Biography
Who is José Antonio Camacho?
Early life and childhood
José Antonio Camacho Alfaro was born in Cieza, Murcia. He began playing football in the streets and schoolyards of his hometown. When he was six years old, his family moved to Albacete.
During his youth, he faced a setback when Real Murcia passed on him because of his small build. He later played for Atlético Jareño in Cuenca before joining the youth ranks at Albacete Balompié as a left winger.
Professional playing career
He joined Real Madrid at age 18 and made his debut on March 3, 1974. José Antonio Camacho played 577 official matches for the club over 15 years. During this time, he helped the team win 19 major titles, including nine La Liga championships and two UEFA Cups.
On the international stage, he earned 81 caps for Spain. He represented his country in two World Cups and two European Championships. He made his debut for the national side in 1975 against Scotland in Valencia.
Managerial career highlights
After retiring from playing in 1989, he transitioned into coaching. He worked with the Real Madrid staff before managing Rayo Vallecano and Espanyol. He returned to lead the Real Madrid first team in 1998, though his tenure lasted only 22 days.
He took charge of the Spain national team in September 1998. He led the squad to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup before resigning. Later, he managed Benfica in Portugal, where he won the Taça de Portugal in 2004.
Later coaching roles
José Antonio Camacho later managed Osasuna starting in October 2008. In 2011, he accepted a position with the China national team. He signed a three-year contract with the Chinese Football Association that included an annual salary of 8 million dollars.
His time in China ended in 2013 following a friendly loss to Thailand. He also served as the manager for the Gabon national team leading up to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. He left that position in September 2018.
Birthday and age
José Antonio Camacho was born on June 8, 1955, which makes José 71 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. José shares the date with 31 other famous people.
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