Miguel Cortijo

Miguel Alberto Cortijo (born August 22, 1958 in La Banda, Santiago del Estero) is a retired Argentine basketball player. He spent his mostly career at Ferro Carril Oeste, the club where he won 4 local titles. Cortijo is considered one of the best point guards in Argentine basketball history.

Miguel Alberto Cortijo

Cortijo in 1982.
Personal information
Born	(1958-08-22) August 22, 1958 La Banda, Argentina
Listed height	6.2 ft 0 in (1.89 m)
Career information
Playing career	1976–1998
Position	Point guard
Number	11
Career history
1976–1990	Ferro Carril Oeste
1990–1991	Peñarol
1991–1992	Ferro Carril Oeste
1992–1993	Olímpico de La Banda
1993–1994	Boca Juniors
1994–1995	Siderca Campana
1996–1997	Independiente (GP)
1997–1998	Regatas Corrientes
1998–2000	Quimsa
Career highlights and awards
3× Campeonato Sudamericano de Clubes champion (1981, 1982, 1987) 3× Liga Nacional de Básquet champion (1985, 1986, 1989) N° 11 retired by Quimsa
Medals Men's Basketball Representing Argentina FIBA South American Championship]] 1987 Asunción

Career

Cortijo started his career at Club INTI of Santiago del Estero, playing in youth categories. He would be later drafted by León Najnudel (considered "the father" of the Liga Nacional de Básquet) who was coaching Ferro Carril Oeste at that time. Cortijo was only 18 when he was incorporated by Ferro where he spent most of his career, playing 14 consecutive years for the club. With Cortijo in the team, Ferro Carril Oeste won the 1980 Metropolitano championship and the Campeonato Sudamericano de Clubes in 1981 and 1982.

In 1984 the Liga Nacional was created and Ferro won the 1985 and 1986 championships. The team also was the 1987 runner-up losing the finals against Atenas de Córdoba of Marcelo Milanesio and Héctor Campana. Cortijo continued playing for Ferro until 1990, where the club achieved a new Liga championship (in 1989, being coached by his mentor Najnudel) and the Campeonato Sudamericano de Clubes in 1986.

Cortijo was signed by Peñarol de Mar del Plata where he spent a year after returning to Ferro where he played another season. He then played in Club Olímpico (from his home town, La Banda) and then was signed by Boca Juniors for the 1993-94 season, where he met León Najnudel again, although the team did not win any title. In 1994 Cortijo played for Siderca (located in the city of Campana, Buenos Aires Province). His next team was Independiente of General Pico, La Pampa, where he won a new Sudamericano de Clubes championship although the team would be defeated by Boca Juniors at the Liga Nacional finals. In 1997 Cortijo joined Regatas Corrientes where he played until 1998, when he signed with Quimsa, where he put an end to his career after two seasons there.

Honours and awards

Cortijo (first from right, #11) posing with Ferro C. Oeste teammates after winning the first LNB title in 1985

Clubs

Domestic

• Campeonato Argentino (1): 1980
• Liga Nacional de Básquet (3): 1985, 1986, 1989

International

• Campeonato Sudamericano (4): 1981, 1982, 1987, 1996
• Torneo Federación de Buenos Aires (3): 1980, 1982, 1983

National team

• Bronce Medal (Torneo de las Américas, Pre-Olympic Games) (1): 1980
• Gold Medal (Campeonato Sudamericano) (1): 1987

Individual

• Olimpia de Plata (4): 1980, 1981, 1986, 1987
• Konex Award (1): 1990
• Konex Foundation (Certificate of Distinction) (1): 1990
• Number 11 retired by Quimsa

Statistics

• 396 matches played at the Liga Nacional
• 4,201 points scored at the Liga Nacional (10,6 pts. per game)

External links

• Interview to Miguel Cortijo (in Spanish)