The football world is in mourning following the death of José Manuel Ochotorena, the former goalkeeper and revered coach who helped shape some of Europe’s finest goalkeeping talent. He passed away on 26 October 2025 in Valencia at the age of 64.
Reports state that he died in Valencia after battling cancer.
During his playing career, Ochotorena starred for Real Madrid (where he won three La Liga titles and two UEFA Cups) and later for Valencia CF, where he claimed the Trofeo Zamora for the best-performing goalkeeper in La Liga.
Transitioning into coaching, he made a profound impact as a goalkeeping coach at Valencia, the Liverpool FC (during the Rafa Benítez era), and above all with the Spain national_football_team goalkeepers, contributing to their golden era (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012) as part of the staff.
His former clubs, friends and players he mentored paid tribute: Real Madrid described him as “one of our club’s legendary goalkeepers”. Valencia called him a “legend of our club and a leading figure in Spanish football”. Liverpool mourned the “lasting impact” he made on everyone who worked with him.
His illness had been noted as a serious, long-standing battle with cancer — details on the type of cancer or length of illness have not been made fully public, but it was described as “after a battle with cancer”.
The void left by his passing is enormous: as a player who achieved top honours and as a coach whose influence extended far beyond his own career. Rest in peace, José Manuel Ochotorena (1961-2025). Your legacy will live on forever in the goalposts you guarded, and the keepers you guided.
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