It is well known the arduous path that a youth player must travel to reach the first teamthe circumstances that must occur and how complicated it is to stay once the dream of breaking into the elite has been fulfilled, because In clubs like Betis there is only room for a tiny fraction of those who try.
One of those who managed to debut at Benito Villamarín and play up to seven games was the center back José Carlos Ramírezwho wore the thirteen bars in the 16/17 season after a long career in the quarry and at Betis Deportivo. Now, at 28 years oldAfter going through several teams, He plays for Zamora, of the First RFEF, and has reviewed his time at the Heliopolitan club and how he experienced his debut and presence in the first team.
In this sense, in an interview in Offsidersstates that There is a lot of pressure at Betis and that not everyone is capable of supporting it. “My debut was a dream come true, walking out through the locker room tunnel with 40,000 people is something unforgettable. I remember that match against Celta de Vigo that ended three to three. There was a huge downpour, it rained a lot and we scored a beautiful goal. It was an incredible feeling,” explained José Carlos, who did not hide the negative side.
“Even so, there is a lot of pressure on a team like Betis, because of everything that is included, because of the fans, because of being in the First Division, because of its history, and not all players, when the opportunity arrives, are prepared,” indicated the one from Paradas, who remembers what Joaquín Sánchez was like in the locker room: “Everyone sees what that man is on a day-to-day basis, the joy he transmits. Practically, what he does on television is what he does on the locker room. He is always very happy, he makes a lot of jokes. “He is a leader who helps you when he can, he transmits a lot of confidence.”
Curiously, the portuense, more specifically his agent, was key to his career at Betis. “I started very young, at seven years old, and it is true that when you are so young, you don’t know where you are until the years go by and you grow up. Two years later they told my family and me that they didn’t count on me and I wasn’t going to have minutes. We decided to return to my town, Paradas, where I started. Suddenly I received a call from Eduardo Espejo, Joaquín’s representative, who wanted to take me to Valencia. Betis found out about Valencia’s interest and called me, and that’s when I returned. I went from not playing in my first stage to playing in a category that corresponded to me,” he explained.
In addition, he remembered what his goodbye from Betis was like, first on loan to Lorca. “The coach called me and gave me his confidence. I had two years left on my contract at Betis, so the most viable option to have minutes was the recently promoted Lorca. However, When I got there I realized that all the trust they had given me was a lie.. In January I had to look for a way out and thank God we found it.” Then he went on loan to Lugo, who finally acquired his services with the freedom letter. He then went through Alcorcón and San Fernando to finally sign for Zamora.