Pepe Alzate

José Alzate Rivero, better known as Pepe Alzate (born 12 November 1942) was a Spanish footballer, who played for several modest amateur clubs, and later a manager, taking charge over the likes of Osasuna, Real Betis, and Las Palmas in the 1980s.

Early life Born on 12 November 1942 in Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz, Alzate was still a child when he settled in Navarre.

Playing career Alzate began his career in the youth ranks of Txantrea (founded in 1952) and Osasuna, before making his senior debut as an amateur footballer with Sevilla Atlético.

After coaching two Third Division teams in the area, Calahorra and Sangüesa, he returned to Osasuna in 1979, again as assistant coach, but due to bureaucratic problems at the end of the pre-season, the head coach Straten Petkovic was ultimately unable to take charge of Osasuna, who thus placed their trust in Alzate. The first few matches arose some doubts, but following a 6–0 win over Recreativo de Huelva in the second home game of the season, Osasuna gained momentum, conceding only two draws in the 19 matches played in Pamplona, and staying poised to fight for promotion, which was only achieved on the final matchday, on 1 June 1980, in an away match against Real Murcia, an already promoted team, which Osasuna won 1–0, courtesy of a goal from Txuma Rández.

A self-declared fan of English football in the 1980s, Alzate chose the 4-3-3 system, then in vogue, which gave a great playing style to that Osasuna team. On one occasion, they fell just one goal short of qualifying for the UEFA Cup. a position that he held for two years, until 3 March 1985, when he was dismissed following a 2–0 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao, which marked the team's 8th defeat in the last 9 matches, dropping from 4th to 15th in the league table. In his first season at the club, in 1983–84, Betis did not lose a single match at Estadio Benito Villamarín (and only drew twice against Real Sociedad and Barça), finishing fifth in the league and qualifying for the UEFA Cup, but a Copa del Rey defeat to a Second Division side, and a semifinal defeat to Real Valladolid in the 1984 Copa de la Liga hindered the overall season results.

Later career After leaving Betis, Alzate coached the likes of Las Palmas (1985–86), also in the top-flight, and Tenerife (1987–88), in the second.