El Cordobés facts for kids
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El Cordobés on 19 September 1966
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Manuel Benítez Pérez |
| Nickname(s) | El Cordobés (The Cordovan) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Born | 4 May 1936 Palma del Río, Andalusia, Spain |
| Position | Matador, actor, bullfighter |
Manuel Benítez Pérez, born on May 4, 1936, is a very famous Spanish bullfighter. He is better known by his nickname, El Cordobés, which means 'The Cordovan' because he is from Córdoba, Spain. In the 1960s, he became a star in the bullring with his exciting and acrobatic style of bullfighting. He also worked as an actor.
Contents
Becoming a Bullfighting Star
El Cordobés became famous for his unique and daring moves in the bullring. One of his special techniques involved using banderillas. These are decorated sticks with a barbed tip that bullfighters place into the bull's shoulders.
Daring Techniques
El Cordobés would sometimes break his banderillas to a shorter length. He would then stand with his back to the charging bull. Just before the bull reached him, he would quickly move his leg. This made the bull swerve, giving him a chance to place the banderillas right behind the bull's left horn. He repeated this exciting move in many bullfights across Spain. Sometimes, he even stood with his back to the barrier, placing the banderillas as the bull's horns passed by him.
First Appearance in Madrid
On May 20, 1964, El Cordobés performed for the first time at Las Ventas in Madrid, a very important bullring. That day, he was seriously injured by a bull named Impulsivo. Even after this dangerous injury, he was back in the bullring just 22 days later.
Retirement and Return
By 1971, when he first retired, El Cordobés had become the highest-paid bullfighter ever. He took a break from bullfighting for eight years.
Returning to the Ring
In 1979, El Cordobés decided to return to bullfighting. He continued to make occasional appearances as a bullfighter until 2000, when he retired permanently. He also acted in several movies during his career.
Later Years
El Cordobés now lives a quiet life near Córdoba. In 2016, he made a public appearance with other bullfighters, Conchi Ríos and Antonio Puerta, in Cehegín, Murcia.
El Cordobés in Pop Culture
El Cordobés's exciting life and career inspired many artists.
Books and Music
- An early book about his life, Or I'll Dress You in Mourning, was written by journalists Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre in 1968.
- In 1966, the Italian-French singer Dalida released an album called "El Cordobes." The first song on the album was also named "Manuel Benitez 'El Cordobes'" and was available in both Spanish and French.
- His story was also the basis for a musical called Matador in 1987, created by Mike Leander and Eddie Seago.
- Poet Mike O'Connor wrote a poem called "Canción del Cordobés." It was about El Cordobés's amazing performances in Mexico City in 1964 and was included in his 2005 poetry book, When the Tiger Weeps.
- A song titled "El Cordobés" was also performed by the Norwegian rap artist Diaz.
See also
In Spanish: Manuel Benítez, el Cordobés para niños
- List of bullfighters
External links
- (Spanish) Biography and dates of bullfights[Usurped!]
