The world of Spanish bullfighting is still reeling from the sudden news: Morante de la Puebla, one of its brightest stars, has left the arena. After three decades of a brilliant career, the Andalusian matador decided to retire, giving an unforgettable farewell performance at Madrid’s Las Ventas arena. It was both a triumphant and moving finale for a man who first picked up a muleta at the age of five. Now, his main goal is to restore his inner balance, aided by those closest to him. Every step of this challenging journey is supported by his three children and, of course, his wife, Elisabeth Garrido. Their union has lasted fifteen years, and she has been his main source of strength during times when psychological struggles forced him to pause his career. The matador himself admitted that at times he saw death as a form of relief, but could not allow himself to give in to such thoughts because of his responsibility to his family, who have always come first for him.
Morante de la Puebla’s first wife was Cynthia Antúnez, who gave birth to his firstborn, José Antonio Morante Jr. However, their son did not follow in his father’s footsteps, instead choosing a football career in which he has already achieved notable success. He plays for the youth team of Betis and has even been called up to Spain’s junior national squad. That first wedding, held in the matador’s hometown at the Virgen de la Granada church, was a grand event that gathered around 400 guests. Among them were bullfighting legends such as Espartaco, Enrique Ponce, and Finito de Córdoba, together with their famous wives. That marriage ended in 2008, and Morante soon found new happiness with Elisabeth Garrido. They had known each other since childhood, and after a year together—by which time Elisabeth was already expecting their first child—the couple decided to marry. This time, the ceremony was much more modest. In 2010, they had a civil wedding at the Los Angeles estate in Alcalá de Guadaíra. The bride arrived at the gates of the estate in a luxurious Rolls-Royce, wearing a Rosa Clará gown, while the groom was visibly nervous. Of the 150 guests, only a few were Morante’s professional colleagues, among them Curro Vázquez and Luis Antonio Gaspar.
The couple will soon celebrate their 15th anniversary together. Morante and Elizabeth have two daughters: 14-year-old Maria and 12-year-old Lola. The family lives at the estate “Huerta de San Antonio,” an authentic Andalusian cortijo with a toromaquia spirit, located in La Puebla del Río. The property features a portable bullfighting ring, a football field open to locals, and halls for weddings and other celebrations. In an interview, the torero shared that he finds harmony in silence and solitude, noting that he has always valued silence and disliked flatterers. He also said he is satisfied with his achievements and would have been deeply unhappy if he had not found success, since the mere thought of failure caused him panic. Morante and his wife, who have always protected their private life from public view, are also business partners. They own the popular bar “La Capilla” in their native Seville town. It is here, away from the spotlight, in a calm atmosphere, that the legendary maestro plans to rediscover himself—this time, without the torero’s suit.
