Matchday Memories: On This Day: Future Sky Blue Jose At Italia90 With Uruguay
Jose in the Uruguyan Sky Blue
On this day (17th June) in 1990 there was a soon to be an (albeit briefly) South American Sky Blue in the thick of it in the World Cup in Italy! Many current Sky Blues fans may be scratching their heads to remember Jose Perdomo who lined up for Uruguay at Italia90 against Belgium on this day in Group E so it’s also useful to remind ourselves of Jose’s limited number of Sky Blue days and a CCFC experiment that did not come off!
Jose (full name José Batlle Perdomo Teixeira), who two months later put pen to paper and joined the Sky Blues, had been in the Uruguay midfield that achieved a goalless draw in their first match four days previously in Udine against Spain.
Jose Perdomo in the Sky Blue
Today, however, he was powerless to prevent his side falling to the Belgians in Verona by 3-1. The same day the Spanish beat the fourth team in the group, the South Koreans by 3-1. Therefore to stand any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages the South Americans would have to beat the Asian team in the last Group match for both on the 21st June. They accomplished this by the only goal of the game back in Udine and, again, Jose played.
Jose’s team qualified as one of the best teams in third place in each group with Spain top and Belgium second in Group E (the pointless South Koreans went home). In the Round of 16 Uruguay (again with Jose playing) were soundly beaten 2-0 by the host nation who went on to beat the Republic of Ireland in the Quarter Finals before themselves losing to Argentina in the semis. West Germany famously put out England in the other semi and took the Word Cup in the final beating Argentina 1-0.
Jose (& Micky Gynn) battling for the Sky Blues
Born in Salto he began his professional career in Uruguay with Club Atletico Penarol in 1983, being moving to Europe with a berth at Genoa in 1989. Apparently he failed to impress in his 25 games for the Italian side so alternatives for Jose were sought. He came to the Sky Blues on trial in August 1990 after the World Cup was over but made only four Division One and two League Cup appearances for City then still under the management of (CCFPA member until his recent death) John Sillett who had won the F.A.Cup with the Sky Blues in 1987. His debut was in early September at Villa Park but the Sky Blues lost that one 2-1.
Jose Perdomo in the Sky Blue 1990-91
Impressive midfield passing displays in both winning legs of the Second Round Rumbelows Cup against Bolton Wanderers made some Sky Blues fans hope he might sign permanently but his trial proved ultimately unsuccessful as the Sky Blues changed managers in November (with Terry Butcher taking over) and the midfielder clearly had fitness issues (a dodgy ankle) during his brief loan cameo causing ‘Snoz’ to have doubts about the deal. His last game was October 6th in a 2-0 defeat at Manchester City.
Jose then tried his luck in Spain with Real Betis for the 1990-91 season where he made just six appearances, scoring one goal. Apparently he then returned to his native country for a swansong first with Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and then played a season back with Peñarol before retiring in 1994 age 29.
