Santiago Gutiérrez Calle from Laredo, player, coach and for more than 25 years coordinator of the lower sections of Racing de Santander, has died at the age of 78. Better known as Santi Gutiérrez Calle, he began his sporting career at Club Deportivo Laredo and was a player for Rayo Cantabria between 1964 and 1968 and, a year later, debuted with the Racing first team.
In 1977, an Achilles tendon injury forced him to leave football after having played 191 games in the green and white shirt and to begin his career as a coach, during which he became first team coach.
A man linked to grassroots football, he directed the Racing Sections for more than 25 years, in two stages, between 1978 (under the presidency of José Manuel López Alonso) and 2007, the year of his retirement.
In his years at the head of the club's youth ranks, 112 youth players debuted with the first team and his work was essential in the recruitment, training and evolution of the sports careers of players of the stature of Pedro Munitis, Gonzalo Colsa, Jonatan Valle, Iván Marcano, Álvaro González, Sergio Canales or Pablo Torre.
In a statement, Racing has been "dismayed" by the death of what it recognizes as "one of the most relevant figures" in the club's centenary history.
"He was a part of the shield, that is why field one of the Nando Yosu Facilities was baptized with his name in 2021 and his memory will forever remain in the memory of racing," indicated the green and white entity, which has sent its deepest condolences. to his family and relatives of the deceased.
In addition, he has announced that the flags of Los Campos de Sport will fly at half-mast as a sign of mourning and that a minute of silence will be held in his memory before the LaLiga Hypermotion match that the first team will play against Villarreal CF 'B' in El Sardinero this Saturday, November 25, at 4:15 p.m.
