| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Manuel Ortiz Palazón | ||
| Date of birth | 1 March 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Guardamar del Segura, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder / Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Rangers | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| CD Alone | |||
| Kelme CF | |||
| Atlético Madrid | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2003 | Atlético B | ? | (?) |
| 2002–2007 | Atlético Madrid | 5 | (0) |
| 2004–2006 | → Osasuna (loan) | 29 | (2) |
| 2006–2007 | → Poli Ejido (loan) | 40 | (9) |
| 2007–2011 | Almería | 126 | (9) |
| 2011– | Rangers | 9 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 December 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Juan Manuel Ortiz Palazón, also known as Juanma[1] (born 1 March 1982), is a Spanish footballer who plays for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League, mainly as a right midfielder.
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Born in in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante, Valencia, Ortiz was a graduate of Atlético de Madrid's youth system, where he played five first-team matches during 2003–04, three as a starter. He had previously made his first team debuts in the 2001–02 season, appearing in one second division game as the Colchoneros were promoted, and would spend the next three seasons on loan, at both CA Osasuna and Polideportivo Ejido (the latter in the second division).
In 2007–08, Ortiz joined newly promoted UD Almería, where he was instrumental in helping the Andalusia outfit overachieve to a final 8th place in La Liga. He scored twice, namely in a 4–1 away win against neighbours Sevilla FC, on 19 April 2008,[2] and continued to be regularly used in the following top flight campaigns, inclusively as an offensive right defender.
Ortiz played as both right and left back during 2010–11.[1] He scored twice in the season's Copa del Rey, both in a 4–3 win at RCD Mallorca (8–6 on aggregate) for the round of 16, as Almería eventually reached the competition's semifinals for the first time ever,[3] being nonetheless relegated after ranking 20th and last.
Ortiz signed for Scottish Premier League giants Rangers on 6 July 2011, on a three-year contract.[1] On the 23rd, he made his first official start for the club, against Heart of Midlothian, struggling to make an impact and playing out of position in a 1–1 draw, the competitive debut for Ally McCoist as team manager.[4]
On 26 July 2011, Ortiz played his first UEFA Champions League game for Rangers, replacing club captain David Weir in the 27th minute of a 0–1 home loss against Malmö FF. On 18 August, he scored his first official goal for the club, in the UEFA Europa League qualifier against NK Maribor.[5]
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