CARSON, Calif. - Legendary Mexican midfielder Ramón Ramírez, Chivas USA's original captain and the fourth most capped player in Mexican National Team history, today officially announced the end of his storied playing career. The announcement was made by Ramírez before national and international media in a press conference at The Home Depot Center prior to Chivas USA's match against FC Dallas, alongside Chivas USA President and Co-Owner Antonio Cué and Club Deportivo Guadalajara's Vice President of Soccer, Néstor de la Torre.
"I wish to say goodbye to soccer in same way that I began my playing career: with humility. I would like to thank God, as well as my family, my wife and children, all the teams that gave me a chance to play, and the coaches who helped me grow into the player I am. I intend to remain linked to the sport of soccer, and time will tell in which capacity," said Ramírez.
A series of farewell matches for the 37-year-old Ramírez - who played professionally in Mexico for Santos Laguna, Chivas de Guadalajara and Tigres UANL and in the United States for Chivas USA - will be announced in the coming months. Ramírez maintains his residence in Southern California, and will continue to play an active role in soccer in the United States, as a grassroots ambassador for Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing.
"Ramón Ramírez is a living legend of Mexican soccer, who has inspired generations of players, young and old, with his talent, professionalism, dedication and class. For Chivas USA, he will always be remembered as the first captain in our history, and we shall be forever grateful Ramón for his inspired leadership," said Chivas USA President and Co-Owner Antonio Cué.
Ramírez joined Chivas USA in August 2004, as the first international signing in the history of the young expansion club. In 2005, his only full season in MLS, Ramírez played 31 regular-season games for Chivas USA (starting 31), logging 2,573 minutes, registering 2 goals and 6 assists. In March 2006, Ramírez suffered a partial tear of his left MCL, sidelining him for the entire 2006 season. He underwent successful MCL reconstruction surgery on July 12, 2006, in Santa Monica, California and on August 28 was placed on Chivas USA's season-ending injury list. Ramírez has continued to train with the club during his rehabilitation, playing an important role in mentoring Chivas USA's young players.
"For more than a decade, Ramón Ramírez has been a symbol of everything that Chivas represents: tradition, passion, dignity, and inspired futbol. Ramón was not only an integral member of our championship team in 1997; throughout his time in Guadalajara and Los Angeles he was beloved by our fans and gave everything for these colors. On behalf of Club Deportivo Guadalajara, I would like to wish Ramón the very best in this next phase of his illustrious career. He shall forever have a place in the Chivas family," said Néstor de la Torres, Vice President of Soccer for Chivas USA's sister team Club Deportivo Guadalajara.
A talented left-footed midfielder, Ramírez made his Mexican First Division debut on September 28, 1990 with Santos, where he played four seasons (1990-1994), appearing in 91 regular-season matches (starting 87), registering 8 goals and playing in his first final at the end of the 1993-94 campaign (lost 2-1 on aggregate to Tecos).
In late 1994, Ramírez was transferred to Guadalajara, where he would forever leave his mark, playing 133 regular-season matches (starting 129), scoring 20 goals and leading Chivas to two league finals (Verano 1997, Invierno 1998) in four and-a-half years (1994-1998), including Chivas' resounding 7-2 aggregate victory over Toros Neza in the Verano 1997 finals to capture the club's tenth Mexican championship.
Sold reluctantly to Club América in late 1998 by then-debt-laden Guadalajara, Ramírez would play just one half-year season with the Mexico City club (Verano 1999), appearing in 16 regular-season games for the Águilas (starting 14) and scoring 3 goals.
Transferred to Tigres UANL in the summer of 1999, Ramírez played four half-year seasons in two and-a-half years with the Monterrey side (1999-2001), accumulating 51 regular-season appearances (39 starts) and 1 goal. After missing the Verano 2001 campaign to injury, he returned to represent Tigres in the Invierno 2001 finals (lost 3-1 on aggregate to Pachuca).
Chivas fans would see the return of their idol in 2002, when Ramón again signed with Guadalajara, accumulating 71 appearances (49 starts) and 5 goals and reaching the finals of the Clausura 2004 season (lost on penalty kicks to Pumas) during a three-year stint (2002-2004) before joining Chivas USA of Major League Soccer at the end of the Apertura 2004 campaign.
A Mexican National Team legend, Ramírez made his full international debut on December 4, 1991 (a 3-0 victory over Hungary in León, Guanajuato) and went on to represent his country in 121 matches, currently fourth in Mexico's record books behind Claudio Suárez (178), Jorge Campos (130) and Pável Pardo (130).
During a distinguished 10-year career with 'El Tri' (1991-2000), Ramírez represented Mexico in two World Cups (USA 1994, France 1998) and three Copas América (Ecuador 1993, Uruguay 1995, Paraguay 1999) and four CONCACAF Gold Cups (Mexico 1993, USA 1996, USA 1998, USA 2000). In addition to participating in numerous other tournaments and international friendlies, Ramírez was a member of the Mexican team that claimed the 1999 Confederations Cup with a 4-3 victory over Brazil at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.
Born Jesús Ramón Ramírez Ceceña on December 5, 1969 in Tepic, Nayarit, México, Ramírez currently resides in the South Bay with his wife Leticia and their two children, Natalia and Rodrigo.
