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 | |||
| Albacete | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1994–1995 | Hellín | ||
| 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) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2014 | Las Palmas | ||
| 2014–2015 | Las Palmas B | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
José Joaquín Moreno Verdú (born 6 January 1975), commonly known as Josico, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a current coach.
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 (scoring twice), but his team was relegated after five consecutive years in the top level; his first game in the main category of Spanish football occurred on 18 November 1995, as he featured the full 90 minutes in a 0–3 away loss against FC Barcelona.[1]
Josico went on to represent UD Las Palmas for four seasons, joining Villarreal CF for 2002–03 campaign, where he played a major part in the club's domestic and European consolidation: in 2004–05 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 side was coached by former Spain manager Luis Aragonés.[2] 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.[3] He returned to the Canary Islands the following year, being charged with watching the opposing teams.[4]
Josico was appointed Las Palmas' first-team manager on 26 May 2014, replacing fired Sergio Lobera after a 2–3 home loss against Recreativo de Huelva.[5] He still managed to lead the side to the sixth position in the regular season, then ousted Sporting de Gijón 2–0 on aggregate in the top flight promotion playoffs.[6]
On 3 July Josico was appointed at the helm of the Canarians' reserve team, in Segunda División B.[7]
Honours
Club
- Villarreal
Country
- Spain U21
References
- ↑ El Barcelona estrena liderato (Barcelona a leader for the first time); El País, 19 November 1995 (Spanish)
- ↑ 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)
- ↑ Josico, nuevo 'espía' de los rivales de la UD Las Palmas (Josico, new UD Las Palmas rivals' 'spy'); Sport8, 17 July 2012 (Spanish)
- ↑ Lobera es destituido y Josico y Javi Guerrero toman el mando (Lobera is fired and Josico and Javi Guerrero take over); Diario AS, 26 May 2014 (Spanish)
- ↑ Las Palmas, un paso más cerca de Primera (Las Palmas, one step closer to Primera); Europa Press, 15 June 2014 (Spanish)
- ↑ Josico, nuevo entrenador de Las Palmas Atlético (Josico, new manager of Las Palmas Atlético); Las Palmas' official website, 3 July 2014 (Spanish)
External links
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