Óscar Ramírez (footballer, born 1964)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ramírez and the second or maternal family name is Hernández.

Óscar Antonio Ramírez Hernández (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈoskaɾ anˈtonjo raˈmiɾes eɾˈnandes]; born 8 December 1964), is a Costa Rican former footballer who played as a midfielder and is the manager of the Alajuelense.

Óscar Ramírez

Ramírez as Costa Rica manager at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Óscar Antonio Ramírez Hernández
Date of birth	(1964-12-08) 8 December 1964 (age 60)
Place of birth	San Antonio de Belén, Costa Rica[1]
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Alajuelense (manager)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1983–1993	Alajuelense		(31)
1993–1995	Saprissa
1995–1997	Belén	74	(6)
1997–1999	Saprissa	167	(6)
1999–2000	Guanacasteca
Total		557	(43)
International career
1985–1997	Costa Rica	75	(6)
Managerial career
2002	Belén
2006–2008	Costa Rica (assistant)
2008–2010	Santos de Guápiles
2010–2012	Alajuelense
2013–2015	Alajuelense
2015–2018	Costa Rica
2025–Present	Alajuelense
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.^[2] Shortly after his second departure, he was appointed as the head coach of the Costa Rica national team.^[3]

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.^[4] 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^[5] but returned to Saprissa in 1997.^[6]

He retired in March 2000 when at second division Guanacasteca.^[7]

International career

Ramírez made his debut for Costa Rica in a February 1985 friendly match against El Salvador^[4] and earned a total of 75 caps, scoring 6 goals.^[8] He represented his country in 21 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy.^[9] He also played at the 1991 and 1997 UNCAF Nations Cups^[10] as well as at the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup^[11] and the 1997 Copa América in Bolivia.^[12]

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.^[13]

N.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	26 May 1985	Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela, Costa Rica	United States	1–0	1–1	1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.	18 July 1985	Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica	Trinidad and Tobago		3–1	Friendly
3.	23 August 1992	Estadio Nacional de la Sabana, San José, Costa Rica	Panama	2–0	5–1	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.	18 April 1997	Estadio Mateo Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala	Nicaragua	2–0	5–1	1997 UNCAF Nations Cup
5.	18 April 1997	Estadio Mateo Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala	Nicaragua	3–0	5–1
6.	18 April 1997	Estadio Mateo Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala	Nicaragua	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 FIFA Club World Championship Toyota Cup.

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.^[14] He was voted Costa Rica manager of the year 2012,^[15] but resigned in January 2013^[16] only to return at the helm in May 2013.^[17]

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.^[3]

Managerial statistics

As of match played 5 July 2018

Club

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Position	Record								Ref
					G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Santos de Guápiles		21 February 2009	31 December 2009	Manager	16	5	6	5	14	18	−4	031.25
Alajuelense		1 July 2010	3 January 2013	Manager	125	73	27	25	216	138	+78	058.40
Alajuelense		1 July 2013	30 January 2015	Manager	124	67	26	31	203	114	+89	054.03
Total					265	145	59	61	433	270	+163	054.72	—

International

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Position	Record								Ref
					G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Costa Rica		28 October 2006	28 June 2008	Assistant Manager	—	−	−	−	−	−	!—	—
Costa Rica		18 August 2015	5 July 2018	Manager	46	20	11	15	53	47	+6	043.48
Total					46	20	11	15	53	47	+6	043.48	—

Honours

Alajuelense

Ramirez is the most successful manager in the club's history winning five league titles and being Costa Rica manager of the year 2012.^[15]

• Primera División de Costa Rica: Invierno 2010–11
• Primera División de Costa Rica: Verano 2010–11
• Primera División de Costa Rica: Invierno 2011–12
• Primera División de Costa Rica: Invierno 2012–13
• Primera División de Costa Rica: Invierno 2013–14

Individual awards

• Costa Rica manager of the year 2012
• CONCACAF Coach of the Year: 2016

Others

At the beginning of his managerial career, Ramírez worked as Hernán Medford's assistant coach in Deportivo Saprissa, winning in less than three years, a national championship, a UNCAF Cup title, and a CONCACAF Champions Cup title, thus earned a berth at the FIFA Club World Championship Toyota Cup.

Personal life

Ramírez is married to Jeannette Delgado, and they have four children.^[18]