Jesus Ramon Ramirez Cecena, popularly known as Ramon Ramirez, is a former Mexican football player who shot to fame as a midfield player in Mexico and USA.
The midfield player is one of the most-capped Mexican internationals of all time and was regarded as one of the best to play for Mexico since Hugo Sanchez.
However, a range of injuries affected his career in the game. Despite being the most talented Mexican footballers in the 90s, Ramon Ramirez never moved to a European club during his career although it is thought that he interested quite a few teams.
| Position | Midfielder |
| Born | 5 Dec 1969 |
| Nationality |
Mexico
|
| Team History | |
Chivas
|
2005 - 2007 |
|
Club Deportivo Guadalajara
|
2002 - 2004 |
| Tigres UANL | 1999 - 2001 |
|
Club America
|
1999 |
|
Club Deportivo Guadalajara
|
1994 - 1998 |
|
Club Santos Laguna
|
1990 - 1994 |
| Coras de Tepic | 1988 - 1990 |
Ramirez began his career in 1990 with Santos Laguna and blossomed into a cultured midfielder who was awarded a call-up to the national team the following year in 1991.
He suffered the first major injury of his career when Carlos Alberto Carrillo made a vicious tackle on him that fractured both his tibia and fibula. The injury kept him out of the Barcelona Olympic Games of 1992. Although he came back into the team in the same season, poor form affected his game.
However, the player rediscovered his best form the following season for Santos Laguna and reclaimed his spot in the national team in 1993.
Although Ramirez did not win any competitions with his first club, his performances in international tournaments for Mexico turned heads. In 1994, Ramirez was signed up by Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s biggest clubs.
His first spell with Guadalajara lasted four years between 1994 and 1998. During this time, he won the championship in 1997 and finished runners’ up the following year as Guadalajara lost to Necaxa. His career peaked during his first spell with Guadalajara and he was loved by the supporters at his club.
In 1999, Ramirez was sold to club America against his will in a move that sparked a lot of controversies. He was plagued by poor form throughout his stay with his new side as he failed to settle. Ramirez was left gobsmacked when he found the net against his former side but the goal was adjudged to be off-side.
Following a poor season at club America, Ramirez went on to play for a couple of seasons with Tigres UANL. He took time but rediscovered the form that made him such a great player, reclaiming his place with the national team as well.
It was also during his time at the club that Ramirez suffered a major car accident in which four of his fellow passengers died. Ramirez was reporting for national duty when the accident occurred.
Ramirez would return for a second spell with Guadalajara for a couple of seasons between 2002 and 2004. He played in 82 matches for the side during that time, finding the back of the net six times.
His final professional contract was with Chivas USA, a side that he skippered for a couple of seasons between 2005 and 2007 before hanging up his boots.
In 431 league appearances, Ramirez managed to score 44 goals – a decent return for a creative midfielder. He also represented Mexico on 121 occasions and scored 15 goals for them. Ramirez was a part of the Mexico team that featured at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup tournaments at USA and France respectively.
