| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado | ||
| Date of birth | 6 June 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Barbate, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Gent | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1988–2001 | Betis | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2004 | Betis B | 57 | (1) |
| 2002 | → Poli Ejido (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2002–2010 | Betis | 177 | (4) |
| 2010–2011 | Tenerife | 25 | (1) |
| 2011– | Gent | 0 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2000–2001 | Spain U16 | 6 | (1) |
| 2001 | Spain U17 | 4 | (1) |
| 2002–2003 | Spain U19 | 8 | (0) |
| 2003 | Spain U20 | 9 | (0) |
| 2003–2006 | Spain U21 | 20 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 August 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado, aka Melli (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmeʎi]; born 6 June 1984 in Barbate, Cádiz, Andalusia), is a Spanish footballer who plays for K.A.A. Gent in the Belgian first division.
A versatile defender, he can appear as either a right or a central defender, and spent most of his professional career at Betis, for which he appeared in more than 200 official games, winning one Copa del Rey.
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Melli joined Real Betis as a 14-year old, and made his way up through the ranks until he reached the reserve team in 2001. He served a small loan stint at Andalusia neighbours Polideportivo Ejido in the late stages of 2001–02, with two appearances in the second division.
Melli scored his first career goal through a header from a Joaquín corner kick, against CA Osasuna on 18 September 2004 (3–2 away loss). He also appeared in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup during the 2005–06 season. In the latter, he scored an essential goal away to AZ Alkmaar which allowed Betis to progress into the next round[1]- this came just one week after having scored two unfortunate own goals against FC Barcelona in a league match at the Camp Nou.[2]
Melli won his first medal for Betis during the 2005 Spanish Cup final against Osasuna at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, on 11 June 2005, playing the full 90 minutes plus extra time in an eventual 2–1 win. He continued to be a defensive presence in the following seasons for the Verdiblancos, playing an average of 25 league matches, and suffering relegation in 2008–09.
In late August 2011, after another relegation, now with CD Tenerife (in the second division) whom he joined in the 2010 summer - a second consecutive for the Canary Islands club - Melli moved abroad for the first time and signed for K.A.A. Gent in Belgium, joining compatriot César Arzo.
Melli represented the Spanish national team at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.
Melli's nickname stems from the Spanish word mellizo (twin), as he himself is a twin. His brother Víctor is also a footballer, also being nicknamed Melli. A goalkeeper, he never played in higher than the fourth division during his career.[3]
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