Omar Mendiburu

José Omar Mendiburu Cruz (24 April 1960 – 7 March 2025) was a Mexican professional footballer who played as forward. He played 13 seasons in the Mexican Primera División with Cruz Azul (where he won the 1979–80 and 1980-81 championships), Deportivo Neza, Oaxtepec, Tigres UANL, Puebla and Tampico Madero. He also represented Mexico at the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Early career Mendiburu was born on 24 April 1960 in Colonia Guerrero, Mexico City. He started playing football in the Deportivo Plan Sexenal, a sports center in the Miguel Hidalgo borough.

Club career Mendiburu made his professional debut with Cruz Azul during the 1978–79 Mexican Primera División season. He won back-to-back championships with Cruz Azul in the 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons, playing a key role in the team’s attack. In 1981, he transferred to Deportivo Neza, where he played the next two seasons. In 1983, he joined Oaxtepec for the club’s final season, scoring the last goal in the team’s history on 12 May 1984 at the Estadio Olímpico de Oaxtepec against Leones Negros UdeG.

Death On 11 November 2024, Mendiburu was hospitalized in the General Hospital of Mexico and required blood donations. He died on 7 March 2025 in Mexico City, aged 64.

Honours Cruz Azul Mexican Primera División: 1979–80, 1980–81

Puebla Copa México: 1987–88