| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Francisco Rojo Arroitia | ||
| Date of birth | 28 January 1947 | ||
| Place of birth | Bilbao, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Athletic Bilbao | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1965 | Bilbao Athletic | 3 | (5) |
| 1965–1982 | Athletic Bilbao | 413 | (48) |
| 1965–1982 | Total | 416 | (53) |
| National team | |||
| 1965 | Spain U18 | 1 | (1) |
| 1969–1970 | Spain U23 | 3 | (0) |
| 1969–1978 | Spain | 18 | (3) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 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 | ||
| 2003–2004 | Rayo Vallecano | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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José Francisco 'Txetxu' Rojo Arroitia (born 28 January 1947) is a retired Spanish footballer and coach.
During his career, the forward played solely for Athletic Bilbao, in a professional career which spanned nearly 20 years. He was one of the club's most iconic players, alongside goalkeeper José Ángel Iribar,[1] and later also worked as a coach with the team.
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Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Rojo joined local giants Athletic Club de 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.[2]
Rojo made his La Liga debut on 26 September 1965 in a game against Córdoba CF, a 1–0 away loss, and helped Athletic to two Spanish Cups. He played a total of 414 games in the Spanish topflight, becoming the player with the second-most appearances in the Basque side's history, only behind goalkeeper José Ángel Iribar.
In 1982, aged 35, Rojo retired from football, beginning a coaching career. A testimonial match was held in his honour, with Athletic Bilbao hosting the English national team. His first manager experience would be with Bilbao Athletic, and he was promoted to first-team duties for the 1989–90 campaign, being sacked in the final months.
After a four-year spell at Celta de Vigo, achieving promotion to the top level in his second season, Rojo returned to the second division for the following three years, coaching CA Osasuna and UE Lleida.
In 1997–98, he was appointed at UD Salamanca, helping the modest outfit retain its first division status. The following year, he joined Real Zaragoza, leading to its best-ever finish in the topflight (fourth) in the 1999–2000 season - with the club failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League only because the fifth-placed team, Real Madrid, won the season's most important European trophy - which earned him a return to his main team, Bilbao.
After only one season, Rojo moved back to Zaragoza, being relegated. He then took a sabbatical year, subsequently joining Rayo Vallecano in level two, and again dropping down a level.
Rojo played 18 times for Spain, his debut coming on 26 March 1969, in a friendly game with against Switzerland held in Valencia.
During his nine years as an international, he scored three goals, but never took part in any major international tournament.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 22 April 1970 | La Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland | Switzerland | 0–1 | 0–1 | Friendly |
| 2. | 24 November 1971 | Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain | Cyprus | 7–0 | 7–0 | Euro 1972 qualifying |
| 3. | 16 February 1972 | Boothferry Park, Hull, England | Northern Ireland | 0–1 | 1–1 | Euro 1972 qualifying |
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