Ramón Ramírez
Encyclopedia
Jesús Ramón Ramírez Ceceña (born 5 December 1969 in Tepic
, Nayarit
) is a retired
Mexican
footballer
. He is one of the all-time most capped players for the Mexican national football team
, and last played as a midfielder for Chivas USA in the Major League Soccer
(USA).
Ramirez was meant to be one of the best Mexican players since Hugo Sánchez
, but various injuries threatened and stopped his career several times. He was one of the top Mexican footballers in the 1990s, but despite the speculations surrounding his talents, he never moved to Europe to play for a much more competitive club.
in 1990, and since the beginning, he showed his skills in the midfield. His talent made him one of the most promising players of the time, and was rewarded with a call for the Mexican national football team in 1991.
In the 1991-1992 season, in a match against America
, Carlos Alberto "El Escorpión" Carrillo, a defender of that team fractured his tibia and fibula. This caused him to miss the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games
with the Mexican team, and a lack of form after the physical recovery. He managed come back after several months, to continue with brilliant displays with Santos Laguna, and in 1993, he recovered his spot in the national team. He played with Santos Laguna until 1994, year in which he played the final of the Mexican tournament, which he lost against Tecos UAG.
His performance in the international tournaments in which Mexico participated, attracted the attention of several teams, and in 1994 (after he played in the final with Santos Laguna) he was transferred to Guadalajara, one of the biggest clubs in Mexico. With this team, he lived his best displays on the field. This culminated in 1997, when he got the championship of the Mexican tournament. In 1998 he played another final with Guadalajara against Necaxa
, but this time he lost. In 1999, after a lot of speculation and rumors, he was transferred against his will to America
, the biggest rival of Guadalajara, a team where he was an idol to the fans. This caused a lot of controversy, since he was an emblematic player of his team.
This transfer to the rival club, caused him a lack of form, perhaps due to depression. This turned to be evident in a match between America
and his former team, when he scored a goal: the moment was so shocking for him, that he didn't know how to react. Fortunately for him, that goal didn't count due to offside.
His lack of form ruled him out of America
at the end of the Summer 1999 season. He was then, transferred to Tigres UANL. In this team, he had difficult times to recover; he wasn't even registered with his preferred number 7 (retired in honour to the peru
vian player Gerónimo Barbadillo
in 1982). He slowly found his form again, and this awarded him another call for Mexican national football team
. In the Winter 2001 season, he played again in the final of the Mexican tournament, but he lost once again, this time against Pachuca. However, he played in this match as a substitute.
In 2000, when he was traveling to attend a call for the national team, he had a car accident in which 4 persons died. This accident caused him a major lack of form.
For the summer 2002 season, he returned to his beloved team Guadalajara. Constant injuries caused him to miss several matches, but once again he displayed his talent, although irregularly. He reached the final of the Clausura 2004 season, but lost on penalty kicks against Pumas UNAM. At the end of the Clausura 2004 season, he joined Chivas USA.
In Chivas USA he played the last part of his career, being the captain of the team. He retired from the fields in 2007.
His first major appearance for the Mexican team, was in the Copa America
1993 in Ecuador
; the Mexican coach then was Miguel Mejia Baron
. Strangely, Ramirez was used by the coach as a left defender (probably because there were no left-footed defenders at the time in Mexico) rather than as a left winger/playmaker, position which he performed in his team and which awarded him the call for the national team. That Mexican team was well balanced, and performed very well. They got to the final match in that tournament, but lost 2-1 against a powerful Argentine team.
Ramon Ramirez was again called to be part of the Mexican team for the World Cup
USA 1994. He performed well, but in the same left defender position. The Mexican team reached only the Round of 16, they lost to Bulgaria.
He also participated in the Copa America
Uruguay 1995
. The Mexican team performed poorly, and ended in 7th place of 12 teams. They tied to USA
in quarter finals and were dismissed on penalty kicks. In 1997, he missed the Copa America
in Bolivia.
In 1998, he returned to participate in the World Cup France 98. In this tournament, he had a more offensive role (the one he used to have in his club), giving one assist to Cuauhtemoc Blanco
to score against Belgium. However, he was sent off in the match against Holland (after a confusion of the referee, who was supposed to book another player), so he was suspended to the Round of 16 match against Germany, which eventually was the last match of Mexico.
Ramon Ramirez scored 15 goals in 121 caps for his country.
| 1. || April 18, 1993 || Mexico City
, Mexico
|| || 3–1 || Win || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| 2. || April 25, 1993 || Mexico City, Mexico || || 4–0 || Win || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| 3. || April 25, 1993 || Mexico City, Mexico || || 4–0 || Win || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| 4. || June 30, 1993 || Quito
, Ecuador
|| || 2–0 ||Win || Copa América 1993
|-
| 5. || July 11, 1993 || Mexico City, Mexico || || 9–0 || Win || 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup
|-
| 6. || December 14, 1994 || Mexico City, Mexico || || 5–1 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 7. || January 13, 1995 || Riyadh
, Saudi Arabia
|| || 1–1 || Win || 1995 King Fahd Cup
|-
| 8. || May 18, 1996 || Chicago
, United States
|| || 5–2 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 9. || May 18, 1996 || Chicago, United States || || 5–2 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 10. || September 21, 1996 || San Pedro Sula
, Honduras
|| || 1–2 || Loss || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| 11. || November 20, 1996 || Los Angeles
, United States || || 3–1 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 12. || December 16, 1997 || Riyadh, Saudi Arabia || || 2–3 || Loss || 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
|-
| 13. || February 4, 1998 || Oakland
, United States || || 4–2 || Win || 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
|-
| 14. || February 20, 2000 || San Diego, United States || || 1–2 || Loss || 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
|-
| 15. || September 3, 2000 || Mexico City, Mexico || || 7–1 || Win || 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
|}
Tepic
Tepic is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Nayarit.It is located in the central part of the state, at.It stands at an altitude above sea level of some 915 meters, on the banks of the Río Mololoa and the Río Tepic, approximately 225 kilometers north-west of Guadalajara, Jalisco....
, Nayarit
Nayarit
Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...
) is a retired
Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He is one of the all-time most capped players for the Mexican national football team
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, and last played as a midfielder for Chivas USA in the Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(USA).
Ramirez was meant to be one of the best Mexican players since Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez Márquez , popularly nicknamed Pentapichichi, or Hugol, is a Mexican football coach and former striker. He played for four European clubs, including Real Madrid. Sanchez is considered the first highly talented Mexican player. He was also a member of the Mexico national team, and...
, but various injuries threatened and stopped his career several times. He was one of the top Mexican footballers in the 1990s, but despite the speculations surrounding his talents, he never moved to Europe to play for a much more competitive club.
Club career
Ramirez started his career in Santos LagunaSantos Laguna
Club Santos Laguna is a Mexican football club. They represent the urban area of Comarca Lagunera, which is made up of Torreón, Gomez Palacio, and Lerdo. Santos Laguna currently plays in the Primera División. The club was founded in 1982, and reached Mexico's top division after buying the franchise...
in 1990, and since the beginning, he showed his skills in the midfield. His talent made him one of the most promising players of the time, and was rewarded with a call for the Mexican national football team in 1991.
In the 1991-1992 season, in a match against America
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
, Carlos Alberto "El Escorpión" Carrillo, a defender of that team fractured his tibia and fibula. This caused him to miss the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
with the Mexican team, and a lack of form after the physical recovery. He managed come back after several months, to continue with brilliant displays with Santos Laguna, and in 1993, he recovered his spot in the national team. He played with Santos Laguna until 1994, year in which he played the final of the Mexican tournament, which he lost against Tecos UAG.
His performance in the international tournaments in which Mexico participated, attracted the attention of several teams, and in 1994 (after he played in the final with Santos Laguna) he was transferred to Guadalajara, one of the biggest clubs in Mexico. With this team, he lived his best displays on the field. This culminated in 1997, when he got the championship of the Mexican tournament. In 1998 he played another final with Guadalajara against Necaxa
Necaxa
Necaxa is a Mexican football club and is based in the city of Aguascalientes. it plays in the Estadio Victoria. Necaxa is ranked seventh overall and 1st in ranking in Mexican football within the IFFHS Central and North America's Clubs of the Century in the CONCACAF behind CD Saprissa San Juan de...
, but this time he lost. In 1999, after a lot of speculation and rumors, he was transferred against his will to America
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
, the biggest rival of Guadalajara, a team where he was an idol to the fans. This caused a lot of controversy, since he was an emblematic player of his team.
This transfer to the rival club, caused him a lack of form, perhaps due to depression. This turned to be evident in a match between America
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
and his former team, when he scored a goal: the moment was so shocking for him, that he didn't know how to react. Fortunately for him, that goal didn't count due to offside.
His lack of form ruled him out of America
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
at the end of the Summer 1999 season. He was then, transferred to Tigres UANL. In this team, he had difficult times to recover; he wasn't even registered with his preferred number 7 (retired in honour to the peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian player Gerónimo Barbadillo
Gerónimo Barbadillo
Gerónimo Barbadillo González is a former Peruvian football player who played for UANL Tigres in Mexico, and for Avellino and Udinese in Italian Serie A. He also played with the Peruvian national team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup...
in 1982). He slowly found his form again, and this awarded him another call for Mexican national football team
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
. In the Winter 2001 season, he played again in the final of the Mexican tournament, but he lost once again, this time against Pachuca. However, he played in this match as a substitute.
In 2000, when he was traveling to attend a call for the national team, he had a car accident in which 4 persons died. This accident caused him a major lack of form.
For the summer 2002 season, he returned to his beloved team Guadalajara. Constant injuries caused him to miss several matches, but once again he displayed his talent, although irregularly. He reached the final of the Clausura 2004 season, but lost on penalty kicks against Pumas UNAM. At the end of the Clausura 2004 season, he joined Chivas USA.
In Chivas USA he played the last part of his career, being the captain of the team. He retired from the fields in 2007.
National team
He had his first call for the Mexican national football team in 1991 as a promising young talent, and after recovering from a tibia and fibula fracture in 1993, he played regularly for Mexico until year 2000.His first major appearance for the Mexican team, was in the Copa America
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
1993 in Ecuador
Copa América 1993
The 1993 Copa América was the 36th Copa América, CONMEBOL's football tournament for national teams. It was held in Ecuador between June 15 and July 4. All 10 CONMEBOL members took part, but for the first time two nations from outside CONMEBOL were invited to take part in the tournament. Mexico and...
; the Mexican coach then was Miguel Mejia Baron
Miguel Mejía Baron
Miguel Mejía Barón is a Mexican football manager.He coached Mexico at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.-Teams a coach:*1988-1991: UNAM Pumas*1991-1992: Monterrey*1993-1995: Mexico national football team*1996-1998: Atlante...
. Strangely, Ramirez was used by the coach as a left defender (probably because there were no left-footed defenders at the time in Mexico) rather than as a left winger/playmaker, position which he performed in his team and which awarded him the call for the national team. That Mexican team was well balanced, and performed very well. They got to the final match in that tournament, but lost 2-1 against a powerful Argentine team.
Ramon Ramirez was again called to be part of the Mexican team for the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
USA 1994. He performed well, but in the same left defender position. The Mexican team reached only the Round of 16, they lost to Bulgaria.
He also participated in the Copa America
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
Uruguay 1995
Copa América 1995
The 1995 Copa América football tournament was staged in Uruguay. It was won by Uruguay, who beat Brazil 5-3 in the penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in the final. All 10 CONMEBOL members took part, with Mexico and the USA invited in order to reach 12 teams....
. The Mexican team performed poorly, and ended in 7th place of 12 teams. They tied to USA
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in quarter finals and were dismissed on penalty kicks. In 1997, he missed the Copa America
Copa América 1997
Bolivia hosted the Copa América for the second time in its 38th edition. It was held from June 11 to June 29, 1997. It was organised by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body.There is no qualifying for the final tournament...
in Bolivia.
In 1998, he returned to participate in the World Cup France 98. In this tournament, he had a more offensive role (the one he used to have in his club), giving one assist to Cuauhtemoc Blanco
Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo is a Mexican professional footballer currently signed for Irapuato in the Mexican Liga de Ascenso.Known for his aggressive yet charismatic personality on the field, playing most of his career as a deep-lying forward and his last years as an attacking midfielder...
to score against Belgium. However, he was sent off in the match against Holland (after a confusion of the referee, who was supposed to book another player), so he was suspended to the Round of 16 match against Germany, which eventually was the last match of Mexico.
Ramon Ramirez scored 15 goals in 121 caps for his country.
International goals
|-| 1. || April 18, 1993 || Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
|| || 3–1 || Win || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the North, Central American and Caribbean zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification....
|-
| 2. || April 25, 1993 || Mexico City, Mexico || || 4–0 || Win || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| 3. || April 25, 1993 || Mexico City, Mexico || || 4–0 || Win || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| 4. || June 30, 1993 || Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
|| || 2–0 ||Win || Copa América 1993
Copa América 1993
The 1993 Copa América was the 36th Copa América, CONMEBOL's football tournament for national teams. It was held in Ecuador between June 15 and July 4. All 10 CONMEBOL members took part, but for the first time two nations from outside CONMEBOL were invited to take part in the tournament. Mexico and...
|-
| 5. || July 11, 1993 || Mexico City, Mexico || || 9–0 || Win || 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup
-Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semifinals:-----Third place match:-Final:-Top scorers:11 goals Zaguinho5 goals Luis Miguel Salvador4 goals Eduardo Bennett3 goals Juan Arnoldo Cayasso Octavio Mora...
|-
| 6. || December 14, 1994 || Mexico City, Mexico || || 5–1 || Win || Friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
|-
| 7. || January 13, 1995 || Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
|| || 1–1 || Win || 1995 King Fahd Cup
1995 King Fahd Cup
-Group B:---------Third place play-off:-Final:-Goalscorers:3 goals Luis García2 goals Gabriel Batistuta Peter Rasmussen Daniel Amokachi1 goal José Chamot Ariel Ortega Sebastián Rambert Brian Laudrup Michael Laudrup...
|-
| 8. || May 18, 1996 || Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|| || 5–2 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 9. || May 18, 1996 || Chicago, United States || || 5–2 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 10. || September 21, 1996 || San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
|| || 1–2 || Loss || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
The 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification, CONCACAF zone ran from March 1996 to November 1997 in order to determine the three CONCACAF representatives at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. For an overview of the qualification rounds, see 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification....
|-
| 11. || November 20, 1996 || Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, United States || || 3–1 || Win || Friendly
|-
| 12. || December 16, 1997 || Riyadh, Saudi Arabia || || 2–3 || Loss || 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
1997 FIFA Confederations Cup
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Awards:-Top scorers:7 goals Romário5 goals Vladimír Šmicer4 goals Ronaldo-References:...
|-
| 13. || February 4, 1998 || Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, United States || || 4–2 || Win || 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fourth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
|-
| 14. || February 20, 2000 || San Diego, United States || || 1–2 || Loss || 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fifth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was held in the United States, in Los Angeles, Miami, and San Diego. The format of the tournament changed from 1998; it was expanded to twelve teams,...
|-
| 15. || September 3, 2000 || Mexico City, Mexico || || 7–1 || Win || 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
The 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification, CONCACAF Zone ran from March 2000 to November 2001 in order to determine the three CONCACAF representatives at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. For an overview of the qualification rounds, see 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification....
|}