Óscar Ramírez

Óscar Antonio Ramírez Hernández (; born 8 December 1964), is a Costa Rican former footballer who played as a midfielder and was recently the manager of Alajuelense.

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. Shortly after his second departure, he was appointed as the head coach of the Costa Rica national team.

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 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. 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 but returned to Saprissa in 1997.

He retired in March 2000 when at second division Guanacasteca.

International career Ramírez made his debut for Costa Rica in a February 1985 friendly match against El Salvador He represented his country in 21 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy. He also played at the 1991 and 1997 UNCAF Nations Cups as well as at the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 1997 Copa América in Bolivia.

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

International goals Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 26 May 1985 Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela, Costa Rica 1–0 1–1 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification 2. 18 July 1985 Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica 3–1 Friendly 3. 23 August 1992 Estadio Nacional de la Sabana, San José, Costa Rica 2–0 5–1 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification 4. 18 April 1997 Estadio Mateo Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala 2–0 5–1 1997 UNCAF Nations Cup 5. 18 April 1997 Estadio Mateo Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala 3–0 5–1 6. 18 April 1997 Estadio Mateo Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala 5–0 5–1

Managerial career 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. He was voted Costa Rica manager of the year 2012, but resigned in January 2013 only to return at the helm in May 2013.

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.