Highlights | José Luis Monreal Sotillo (Madrid, 10/04/1943)
- Between 1964 and 1967 he formed part of Atlético Malagueño, coming from Alicante side, Monóvar, where he played as a midfielder. However, when he joined CD Málaga he moved to the left wing. He debuted with CD Málaga on 14th January 1968 in a First Division match against UD Las Palmas, ending in a Malaguista victory by 2-0. This was the first of his 238 League games (182 of which were in the First Division), becoming the 3rd CD Málaga player with the most games in the elite, after Migueli and Martínez.
- He scored 3 goals with CD Málaga against Real Oviedo, in the 1960/70 season, and against Elche CF and Celta de Vigo in 1973/74.
- He also played 56 Second Division matches and 39 Cup games, totalling 277.
- He was part of the Malaguista team between 1967/1968 and 1976/1977, however in the latter he was unable to take part in any games due to injury, which led to his retirement.
- He was also a coach of CD Málaga in the 1991/1992 season, the penultimate in the history of the Club.
- He also coached CD Estepona, Polideportivo Ejido and CD Antequerano, winning with them the Second B Division League Cup in 1984.
- Curiously, José Luis Monreal was the only CD Málaga coach in history whose son, Antonio, also played for the Malaguista club.
Antonio Benítez, Málaga CF Club adviser, remembers Monreal: “He was my teammate for 8 or 9 years at Málaga. He came from Madrid to play with Malagueño as a midfielder, he later moved up to the first team, and without being a left-winger, he was moved on to the left. He was very competitive, a winner who never wanted to leave the pitch (…) He got married in Málaga and lived well here. He was a true sportsman and his death came as quite a shock. Everything said about him is good, we’re deeply saddened by his loss.”
Ernesto Terrón, president of the Association of Ex Málaga Football Players: “José Luis was a regular at the monthly meals with the Veterans. During the last one in January, we talked a lot about football. You learnt from him as a coach, he was 100 per cent competitive, and as a person he was a good friend and adviser. His death came as such a shock and it still hasn’t sunk in. He was fine, he looked strong and agile, he was an athlete. I was a pupil of his, and I knew him as a coach and personally for many years.”
