Ricardo Gallego

Club career A product of La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid's youth system, Madrid-born Gallego made a quick impression with the first team, appearing in 26 matches in his first year and being a midfield mainstay the following seasons as he totalled 250 top-division matches with the conquest of, among others, four leagues, two Copa del Rey and consecutive UEFA Cups (1985–86); blessed with physical and technical ability alike, he could operate with equal efficiency as sweeper.

In the 1986–87 campaign, Gallego contributed 37 appearances and two goals (more than 3,000 minutes) as Real Madrid won the national championship, also reaching the semi-finals of the domestic cup. On 15 March 1987, however, he landed on Miguel de Andrés' knee, and the Athletic Bilbao player ended his career after that game, a 2–1 win at the San Mamés Stadium.

Following a brief spell with Italy's Udinese Calcio, Gallego returned to Spain and the Spanish capital, spending one season with Rayo Vallecano in the Segunda División and achieving promotion. Retiring at 33, he then worked with his first and last clubs in directorial capacities.

International career Gallego played 42 times for Spain, his debut coming in a friendly prior to the impending FIFA World Cup on home soil, a 24 February 1982 victory over Scotland: after replacing FC Barcelona's Víctor Muñoz in the second half, he closed the score at 3–0.

After being used only once in that tournament, Gallego became a nuclear defensive player in the next two competitions: UEFA Euro 1984 (a runner-up finish) and the 1986 FIFA World Cup, retiring from international play after Euro 88.

International goals + # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 24 February 1982 Luis Casanova, Valencia, Spain 3–0 3–0 Friendly

Honours Castilla Copa del Rey runner-up: 1979–80

Real Madrid La Liga: 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89 Copa del Rey: 1981–82, 1988–89 Supercopa de España: 1988 Copa de la Liga: 1985 UEFA Cup: 1984–85, 1985–86