Stefan Ortega Moreno (born 6 November 1992) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Manchester City.

Stefan Ortega
Ortega with Manchester City in 2024
Personal information
Full name Stefan Ortega Moreno
Date of birth (1992-11-06) 6 November 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Hofgeismar, Germany
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Manchester City
Number 18
Youth career
TSV Jahn Calden
KSV Baunatal
Hessen Kassel
2007–2011 Arminia Bielefeld
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Arminia Bielefeld II 6 (0)
2011–2014 Arminia Bielefeld 36 (0)
2014–2017 1860 Munich 56 (0)
2016 1860 Munich II 2 (0)
2017–2022 Arminia Bielefeld 166 (0)
2022– Manchester City 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:11, 4 December 2024 (UTC)

Early life

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Stefan Ortega Moreno[2] was born on 6 November 1992[1] in Hofgeismar, Hesse.[3] His father is Spanish and his mother is German.[4]

Club career

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Germany

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Ortega playing for Arminia Bielefeld in 2013

Ortega began his career at the north Hessian club TSV Jahn Calden before transferring to KSV Baunatal, then to KSV Hessen Kassel. In 2007, he transferred to Arminia Bielefeld and became a part of their youth setup. In the 2010–11 Season he had six appearances for the B team competing in the Regionalliga West. One year later the first team called him, and he made his senior debut for Arminia on 1 October 2011 against 1. FC Heidenheim replacing the injured Patrick Platins. After a poor performance against rivals Preußen Münster, Ortega lost his place to the Platins, instead appearing primarily in the regional Westfalenpokal. Nevertheless, Ortega was part of the Arminia squad that achieved promotion to the 2. Bundesliga at the end of the 2012–13 season, subsequently agreeing to a two-year contract extension.[5]

In June 2014, Ortega joined 1860 Munich on a free transfer.[6] He made his Münchner Lions debut in the 1st round of the 2014–15 DFB-Pokal, winning 2–1 over Holstein Kiel.[7] After Gábor Király departed in August 2014, Ortega established himself as first-choice goalkeeper.[8]

 
Ortega with 1860 Munich in 2014

1860 Munich were relegated at the end of the 2016–17 season; Ortega left the club, transferring back to Arminia on a three-year contract, succeeding the outgoing Wolfgang Hesl.[9] In January 2020, Ortega extended his contract until June 2022 following transfer interest from Bundesliga club Bayer 04 Leverkusen.[10] With Arminia Bielefeld, Ortega was promoted to the Bundesliga in 2020. At his first season in the Bundesliga, the club secured 15th-place finish and avoided relegation after a 2–0 win in the away match against VfB Stuttgart on the final matchday. The German football magazine Kicker rated Ortega as the second best goalkeeper in the league.[11] Arminia Bielefeld were relegated from the Bundesliga the following season.

Manchester City

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In July 2022, Ortega signed with Premier League champions Manchester City on a free transfer.[12] He started the season on the bench for City's 1–3 defeat to Liverpool in the FA Community Shield on 30 July.[13]

Ortega made his professional debut for the club in a UEFA Champions League group stage match against Borussia Dortmund, which finished 0–0.[14] He also played the next Champions League group stage game against Sevilla, a 3–1 win,[15] and in the third round of the EFL Cup against Chelsea, making crucial saves in a 2–0 victory for City on 9 November at the Etihad Stadium.[16] On 3 May, Ortega made his Premier League debut, starting in a 3–0 win over West Ham United.[17] He then went on to keep another clean sheet in Manchester City's final home league game against Chelsea again on 21 May, which finished 1–0.[18] Ortega also played every match in City's victorious 2022–23 FA Cup campaign and was an important player in the team that won the trophy, conceding just one goal in six matches.[19]

On 14 May 2024, Ortega replaced the injured Ederson in the second half and made crucial saves, including a one-on-one chance from Son Heung-min in the 85th minute, securing a 2–0 away victory for his club against Tottenham Hotspur in their penultimate league match, and keeping them at the top of the table for the 2023–24 season.[20] He was named man of the match.[21] Coach Pep Guardiola said that without Ortega's save "Arsenal are champions", and described him as "one of the best keepers I've seen in my life."[22] Ortega started on the final day as Manchester City beat West Ham and became Premier League champions.[23]

International career

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In autumn 2010, Ortega was called up to the German U19 national team, but remained an unused substitute. On 21 May 2021, he was nominated as a potential reserve for the Germany national team for UEFA Euro 2020. His call-up for the squad was contingent if Manuel Neuer, Bernd Leno or Kevin Trapp had to withdraw due to injury.[24] In November 2024, he was called up to the senior team.[25]

Career statistics

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As of match played 4 December 2024[26]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arminia Bielefeld II 2010–11 Regionalliga West 6 0 6 0
Arminia Bielefeld 2011–12 3. Liga 20 0 0 0 20 0
2012–13 3. Liga 1 0 0 0 1 0
2013–14 2. Bundesliga 15 0 1 0 2[c] 0 18 0
Total 36 0 1 0 2 0 39 0
1860 Munich 2014–15 2. Bundesliga 20 0 2 0 22 0
2015–16 2. Bundesliga 15 0 3 0 18 0
2016–17 2. Bundesliga 21 0 1 0 2[c] 0 24 0
Total 56 0 6 0 2 0 64 0
1860 Munich II 2016–17 Regionalliga Bayern 2 0 2 0
Arminia Bielefeld 2017–18 2. Bundesliga 34 0 1 0 35 0
2018–19 2. Bundesliga 31 0 0 0 31 0
2019–20 2. Bundesliga 34 0 2 0 36 0
2020–21 Bundesliga 34 0 1 0 35 0
2021–22 Bundesliga 33 0 2 0 35 0
Total 166 0 6 0 172 0
Manchester City 2022–23 Premier League 3 0 6 0 3 0 2[d] 0 0 0 14 0
2023–24 Premier League 9 0 6 0 1 0 3[d] 0 1[e] 0 20 0
2024–25 Premier League 2 0 0 0 2 0 2[d] 0 0 0 6 0
Total 14 0 12 0 6 0 7 0 1 0 40 0
Career total 280 0 25 0 6 0 7 0 5 0 323 0
  1. ^ Includes DFB-Pokal, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in 2. Bundesliga promotion play-offs
  4. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ Appearance in FA Community Shield

Honours

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Arminia Bielefeld

Manchester City

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Stefan Ortega: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  2. ^ "2022/23 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  3. ^ Bülau, Maximilian (12 February 2020). "Stefan Ortega im Interview: "Ich bin noch in einem guten Alter"". HNA (in German). Verlag Dierichs GmbH & Co. KG. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  4. ^ Mönikes, Arianna. "Mit Arminia-Torwart Stefan Ortega Moreno gegen Diskriminierung". nw.de.
  5. ^ nw-news.de: Stefan Ortega verlängert Vertrag bei Arminia
  6. ^ nw-news.de: Stefan Ortega wechselt zu 1860 München
  7. ^ Matthias Eicher (17 August 2014). "Dank Doppelpacker Okotie: Die Löwen können noch gewinnen". Abendzeitung.
  8. ^ Andreas Babst. "Schlabberlook war gestern". Süddeutsche Zeitung.
  9. ^ "Stefan Ortega kehrt zurück | DSC Arminia Bielefeld". Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  10. ^ DSC Arminia verlängert mit Ortega Moreno Archived 25 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine, arminia-bielefeld.de, retrieved 25 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Topspieler | Tor | Bundesliga 2020/21".
  12. ^ "City seal Ortega Moreno deal". Manchester City F.C. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Haaland starts Community Shield against Liverpool". Manchester City F.C. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Man City top group but must fix penalty 'problem'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Lewis, 17, scores for Man City in win over Sevilla". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  16. ^ Bray, Joe (9 November 2022). "Guardiola hails 'exceptional' Ortega performance for Man City". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Manchester City 3–0 West Ham: Erling Haaland breaks Premier League goals record". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  18. ^ Ghosh, Abhinab (22 May 2023). "Manchester City players rated vs Chelsea". The 4th Official. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Stefan Ortega 2022–2023 FA Cup Match Logs".
  20. ^ "Stefan Ortega: Manchester City keeper proves hero as title looms". BBC Sport. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  21. ^ "City Xtra on X: "Stefan Ortega on Instagram. 🌟" / X". X. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  22. ^ Hytner, David (14 May 2024). "'He saves us – otherwise Arsenal are champions': Guardiola hails Ortega". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Manchester City win record fourth English title in a row as Foden scores twice in 3-1 win over West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  24. ^ Richter, Michael (21 May 2021). "Späte, kleine Ehre für den Keeper: Bielefelds Ortega auf dem "DFB-Sofa"". Kicker-Sportmagazin (in German). Olympia Verlag GmbH. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Ortega Moreno erstmals nominiert, Brandt und Nmecha kehren zurück" (in German). German Football Association. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  26. ^ "S. Ortega". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  27. ^ Lee, Sam; Bosher, Luke (1 July 2022). "Manchester City sign goalkeeper Stefan Ortega on free transfer from Arminia Bielefeld". The Athletic. Retrieved 24 September 2023. The German returned to Arminia three seasons later, however, and helped them return to the Bundesliga for the first time in 11 years as they won the 2 Bundesliga title in 2019–20.
  28. ^ McNulty, Phil (3 June 2023). "Manchester City 2–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  29. ^ "Manchester City 1–2 Manchester United: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Manchester City 1–1 Manchester United: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  31. ^ McNulty, Phil (10 June 2023). "Manchester City 1–0 Inter Milan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  32. ^ McNulty, Phil (16 August 2023). "Manchester City 1–1 Sevilla". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  33. ^ "Manchester City 4–0 Fluminense". BBC Sport. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
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  NODES
Association 1
COMMUNITY 4
INTERN 2
Note 1