José Ortiz Bernal

José Ortiz
Personal information
Full nameJosé Ortiz Bernal
Date of birth4 August 1977
Place of birthAlmería, Spain
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionAttacking midfielder
Youth career
1990–1996Zapillo Atlético
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1996–1997Roquetas
1997–1999Almería20(1)
1999–2000Ravenna11(1)
2000–2012Almería297(41)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Ortiz and the second or maternal family name is Bernal.

José Ortiz Bernal (born 4 August 1977) is a Spanish retired footballer who played usually as an attacking midfielder.

Most of his 15-year professional career was spent at Almería, where amassed La Liga totals of 82 games and one goal (adding 168/30 in Segunda División).

Football career

Ortíz was born in Almería, Andalusia. After beginning playing professionally for hometown's UD Almería (then in the third division) he served an uneventful stint abroad, appearing one season with Italy's Ravenna Calcio.

Upon his return to Almería Ortiz helped the side achieve promotion to the second level in 2002, scoring five goals in the following season, notably a brace against neighbours Xerez CD in a 6–0 home routing. He played with the club in every professional level, starting in division four.

Ortiz, who was the undisputed club captain when in the starting XI,[1][2] finished as Almería's third-best scorer in the 2006–07 season as it achieved a first ever La Liga promotion. He netted ten goals (behind only Albert Crusat and Míchel), subsequently playing in 24 games in the following campaign, mainly as a substitute.

On 3 January 2010, having only played five minutes, Ortiz scored his only goal of the season, a last-minute winner which was the only in the home fixture against neighbours Xerez[3] as both sides struggled immensely in the league; Almería had just recently fired manager Hugo Sánchez, but the player's role remained obscure under new boss Juan Manuel Lillo (he totalled 17 appearances, all from the bench, in only 226 minutes).

In 2010–11 Ortiz repeated individual numbers – 16 league matches, none as a starter – and Almería returned to the second division after four-year stay. The 35-year-old was released in June 2012, after his contract was not renewed.[4]

Trivia

From 2007–09 Ortiz was one of three Almería players with that surname, Mané and Juan Manuel Ortiz being the others.[5]

References

External links