Óscar Ramírez (footballer, born 1964)

Óscar Antonio Ramírez Hernández (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈoskaɾ anˈtonjo raˈmiɾes eɾˈnandes]; born 8 December 1964), is a Costa Rican former footballer who played as a midfielder and was recently the manager of Alajuelense.

Óscar Ramírez
Ramírez as Costa Rica manager at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Óscar Antonio Ramírez Hernández
Date of birth (1964-12-08) 8 December 1964 (age 61)
Place of birth San Antonio de Belén, Costa Rica[1]
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1993 Alajuelense (31)
1993–1995 Saprissa
1995–1997 Belén 74 (6)
1997–1999 Saprissa 167 (6)
1999–2000 Guanacasteca
Total 557 (43)
International career
1985–1997 Costa Rica 75 (6)
Managerial career
2002 Belén
2006–2008 Costa Rica (assistant)
2008–2010 Santos de Guápiles
2010–2012 Alajuelense
2013–2015 Alajuelense
2015–2018 Costa Rica
2025–2026 Alajuelense
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

During the first half of the 2010s, he managed Alajuelense in two separate stints. Regarded as the most successful manager in the club's history, he won five league titles.[2] Shortly after his second departure, he was appointed as the head coach of the Costa Rica national team.[3]

Ramírez is also known for being one of the few coaches to continue using the sweeper position after its waning days in the early 2000s.

Club career

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He played for the two teams in his country, Alajuelense and Saprissa, becoming a star and an idol for both teams' fans. He made his debut for Liga on 13 November 1983 against Ramonense and scored his first goal a week later against Municipal San José.[4] With Alajuelense he won four national championships during the 1980s and early 1990s, as well as a CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1986.

During the 1993's season, El Macho switched to Alajuela's arch-rival team Saprissa, causing a commotion among Liga's fans. With Saprissa, he won a total of three more national championships and two CONCACAF Champions Cup titles. In 1995, he moved to hometown club Belén[5] but returned to Saprissa in 1997.[6]

He retired in March 2000 when at second division Guanacasteca.[7]

International career

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Ramírez made his debut for Costa Rica in a February 1985 friendly match against El Salvador[4] and earned a total of 75 caps, scoring 6 goals.[8] He represented his country in 21 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy.[9] He also played at the 1991 and 1997 UNCAF Nations Cups[10] as well as at the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup[11] and the 1997 Copa América in Bolivia.[12]

He collected his final cap in an August 1997 World Cup qualifier against El Salvador.

International goals

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Managerial career

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After his retirement, Ramírez began working as Hernán Medford's assistant coach in Saprissa, winning in less than three years, a national championship, a UNCAF Cup title, and a CONCACAF Champions Cup title, thus earning a berth at the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship.

As of 28 October 2006, the Costa Rican Football Federation announced that Medford and his coaching staff would take charge of the Costa Rica national football team. Thus making him the new assistant coach for the Costa Rica national football team.

In May 2010, Ramírez took charge of Alajuelense, assisted by his former World Cup teammate Mauricio Montero.[14] He was voted Costa Rica manager of the year 2012,[15] but resigned in January 2013[16] only to return at the helm in May 2013.[17]

In August 2015, Ramírez was appointed as Paulo Wanchope's assistant coach for the Costa Rica national team. However, a week after his appointment, Wanchope was involved in a fight in Panama and announced his departure from the national team. Ramírez was then appointed as head coach a week after. He led the team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[3]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 5 July 2018

Club

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Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Position Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Santos de Guápiles Costa Rica 21 February 2009 31 December 2009 Manager 165651418−4031.25
Alajuelense Costa Rica 1 July 2010 3 January 2013 Manager 125732725216138+78058.40
Alajuelense Costa Rica 1 July 2013 30 January 2015 Manager 124672631203114+89054.03
Total 2651455961433270+163054.72

International

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Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Position Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Costa Rica Costa Rica 28 October 2006 28 June 2008 Assistant Manager !
Costa Rica Costa Rica 18 August 2015 5 July 2018 Manager 462011155347+6043.48
Total 462011155347+6043.48

Honours

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Alajuelense

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Individual awards

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  • Costa Rica manager of the year 2012
  • CONCACAF Coach of the Year: 2016

Personal life

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Ramírez is married to Jeannette Delgado, and they have four children.[18]

References

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