José Martínez García has played the second highest number of official games in the history of CD Málaga (381 matches), behind the unforgettable Migueli. A defender – although he started his career as a forward – he was a central defender with the Blue and Whites between 1965 and 1976, achieving three First Division promotions and scoring 23 goals between the League and Cup.
The last match Martínez played wearing the Malaguista jersey was on 30th May 1976. That day, the Málaga of Migueli, Macías, a young Esteban Vigo and Quevedo (scored 4 goals) defeated Alavés in the penultimate match of the Second Division by 6-2. Martínez, who came on in the second half, received an ovation from the Martiricos ground, whose visitor bench was occupied by an old acquaintance, no more no less than Abdullah Ben Barek. The ‘Pajarito’ was a direct witness to an historic ascent to the First Division – with a match in hand – of ‘his’ Málaga, which in turn served as the farewell match of the great José Martínez.
The former player from Burgos was also a teammate of Ben Barek at CD Málaga and attended the tribute to the Number 6 at La Rosaleda the day before yesterday. In addition, the MCF Foundation has invited Martínez to watch #MálagaAlavés from the box at the stadium tomorrow, Sunday.
