 In the following years more of the same befell, as he played second-fiddle to Quique Sánchez Flores, Carlos Secretário and Christian Panucci – although he did play 23 matches in the 1995–96 campaign, as Real stumbled to a final sixth place; he served more as a moral support and bench captain, like Manuel Sanchís later, subbing rarely and starting even more rarely.After Real Madrid lifted its seventh European Cup against Juventus F.C.on 20 May 1998 (he did not play in the decisive match), Chendo retired from professional football, aged almost 37.