Josico
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | José Joaquín Moreno Verdú | ||
Date of birth | 6 January 1975 | ||
Place of birth | Hellín, Spain | ||
Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1994–1995 | Hellín | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
1995–1998 | Albacete | 97 | (7) |
1998–2002 | Las Palmas | 129 | (12) |
2002–2008 | Villarreal | 152 | (5) |
2008–2009 | Fenerbahçe | 14 | (0) |
2009–2011 | Las Palmas | 37 | (2) |
Total | 429 | (26) | |
National team | |||
1996–1997 | Spain U21 | 7 | (1) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
José Joaquín Moreno Verdú (born 6 January 1975), aka Josico, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
His 16-year professional career was mainly associated with Las Palmas and Villarreal (six years apiece), and he amassed La Liga totals of 240 games and 13 goals over the course of nine seasons.
Football career
Born in Hellín, Albacete, Josico made his debut in La Liga with Albacete Balompié, in the 1995–96 season, immediately after joining from local amateurs Hellín Deportivo. He played in 28 matches (netting twice), but his team was relegated after five consecutive years in the top level.
Josico went on to represent UD Las Palmas for four seasons, joining Villarreal CF for 2002–03, where he played a major part in the team's domestic and European consolidation: in the 2004–05 campaign the player appeared in 29 contests – 28 as a starter – as the Valencian Community side finished third, as well as being the undisputed captain.
Deemed surplus to requirements by Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini, Josico joined Fenerbahçe S.K. on 28 August 2008, as the Süper Lig outfit was coached by former Spain manager Luis Aragonés.[1] After just one season in Turkey, where he was used sparingly, he was released, and quickly signed with one of his first clubs, Las Palmas, in the second division, at the same time of a former club mate, Antonio Guayre.
In late May 2011, after having contributed with 25 games for the club's league status preservation, 36-year-old Josico announced his retirement from professional football.[2]
Honours
- Villarreal
- Spain U21
- European Under-21 Championship: 1998
References
- ↑ Josico joins Fenerbahçe; Fenerbahçe official website, 28 August 2008
- ↑ Josico se retira: "Es el momento de decir adiós" (Josico retires: "It's time to say goodbye"); Marca, 26 May 2011 (Spanish)
External links
- BDFutbol profile
- El Mundo stats (Spanish)