José Francisco Rojo

Txetxu Rojo

Personal information
Full name	José Francisco Rojo Arroitia
Date of birth	(1947-01-28) 28 January 1947
Place of birth	Bilbao, Spain
Height
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

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Rojo and the second or maternal family name is Arroitia.

José Francisco 'Txetxu' Rojo Arroitia (born 28 January 1947) is a Spanish retired footballer 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, and later also worked as a coach with the team.

Club career

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.

Rojo made his La Liga debut on 26 September 1965 in a 0–1 away loss against Córdoba CF, and helped Athletic to two Copa del Rey trophies. 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.

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 early into the 1989–90 campaign, being sacked at its closure.

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 next three years, coaching CA Osasuna and UE Lleida. For 1997–98 he was appointed at UD Salamanca, helping the modest outfit retain its first division status, and the following season he joined Real Zaragoza, leading it to the fourth place in 2000 – with the club failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League only because the fifth-placed team, Real Madrid, won the campaign'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 replaced by Luis Costa on 22 January 2002 after a 2–4 away loss against Sevilla FC, 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 category.

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.

International goals

#	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

Honours

Player

Athletic Bilbao

• Copa del Generalísimo: 1969, 1972–73

Manager

Celta

• Segunda División: 1991–92

See also

• List of one-club men

External links

• Txetxu Rojo profile at BDFutbol
• Txetxu Rojo manager profile at BDFutbol
• Athletic Bilbao profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Rojo.html José Francisco Rojo at National-Football-Teams.com
• Txetxu Rojo – FIFA competition record