1. Early Life and Background
Alfredo Ortuño Martínez was born on 21 January 1991 in Yecla, a municipality located in the Region of Murcia, Spain. His early life in Yecla provided the foundation for his passion and eventual career in football.
1.1. Youth and Early Senior Career
Ortuño began his footballing journey in the youth setup of Albacete Balompié. He progressed through the ranks, demonstrating early potential. On 20 December 2008, while still a junior player, he made his professional debut for Albacete's senior team. This appearance occurred as a second-half substitute in a Segunda División match against UD Las Palmas, which Albacete lost 3-0 away from home.
In the summer of 2010, Ortuño was officially promoted to Albacete's main squad. However, his appearances were infrequent during this period, as the Castilla-La Mancha-based club was subsequently relegated. Seeking more playing time and development opportunities, Ortuño moved to Getafe CF B on 11 July 2011, where he continued to compete in Segunda División B. He remained at this level in the following seasons, representing Levante UD B (joining on 19 July 2012) and later La Hoya Lorca CF (joining on 31 July 2013).
2. Club Career
Alfredo Ortuño's professional club career has spanned over a decade, involving numerous teams in Spanish football and a short period abroad. He has primarily played in the forward position, known for his ability to find the back of the net.
2.1. Early Professional Stints and Loan Spells (2008-2014)
After his initial debut with Albacete Balompié where he made 25 appearances without scoring, Ortuño was part of Albacete B from 2009 to 2010, playing 20 games and scoring 6 goals. He then moved to Getafe CF B for the 2011-2012 season, appearing in 31 matches and scoring 4 goals. The following season, 2012-2013, saw him at Levante B, where he played 31 games and found the net 5 times. For the 2013-2014 season, he joined La Hoya Lorca, making 18 appearances and scoring 8 goals.
On 17 January 2014, Ortuño signed with Granada CF of La Liga, Spain's top-tier league. He was immediately loaned to Girona FC. With Girona, he scored his first professional goal on 25 January 2014, contributing to his team's 1-1 home draw against SD Eibar. He finished the 2013-14 campaign as one of Girona's top scorers, alongside Gerard Bordas, as the Catalan club narrowly avoided relegation from the Segunda División. He played 20 matches for Girona, scoring 9 goals during this loan spell.
2.2. Las Palmas and Major Loan Transfers (2014-2017)
Ortuño signed a new contract with Granada CF on 28 July 2014, extending his stay until 2018. His debut in the Spanish top flight occurred on 23 August, when he played 45 minutes in a 2-1 home victory over Deportivo de La Coruña. He made 5 appearances for Granada but did not score any goals.
On 16 January 2015, Ortuño was loaned to UD Las Palmas until June. He contributed to their promotion to La Liga, playing 18 matches and scoring 4 goals. Following this success, Las Palmas acquired him permanently for 1.00 M EUR, with Ortuño signing a contract until 2019. Despite the permanent move, he was immediately loaned to second-tier club Real Zaragoza on 21 July 2015, where he played 20 matches and scored 7 goals.
In 2016, he had a six-month loan spell at RCD Mallorca, making 19 appearances and scoring 4 goals. On 4 August 2016, he joined fellow Segunda División club Cádiz CF on another loan. This proved to be a highly successful period, as he scored a career-best 17 goals during the season, including multiple braces against teams like Getafe CF, AD Alcorcón, and Córdoba CF. He made 42 appearances for Cádiz during this prolific season.
2.3. Move Abroad and Return to Spain (2017-2021)
Ortuño terminated his contract with UD Las Palmas on 2 September 2017. The following day, he agreed to a one-year deal with Real Valladolid. However, later that month, he unilaterally terminated his contract with Real Valladolid, triggering a clause that prevented him from competing in the Spanish second division for the remainder of the 2017-18 season. He did not make any appearances for Real Valladolid.
Seeking opportunities outside Spain, the 27-year-old Ortuño moved to the United States, signing with Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake on 3 January 2018. This marked his first experience playing professional football abroad. However, his tenure was brief, and he was released on 23 July 2018. He made 3 appearances for Real Salt Lake, without scoring.
Just hours after his release, Ortuño returned to his first club, Albacete Balompié, signing a three-year deal. He went on to make 52 appearances and score 8 goals during his second stint with the club from 2018 to 2021. During this period, he also had further loan spells. On 30 January 2019, he was loaned to Extremadura UD, also in the Segunda División, until June, where he played 16 matches and scored 2 goals. On 6 August, he moved to Real Oviedo in the same league on another temporary deal. For Real Oviedo, he was highly effective, scoring 14 goals in 38 appearances during the season, making him their top scorer.
Returning to Albacete, he was their top scorer with seven goals during the 2020-21 season, but his efforts could not prevent the team's relegation.
2.4. FC Cartagena (2021-Present)
On 18 July 2021, Alfredo Ortuño signed a one-year contract with FC Cartagena, a club still competing in the Segunda División. He has since become a key player for Cartagena, making 139 appearances and scoring 25 goals as of early 2025. He continues to play a significant role for the club.
3. Playing Style
Alfredo Ortuño primarily plays as a forward, specializing as a striker. His key attributes as a football player include his strong finishing ability and a high work rate. He is known for being a "rematadorSpanish", a term in Spanish football referring to a player skilled at converting chances into goals. His tactical role often involves leading the line, pressing defenders, and creating opportunities through his persistent effort and positioning inside the penalty area. His track record of being a top scorer for multiple clubs, such as Girona FC, Cádiz CF, and Real Oviedo, underscores his effectiveness in front of goal.
4. Personal Life
Alfredo Ortuño is not the only professional footballer in his family. His younger brother, Juan Tomás Ortuño, is also a professional footballer who plays as a forward. Like Alfredo, Juan Tomás was also brought up in the youth system of Albacete Balompié, highlighting a shared footballing background within the family.
5. Assessment and Legacy
Alfredo Ortuño's football career can be assessed through his consistent performance as a goalscorer across various Spanish clubs and his resilience in navigating different league tiers and a brief international stint.
5.1. Major Achievements and Impact
Ortuño's career is marked by several significant contributions to his teams. His most prolific season came during his loan spell at Cádiz CF in the 2016-17 season, where he scored a career-best 17 goals, demonstrating his peak goal-scoring capabilities. He was also a top scorer for Girona FC and Real Oviedo, showcasing his consistent ability to find the back of the net when given the opportunity. His contribution to UD Las Palmas in their promotion-winning season to La Liga highlights his positive impact on team success. Ortuño's dedication and work rate, even during challenging periods like his return to Albacete Balompié where he became the top scorer despite the team's relegation, underscore his professional commitment.
5.2. Controversies and Incidents
A notable incident in Alfredo Ortuño's career occurred in late 2017 involving Real Valladolid. After signing a one-year deal with the club on 3 September 2017, he unilaterally terminated his contract later that month. This action triggered a clause in his contract that legally prevented him from competing in the Spanish second division for the remainder of the 2017-18 season. This contractual dispute led to a brief period of uncertainty regarding his immediate playing future in Spain and prompted his move to Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer, marking his only venture outside of Spanish football. While the specifics of the dispute remain less public, it represents a challenging period in his otherwise stable club career.