Emilio Butragueño


Emilio Butragueño Santos is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a striker.
He was best known for his spell with Real Madrid. Nicknamed El Buitre, he was a member of the legendary La Quinta del Buitre along with Manolo Sanchís, Rafael Martín Vázquez, Míchel and Miguel Pardeza.
Butragueño amassed La Liga totals 300 games and 123 goals for his main club in 12 seasons, and represented the Spain national team in two World Cups and as many European Championships, scoring 26 goals for his country in a record that stood several years.

Club career

In 1981, Madrid-born Butragueño joined Real Madrid youth system, playing first for their reserves before being given his senior debut by Alfredo Di Stéfano on 5 February 1984 against Cádiz CF: he made an instant impact, scoring twice and assisting for the third goal in a 3–2 away turnaround, after Real trailed by 0–2. On 12 December that year he made his European competition debut, contributing with a hat-trick to a 6–1 home triumph against R.S.C. Anderlecht for the third round of the UEFA Cup, as the Spaniards went on to win the competition.
At the time, Real Madrid's form was so patchy the first team's attendances were smaller than those of the reserve side. Butragueño contributed to their transformation, and was a prominent member of the team during the 1980s, winning numerous honours: he received the European Bronze award for best footballer in two consecutive years, and won the Pichichi Trophy in 1991, while also being instrumental in the capital club's five La Liga trophies, two Copa del Rey and two consecutive UEFA Cups.
In June 1995, having lost his place, mainly due to the emergence of 17-year-old Raúl, Butragueño signed for Atlético Celaya in Mexico and, in his first year, the team reached the final of the Liga MX. After three seasons where he was known as the Gentleman of the Pitch – never received a single red card during his entire career – he finally decided to retire from the game in April 1998.

International career

Butragueño earned 69 caps for Spain, and scored 26 goals. His debut came on 17 October 1984 against Wales in a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifier, although he had already been picked as an uncapped player for the UEFA Euro 1984 team as the nation finished runners-up.
Butragueño was also selected for the 1986 World Cup where he played a major part, scoring four goals as Spain beat Denmark 5–1 in the round-of-16 match. He also took part in the 1990 edition in Italy.

Post-retirement and other ventures

On 19 October 2004, Butragueño replaced former Real Madrid teammate Jorge Valdano as the club's director of football and, until the end of the 2005–06 season, also served as its vice-president. Subsequently, he acted as head of public relations for the organisation.
Still as a player, Butragueño had a computer game with his name released in 1988, for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and MSX.

Career statistics

Club

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.17 October 1984Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain3–03–01986 World Cup qualification
2.23 January 1985Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain2–03–1Friendly
3.23 January 1985Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain3–03–1Friendly
4.19 February 1986Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain1–03–0Friendly
5.26 March 1986Ramón de Carranza, Cádiz, Spain1–03–0Friendly
6.7 June 1986Tres de Marzo, Guadalajara, Mexico1–02–11986 FIFA World Cup
7.18 June 1986La Corregidora, Querétaro, Mexico1–11–51986 FIFA World Cup
8.18 June 1986La Corregidora, Querétaro, Mexico1–21–51986 FIFA World Cup
9.18 June 1986La Corregidora, Querétaro, Mexico1–41–51986 FIFA World Cup
10.18 June 1986La Corregidora, Querétaro, Mexico1–51–51986 FIFA World Cup
11.15 October 1986Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, Germany0–12–2Friendly
12.18 February 1987Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain1–02–4Friendly
13.23 September 1987Nou Castalia, Castellón, Spain2–02–0Friendly
14.1 June 1988El Helmántico, Salamanca, Spain1–01–3Friendly
15.11 June 1988Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, Germany1–22–3UEFA Euro 1988
16.12 October 1988Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain1–01–1Friendly
17.16 November 1988Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain2–02–01990 World Cup qualification
18.21 December 1988Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain2–04–01990 World Cup qualification
19.15 November 1989Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain2–04–01990 World Cup qualification
20.28 March 1990La Rosaleda, Málaga, Spain2–02–3Friendly
21.26 May 1990Bežigrad, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia0–10–1Friendly
22.10 October 1990Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain1–02–1Euro 1992 qualifying
23.19 December 1990Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain3–09–0Euro 1992 qualifying
24.19 December 1990Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain5–09–0Euro 1992 qualifying
25.19 December 1990Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain7–09–0Euro 1992 qualifying
26.19 December 1990Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain8–09–0Euro 1992 qualifying

Honours

Club

Real Madrid
Spain