Luis Blázquez chooses Seville for his farewell after 30 years in bullfighting

Luis Blázquez draws the curtain on a lifetime in the bullfighting cuadrillas

Some farewells carry a special meaning because of the place where they take place. Luis Blázquez’s will certainly be one of them. The veteran Valencian banderillero will make his final appearance dressed in silver this Sunday at the Real Maestranza de Sevilla, a bullring closely linked to some of the most important moments of his career.

He will do so as part of Borja Jiménez‘s cuadrilla, having worked alongside the Sevillian matador for the past two seasons. Together, they will bring more than three decades of professional life in bullfighting to a close.

For Blázquez, Seville is a natural choice for his farewell. He has appeared at La Maestranza on numerous occasions alongside some of the leading names in bullfighting and has many treasured memories of the city. Now he returns for one final afternoon at a bullring he considers almost his own.

From Valencia’s Bullfighting School to the great cuadrillas

Luis Blázquez’s connection with bullfighting began when he was just 13 years old, when he joined the Valencia Bullfighting School.

During his time as a novillero, he competed in novilladas with picadores and also had the opportunity to fight in Valencia, where he managed to cut ears. His initial ambition was to become a matador de toros, but he eventually found his path within the cuadrillas.

In 1993, he began his career as a banderillero. From that moment onwards, his professional journey became linked to some of the most prominent names from different generations of bullfighting.

He has worked in the cuadrillas of Vicente Barrera, Pedrito de Portugal, Miguel Báez ‘Litri’, Juan José Padilla, Finito de Córdoba, Morante de la Puebla, José María Manzanares, Sebastián Castella and Borja Jiménez.

Sixteen seasons alongside Manzanares

One of the longest chapters of his career was spent alongside José María Manzanares, with whom he worked for 16 seasons.

It was a period particularly associated with the Real Maestranza, the setting for many memorable afternoons. Blázquez has also been involved in important moments alongside other matadors, building up an extraordinary wealth of experience at some of Spain’s most significant bullrings.

Among the memories he treasures are afternoons alongside Manzanares in Seville, the indulto of ‘Arrojado’, Borja Jiménez’s performance with a La Quinta bull in Bilbao, and the Sevillian matador’s Puerta Grande in Madrid with ‘Milhijas’, from the Victorino Martín breeding line.

Borja Jiménez, the companion of his final chapter

The final stage of Blázquez’s career has been closely linked to Borja Jiménez. Over the past two seasons, the Valencian banderillero has witnessed the Sevillian matador’s rise and his consolidation among the leading names in the bullfighting ranks.

Blázquez particularly values having been part of that journey and is proud to have served under Jiménez as he achieved new milestones.

His retirement will therefore carry an added symbolic meaning: Borja Jiménez will be alongside him during his final afternoon in Seville.

A profession built around discretion

After so many years in the profession, Blázquez regards discretion as one of the most important qualities of a torero de plata.

Among the professionals who have influenced his understanding of the profession, he particularly remembers Curro Molina, with whom he shared Finito de Córdoba’s cuadrilla, and Juan Cubero, whom he highlights for his strength and professionalism, as well as his ability to fulfil his role without seeking the spotlight.

That secondary yet essential role has defined much of Blázquez’s career: working for the matador and being ready to respond whenever required during the bullfight.

More than three decades of memories

Such a long career inevitably includes difficult moments. Blázquez particularly remembers injuries suffered by colleagues and friends, as well as the serious bullfighting injuries he himself has had to overcome over the years.

Yet his overall reflection on his career is dominated by gratitude.

For more than 30 years, he has travelled from one bullring to another, shared cuadrillas and experienced first-hand the evolution of several generations of matadors. A career that began in Valencia will now conclude at one of the most emblematic venues in Spanish bullfighting.

Seville will host his final paseíllo

On Sunday, the moment will arrive for Blázquez to walk through the Maestranza’s patio de cuadrillas for the final time.

He will make the paseíllo alongside Borja Jiménez, once again taking on the role he has fulfilled for more than three decades: that of a torero de plata working in the service of his matador.

Then will come the definitive farewell.

His retirement in Seville will bring to an end a career that allowed him to share the profession with some of the leading figures in bullfighting over recent decades. A journey that began when a young Valencian dreamed of becoming a matador and ultimately found his own way of making his mark within the cuadrillas.

More than 30 years after becoming a banderillero, Luis Blázquez has chosen Seville to close the final chapter of his professional career.

Tickets for Luis Blázquez’s final appearance

Fans who wish to accompany Luis Blázquez for his farewell from the bullfighting ring can still purchase tickets for this Sunday’s event through Servitoro, with tickets available for the corrida at the Real Maestranza de Sevilla. It promises to be a particularly emotional afternoon as the veteran torero de plata brings more than three decades of professional career to an end.