In the summer of 1962, after two seasons with the reserves, he was promoted to the first team that had just been relegated from La Liga, helping them return to the competition at the end of the 1966–67 campaign.

[2] Ormaetxea's best year in the top tier was 1969–70, when he started in all his 28 league appearances and scored twice to help the Txuriurdin finish in seventh position.

In 1978, he replaced José Antonio Irulegui at the helm of the main squad, taking them to national championship conquests in 1981 and 1982 as well as the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey in 1982 and 1983.

[2] Additionally, in 1979–80, the club trailed Real Madrid by only one point and, taking the previous season into account, established a record of 38 matches without defeat that stood for several decades.

[3] Ormaetxea left Hércules CF in September 1986 after only one month in charge, and retired from professional football, going on to work with Real's veterans and write for El Diario Vasco.