Richard Ortiz


Richard Ortiz Busto, is a Paraguayan footballer who plays as defensive midfielder. He currently plays for Primera División Paraguaya club Olimpia Asunción in Paraguay, and the Paraguay national football team. Ortiz is a fast player who plays as a central/defensive midfielder and is renowned for his long-distances strikes with his left foot. He ranked number 5 in a list of the most expensive players in Paraguayan football for 2015 published by Diario Extra.

Club career

Olimpia

In 2009, Ortiz signed for Paraguayan Primera División club Olimpia. He was named captain for the 2013 Season.
After outstanding performances with the Paraguayan national team and Olimpia, he was linked to several teams in the summer of 2013. Among the teams were Mexican side Deportivo Toluca where his former coach and Paraguayan international José Saturnino Cardozo requested his services. Other sides from around the world, including Italian teams AS Roma, Genoa C.F.C and Bologna F.C., Premier League side West Ham United, Ligue 1's Toulouse FC, 2010 Champions Olympique Marseille, 2011 Champions Lille OSC, 2012 champions Montpellier SC and Argentinian giants Boca Juniors were reportedly interested in signing the midfielder. Olimpia finally agreed a 2.5 million USD transfer to Deportivo Toluca, which Ortiz also accepted.

Toluca

On 28 May 2013, José Saturnino Cardozo announced that Richard Ortiz would join Deportivo Toluca. The club agreed to sign Ortiz in a 5-year contract for 2.5 million USD. Ortiz would be the fourth Paraguayan in the squad joining then compatriots, Paulo da Silva, Edgar Benítez, and Pablo Velázquez.
He scored his first goal for the Red Devils in the second match of the season against Monarcas Morelia.
On 28 December 2015, Deportivo Toluca announced the return of Ortiz.

Dorados de Sinaloa

On 11 June 2015, Dorados de Sinaloa announced via Twitter that they had reached an agreement with Toluca to sign Ortiz on loan in a 6-month contract. At that time Richard was concentrated with the Paraguayan national team in Chile to play the 2015 Copa America, According to media, he let know his teammates his disagreement of playing with Dorados, the newly promoted team of the Liga MX.

Club Libertad

On July 13, Club Libertad agreed to sign Ortiz from Deportivo Toluca on loan in a 6-month period, after he refused playing for Dorados de Sinaloa.

International career

On 11 October 2011 he made his debut for the Paraguay national football team and also scored his first goal for his country in a 2014 World Cup qualifier match against Uruguay.

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.11 October 2011Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay1–11–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.6 February 2013Estadio Dr. Nicolás Léoz, Asunción, Paraguay2–03–0Friendly
3.6 February 2013Estadio Dr. Nicolás Léoz, Asunción, Paraguay3–03–0Friendly
4.6 September 2013Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay3–04–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.31 August 2017Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago, Chile3–03–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.12 June 2018Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria2–32–4Friendly