EMILIO BUTRAGUEÑO
THE GENTLEMAN OF THE PITCH
His vision of the game and his ability to improvise led scouts from Atlético de Madrid to try to sign him, but Butragueño and his father were members of Real Madrid and he wanted to play for the team he supported. That’s why he eventually signed for the Real Madrid youth team.
While he was playing for Real Madrid Castilla, his name started to appear on the front pages of newspapers. His goal-scoring statistics were already spectacular and Alfredo Di Stéfano called him up to the first team and he made his full debut on the 5th of February 1984 in Cádiz. He came onto the pitch wearing the number 14 shirt and turned the game on its head by scoring two goals and making a third.
He made a decisive contribution to winning the UEFA Cup two years running (1985 and 1986) and his performances in this competition earned him recognition from all around Europe. He also won the ‘Bravo Trophy’ for the best Under-24 player on two consecutive occasions. Along with Hugo Sánchez he was part of a legendary attacking duo for many seasons at Real Madrid.
For 12 years he was a regular for the team and without being an out-and-out goalscorer he won the Pichichi Trophy. Butragueño retired as a Madrid player on the 15th of June 1995 in a testimonial against Roma. The Bernabéu showed their gratitude for his dedication to the Whites and left thanking the club he had loved as a fan and a player and that he still loves today.