Born to soccer columnist and former Mexican national team goalkeeper Rafael Puente, Sr, Puente played for the Mexican soccer club, Necaxa. Then on May 22, 2006, he debuted as an actor in telenovelas in Codigo Postal as Hector...
among others. Club América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
won league titles in the seasons 75-76, 83-84, 84-85, Prode 85, 87-88 and 88-89. The club won three Supercups, in 1976, 1988–89; three CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
Cup titles in 1978, 1987, and 1991; and the Interamerican Cup in 1991.
Ortega proved invaluable to the club's league title in the Prode 85 tournament. In a game that was otherwise forgetful for Club América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
fans (a 1-4 first-leg thrashing to Tampico Madero at Tamaulipas on October 3, 1985), Ortega scored the lone goal that would prove to be the difference, as the team won the second-leg at Azteca Stadium
Estadio Azteca
Estadio Azteca is a stadium in Santa Ursula, Mexico City, Mexico. It is the official home stadium of the Mexico national football team and the Mexican team Club América.The stadium was the venue for football soccer in the 1968 Summer Olympics....
4-0 (with a final aggregate of 5-4).
Ortega retired in the middle of the 1991-92 season. In his final game for Club América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
, on December 15, 1991 at Santos Laguna
Santos Laguna
Club Santos Laguna is a Mexican football club. They represent the urban area of Comarca Lagunera, which is made up of Torreón, Gomez Palacio, and Lerdo. Santos Laguna currently plays in the Primera División. The club was founded in 1982, and reached Mexico's top division after buying the franchise...
, he started and was substituted for at the start of the second half by manager Isaac Terrazas
Isaac Terrazas
Isaac Terrazas García is a former Mexican football player.He played for Club América, Irapuato and CD Veracruz. He currently has no club.He played for Mexico national football team and was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup....
; his last goal scored three years prior on January 3, 1988 against Cruz Azul. In his career at Club América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
, Ortega played in 711 games, including a team-record 75 playoff games.
National team career
Ortega played in 53 games for the Mexican National Team. He was chosen for the FIFA World Cups of 19781978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
, held in Argentina, and 1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
, held in Mexico.
International goals
|-| 1. || September 27, 1977 || San Nicolás
San Nicolás de los Garza
San Nicolás de los Garza, sometimes known only as San Nicolás, is a city and coextensive municipality in the Mexican state of Nuevo León that is part of the Monterrey Metropolitan area. It has become primarily a city for residencies and family houses, although it still has several factories that...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
|| || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
|-
| 2. || April 4, 1978 || Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
, Mexico || || 3–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 3. || March 18, 1980 || Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
|| || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 4. || August 30, 1980 || Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
|| || 2–0 || Win || Friendly
|}