Txetxu Rojo

José Francisco 'Txetxu' Rojo Arroitia (28 January 1947 – 23 December 2022), also known as Rojo I, was a Spanish football player and coach. During his career the forward played solely for Athletic Bilbao, in a professional spell which spanned nearly 20 years. He was one of the club's most iconic players,[1][2] and later also worked as a coach with the team. Rojo was given the nickname the "Mozart of football" by composer Carmelo Bernaola.[3]

Not to be confused with José Ángel Rojo.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rojo and the second or maternal family name is Arroitia.

Txetxu Rojo
Rojo in 1977
Personal information
Full name José Francisco Rojo Arroitia
Date of birth (1947-01-28)28 January 1947
Place of birth Bilbao, Spain
Date of death 23 December 2022(2022-12-23) (aged 75)
Place of death Leioa, Spain
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965 Bilbao Athletic 3 (5)
1965–1982 Athletic Bilbao 413 (48)
Total 416 (53)
International career
1965 Spain U18 1 (1)
1969–1970 Spain U23 3 (0)
1969–1978 Spain 18 (3)
Managerial career
1986–1989 Bilbao Athletic
1989–1990 Athletic Bilbao
1990–1994 Celta
1994 Osasuna
1995–1997 Lleida
1997–1998 Salamanca
1998–2000 Zaragoza
2000–2001 Athletic Bilbao
2001–2002 Zaragoza
2004 Rayo Vallecano
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Rojo joined local giants Athletic Bilbao's youth ranks at an early age. In 1965 he started playing for its reserves but, after only three appearances, was promoted to the first team, and stayed there until his professional retirement 17 years later.[4][5]

Rojo made his La Liga debut on 26 September 1965 in a 1–0 away loss against Córdoba CF, and helped Athletic to win two Copa del Rey trophies in 1969 and 1973.[6][7] He played a total of 414 games in the Spanish top flight, becoming the player with the second-most appearances in the Basque side's history, only behind José Ángel Iribar; for several seasons he shared teams with younger brother José Ángel, with the pair being thus referred to as 'Rojo I' and 'Rojo II'.[8][9]

International career

Rojo played 18 times for Spain, his debut coming on 26 March 1969 in a friendly with Switzerland held in Valencia. During his nine years as an international he scored three goals, but never took part in any major international tournament; he and his brother José Ángel appeared together in a friendly with Turkey on 17 October 1973, in the latter's sole cap.[10]

Coaching career

In 1982, aged 35, Rojo retired as a footballer and began a coaching career – a testimonial match was held in his honour, with Athletic Bilbao hosting the England national team.[11][12][13] His first managerial experience would be with the former's reserves, and he was promoted to first-team duties early into the 1989–90 campaign, being sacked at its conclusion.[14]

After a four-year spell at RC Celta de Vigo from 1991 to 1994, achieving promotion to the top level in his second season, Rojo returned to the second division for the next three years, coaching CA Osasuna and UE Lleida.[15] For 1997–98 he was appointed at UD Salamanca, helping the modest club retain its first division status, and the following season he joined Real Zaragoza,[14] leading them to the fourth place in 2000 – but failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League because of a controversial decision to instead award their place to Real Madrid, winners of the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League.[16]

Rojo returned to Bilbao for one season, but moved back to Zaragoza for another season and then left again, being replaced by Luis Costa on 22 January 2002 after a 4–2 away loss against Sevilla FC,[17] and ultimately being relegated from the top level. He then took a sabbatical year, subsequently joining Rayo Vallecano in division two and again dropping down a tier.[18]

Personal life and death

Rojo died on 23 December 2022, at the age of 75, in Leioa, Biscay.[19][15]

Athletic Bilbao released the following statement upon his death:[8]

"There are not enough words in the world to describe Txetxu Rojo and what he means for our Club. Those who enjoyed his unique style on the left wing for 17 seasons will remember the amazing runs, the surgical and unexpected passes, exquisite controls, beautiful goals, but, above all, the aura of an inimitable footballer, an artist, a creator of beauty, perhaps lacking in the brawn of other Athletic legends, but nonetheless possessing the enormous heart of a Lion. Although Txetxu's heart has stopped beating in his mortal body, it will continue to beat forever in the hearts of our fans."

Career statistics
Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rojo goal.[20]
List of international goals scored by Txetxu Rojo
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
122 April 1970La Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland Switzerland1–01–0Friendly
224 November 1971Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain Cyprus7–07–0Euro 1972 qualifying
316 February 1972Boothferry Park, Hull, England Northern Ireland1–01–1Euro 1972 qualifying

Honours

Player

Athletic Bilbao

Manager

Celta

See also

References
  1. "The Lions of Athletic Bilbao". FIFA. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  2. "Leyendas del Athletic Club de Bilbao – 'Txetxu Rojo' o 'Rojo I'" [Athletic Club de Bilbao legends – 'Txetxu Rojo' or 'Rojo I']. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  3. "Rojo I: The Mozart of Football". www.athletic-club.eus. 23 December 2022.
  4. "Los cachorros son casi leones" [The pups are almost lions] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 23 May 1975. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  5. Madden, Paul (28 January 2010). "Spanish Cumpleanos: Txetxu Rojo". Goal. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  6. "Copa del Rey / Spanish Cup 1969". www.linguasport.com. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  7. "Copa del Rey / Spanish Cup 1972-73". www.linguasport.com. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  8. "Athletic Club legend Rojo I has passed away". www.athletic-club.eus. 23 December 2022.
  9. Herrán, Alfonso (18 October 2016). "Muere José Antonio Eguidazu, presidente del Athletic en los 70" [José Antonio Eguidazu, Athletic in the 70s, dies]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  10. "0–0: España se defendió sin ahogos ante Turquia" [0–0: Spain had no problem fending off Turkey]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 18 October 1973. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  11. Ingunza, Egoitz (6 May 2013). "Históricos de San Mamés VIII: Athletic – Brasil, la fiesta del centenario" [San Mamés Historics VIII: Athletic – Brazil, the centenary party] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  12. "Athletic Club 1–1 Inglaterra" [Athletic Club 1–1 England]. Athletic Bilbao. 23 March 1982. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  13. "Testimonials, clubs and forces". England Football Online. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  14. Stone, Teilor (24 December 2022). "Txetxu Rojo, Athletic legend, dies at 75". The Saxon. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  15. "Fallece Txetxu Rojo, técnico del Celta entre los años 1991 y 1994". Atlantico. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  16. Casa, Rafael La (25 December 2022). "Txetxu Rojo, el técnico que tuvo al Zaragoza a 90 minutos de la Liga". elconfidencial.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  17. "Luis Costa sustituye a Txetxu Rojo como entrenador del Zaragoza" [Luis Costa replaces Txetxu Rojo as Zaragoza manager]. ABC (in Spanish). 22 January 2002. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  18. "Fallece el ex entrenador del Rayo Vallecano, Txetxu Rojo". Pasión por el Rayo (PxR) (in European Spanish). 23 December 2022.
  19. "Muere Txetxu Rojo, un futbolista fiel al Athletic". El País. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  20. "Chechu Rojo". European Football. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  21. Rovira, Ramón (26 June 1977). "2–2: Los andaluces remontaron dos ventajas vascas" [2–2: The Andalusians countered Basques' advantage twice]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  22. "Athletic 2–1 Juventus". UEFA. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
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