Joel Robles

Joel Robles

Joel warming up for Everton in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Joel Robles Blázquez[1]
Date of birth	(1990-06-17) 17 June 1990
Place of birth	Getafe, Spain
Height	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) [2]
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team	Everton
Number	1
Youth career
	Getafe
2005–2008	Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2008–2009	Atlético Madrid C
2009–2010	Atlético Madrid B	28	(0)
2010–2013	Atlético Madrid	2	(0)
2012	→ Rayo Vallecano (loan)	13	(0)
2013	→ Wigan Athletic (loan)	9	(0)
2013–	Everton	9	(0)
National team‡
2005	Spain U16	1	(0)
2006	Spain U17	1	(0)
2011–2013	Spain U21	2	(0)
2012	Spain U23	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of match played 7 February 2015. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21 March 2013

Joel Robles Blázquez (born 17 June 1990), known simply as Joel, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for English club Everton as a goalkeeper.

Joel started his professional career at Atlético Madrid, initially in the C team in 2008, before progressing into the B team a year later. He made 28 league appearances for Atlético B during the 2009–10 season, before being promoted into the senior squad. Having been used sparingly in the 2011–12 season, he moved on loan to Rayo Vallecano in January 2012, making 13 league appearances. He was sent out on loan again in January 2013, this time to Premier League side Wigan Athletic, where he was part of the FA Cup-winning side. Having made eight league appearances for Wigan, he returned to Atlético Madrid at the end of the season before joining Everton in July 2013.

Joel played internationally for Spain at U16, U17, U21 and U23 level, and was part of the squad that won the 2013 European Under-21 Championship.

Club career

Atlético Madrid

Born in Getafe, Madrid, Joel was a youth product of Getafe CF, and joined neighbouring Atlético Madrid in 2005 to finish his formation. He spent his first professional season, 2009–10, with the reserve side in Segunda División B and, on 27 December 2009, signed his first professional contract, running until June 2014.^[3]

On 8 May 2010 Joel made his La Liga debut, in a 1–1 away draw against Sporting de Gijón: starter David de Gea (another Atlético youth graduate) was being rested for the UEFA Europa League final, and his replacement, Sergio Asenjo, suffered a severe knee injury after only ten minutes.^[4]

In the 2010–11 campaign he acted mostly as backup, especially as Asenjo left in January 2011 to Málaga CF on loan, only to be again seriously injured in the process. After de Gea was signed by Manchester United in the off-season, Joel was made first-choice by newly appointed manager Gregorio Manzano, but he lost his position after only three official games, to Belgian Thibaut Courtois.

On 31 January 2012, Joel was loaned to neighbouring Rayo Vallecano – also in the top division – who had lost starter Dani Giménez to injury. He played his first game five days later, in a 2–1 away win against Real Zaragoza.^[5]

Wigan Athletic

Joel was loaned again in the 2013 winter transfer window, joining a host of compatriots – including manager Roberto Martínez – at Premier League club Wigan Athletic.^[6] He made his debut on 26 January, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win at non-league side Macclesfield Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup.^[7]

Joel made his first league appearance on 17 March 2013, starting in a 2–1 home victory against Newcastle United. He soon won the battle for first-choice status over Ali Al-Habsi.

On 11 May 2013 Joel started in Wigan's first-ever FA Cup final appearance, preventing Carlos Tevez from scoring twice in the first 45 minutes and eventually keeping a clean sheet in the 1–0 win.^[8]

Everton

Joel signed for fellow league club Everton on 9 July 2013, rejoining former Wigan manager Roberto Martínez on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.^[9] On 26 December 2013 he played in home defeat against Sunderland. Robles came on as a 24th-minute substitute for Leon Osman, as starting goalkeeper Tim Howard had been sent off for a professional foul. Joel was unable to save the resulting penalty as Everton lost the game 1-0.^[10] Robles then made his first Premier League start for Everton against Southampton three days later due to Howard's suspension, with Everton winning 2–1.^[11]

On 13 January 2015, in a penalty shootout at the end of an FA Cup third round replay at West Ham United, Joel saved from Stewart Downing. However, when the shootout went to sudden death, Joel hit the crossbar while West Ham's goalkeeper, his compatriot Adrián, scored to eliminate Everton.^[12]

Joel made his second substitute appearance in as many Boxing Days when Tim Howard was injured in a 0-1 defeat to Stoke City. Despite a nervy start, Joel began enjoying one of the best runs of form of his young career, including 3 consecutive clean sheets. He was relegated to the bench in favour of the returning Howard. A move which initially prompted some ire from the fans, the controversy surrounding Joel's absence was intensified when Howard was directly at fault for a number of goals upon his return.

Club statistics

As of match played 7 February 2015.^[13]

Honours

Club

Atlético Madrid

• UEFA Europa League: 2009–10, 2011–12
• UEFA Super Cup: 2010
• Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2009–10

Wigan Athletic

• FA Cup: 2012–13

Country

Spain U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: 2013

References

External links

• Everton FC official profile
• Atlético Madrid official profile
• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)