Omar Mendiburu


José Omar Mendiburu Cruz was a Mexican professional footballer who played as forward. He played 13 seasons in the Mexican Primera División with Cruz Azul, Deportivo Neza, Oaxtepec, Tigres UANL, Puebla and Tampico Madero. He also represented football team|Mexico] at the 1979 [FIFA World Youth Championship].

Early career

Mendiburu was born on 24 April 1960 in Colonia Guerrero, Mexico City. He started playing football in the Deportivo Plan Sexenal, a sports center in the Miguel [Hidalgo, Mexico City|Miguel Hidalgo] borough. He joined the academy of Cruz Azul in 1972. He won the 1977–78 reserves championship and finished as the top scorer of the tournament with 27 goals.

Club career

Mendiburu made his professional debut with Cruz Azul during the Mexican Primera División season">Liga MX">Mexican Primera División season. He won back-to-back championships with Cruz Azul in the 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons, playing a key role in the team’s attack. In 1981, he transferred to Deportivo Neza, where he played the next two seasons. In 1983, he joined Oaxtepec for the club’s final season, scoring the last goal in the team’s history on 12 May 1984 at the Estadio Olímpico de Oaxtepec against Leones Negros UdeG.
In 1984, he joined Tigres UANL, where he played until 1986. The next season he signed with Puebla, where he played 54 matches, scoring 13 goals and winning the 1987–88 Copa México. In 1988 he returned to Tigres UANL, and he played his last professional season in 1989–90 with Tampico Madero.

International career

Mendiburu was part of the Mexican squad that participated in the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship played in Japan. He started in two matches, against Algeria and Spain and played as a substitute against Japan.

Death

On 11 November 2024, Mendiburu was hospitalized in the General Hospital of Mexico and required blood donations. He died on 7 March 2025 in Mexico City, aged 64.

Honours

Cruz Azul
Puebla