José Santamaria
Encyclopedia
José Emilio Santamaría Iglesias (born 31 July 1929) is an Spanish
-Uruguay
an former football
player and coach. He is regarded by many as one of the all-time greatest central defenders
. A strong, uncompromising player, he is one of the relatively few players to star for two national football teams.
and was first called up to play for the Uruguay national team
for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. He was selected to fill an inside-forward slot in the squad, but his club refused to let him join the squad on the grounds that he was a defender. Hence he missed Uruguay's second World Cup victory. Four years later though, he was an integral part of the Uruguay team at the World Cup finals in Switzerland. Convincing wins over Scotland
, Czechoslovakia
and England
were followed by semi-final defeat by Hungary
and a 3-1 loss to Austria
in the third-place play off match.
Santamaría's performance in the World Cup had been enough to attract the attention of Real Madrid
, to whom he transferred in 1957. Real were dominating European football at the time, and Santamaria won three consecutive European Cup
titles and the World Club Cup. He was also selected for the Spanish national team
, and went on to play for them in the 1962 World Cup. This time Santamaria was to be less successful. In fact, he was dropped for Spain's final group match against Brazil
, which they lost 2-1 and thus went out of the tournament.
Later, Santamaría managed hosts Spain at the 1982 World Cup where they exited in the second round.
With Real Madrid
With Uruguay
With Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
-Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and coach. He is regarded by many as one of the all-time greatest central defenders
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. A strong, uncompromising player, he is one of the relatively few players to star for two national football teams.
Career history
Santamaría played in defence for Nacional de MontevideoClub Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
and was first called up to play for the Uruguay national team
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. He was selected to fill an inside-forward slot in the squad, but his club refused to let him join the squad on the grounds that he was a defender. Hence he missed Uruguay's second World Cup victory. Four years later though, he was an integral part of the Uruguay team at the World Cup finals in Switzerland. Convincing wins over Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
were followed by semi-final defeat by Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
and a 3-1 loss to Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
in the third-place play off match.
Santamaría's performance in the World Cup had been enough to attract the attention of Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, to whom he transferred in 1957. Real were dominating European football at the time, and Santamaria won three consecutive European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
titles and the World Club Cup. He was also selected for the Spanish national team
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, and went on to play for them in the 1962 World Cup. This time Santamaria was to be less successful. In fact, he was dropped for Spain's final group match against Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, which they lost 2-1 and thus went out of the tournament.
Later, Santamaría managed hosts Spain at the 1982 World Cup where they exited in the second round.
Honours
With Nacional de MontevideoClub Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
- League Championship: 1950, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957
With Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966 - Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 1960 - League Championship: 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964
- Cup: 1962
With Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
- 20 caps from 1952-57
With Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
- 16 caps from 1958-62