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JOSÉ OSCAR 'TURU' FLORES
Date of Birth: 16 May, 1971
Nationality: Argentina (international)/Spain
Period at Deportivo: 1998 - 2002
Transfer: 900 mln ptas (ca €5,8 million) (1998)
Previous Clubs: Las Palmas (1996-1998), Vélez Sarsfield (1991-1996)
Sold: As part of the Luque transfer (2002, to Mallorca)
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Position: Striker (central)/Attacking Midfielder (left)
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 Striker 'TURU' FLORES spent just three seasons at Deportivo, but these were enough to have his name written in their history books. This had to do with the fact that during his second season, the team won their first ever Liga, and the Argentinean international player was an important part of that team. His nickname he was given by his family as he looked a lot like a popular figure on the Argentinean television.
It was Las Palmas who had taken 'Turu' Flores away from his Argentinean club Vélez Sarsfield and had given him the opportunity to shine in the Spanish Segunda División. In Argentina, he had played 156 matches in the highest division and scored 57 goals. At Las Palmas it took him two seasons to attract the attention of Deportivo who were looking for a good striker after the recent failures with Abreu, 'Manteca' Martínez, Bassir and Renaldo. 'Turu' Flores, after scoring 35 goals in two seasons, was signed and Manuel Pablo was added as 'bonus' to this transfer.
The player's first season in La Coruña coincided with the first of Irureta and he delivered some impressive performances. During that season, 1998/1999, he scored fourteen Liga goals and hit three in the Copa del Rey tournament. Both he and Pauleta proved to be lethal strikers that season.
Soon he became the favourite of the Deportivo crowd, especially because of his goals against arch rivals Celta. He scored the only goal during the 0-1 Copa win at Balaídos when Deportivo missed more than half of their team. In the return match he scored the decisive goal in extra-time (1-1) while three days earlier he had scored the winner in the Liga confrontation in Riazor (2-1).
But in the summer of 1999, the club signed Roy Makaay, which signified the end of 'Turu' Flores as first-choice striker. He still was able to score eight goals that season despite the fact that he had clearly had lost the competition with the Dutch striker. His first goal of that season only arrived in December 1999. He also found the net against Celta as he scored the winner at home (1-0) although his away goal was scored in vain (2-1 loss). 'Turu' Flores' last great performance was against Real Madrid when he scored two goals in a legendary win.
The summer months again proved to be deadly for him as Diego Tristán and Walter Pandiani were signed. Although Pauleta had been sold, the presence of the duo and Roy Makaay were enough for Irureta to move the Argentinean player to the left midfield.
This didn't prove to be much of a success as 'Turu' Flores's qualities were best used in the final 20 meters of the pitch. He's strong and technically gifted but not capable of making long runs. That's why Irureta rarely used him that season as the player scored just one goal: during the 1-3 away win at Paris-Saint Germain. It proved to be his last goal in a Deportivo shirt.
Much was expected of him when he was loaned out to Valladolid for the season 2001/2002. But again 'Turu' Flores wasn't given many opportunities, again producing only one goal. That didn't convince Deportivo, who strengthened their squad with Albert Luque, capable of playing as a striker and attacking midfielder on the left. 'Turu' Flores formed part of the deal, and after 84 Liga matches in the shirt of Deportivo he was sold to Mallorca. he would play just 12 matches on the island during the season 2002/2003, without scoring a single goal.
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