Juan Maldonado Jaimez

Juan
Personal information
Full nameJuan Maldonado Jaimez Junior
Date of birthFebruary 6, 1982
Place of birthSão Paulo, Brazil
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing positionLeft back
Club information
Current team
Vitória
Number6
Youth career
1998–2000São Paulo
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2000–2001São Paulo0(0)
2001–2004Arsenal0(0)
2003→ Millwall (loan)3(0)
2004–2005Fluminense42(1)
2006–2010Flamengo148(14)
2011–2013São Paulo31(4)
2012→ Santos (loan)18(0)
2013–Vitória10(2)
National team‡
2008Brazil2(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 13, 2013.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of August 4, 2012

Juan Maldonado Jaimez Junior[1] (born February 6, 1982 in São Paulo), better known as Juan, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Vitória, mainly as a left wingback. He also holds an EU passport as a Spanish citizen.

Club career

Arsenal

He started his career with São Paulo before being signed by English side Arsenal in 2001. He only made two first-team appearances for Arsenal, his debut coming against Grimsby Town in the League Cup on November 27, 2001.[2] His other appearance came when he started in the 5th Round of the FA Cup against Gillingham on February 16, 2002.[3] Juan was due to play in Arsenal's Third Round League Cup tie against Sunderland but picked up a knee injury ahead of the game. On November 8, 2002 additional diagnosis confirmed an ACL knee injury. This injury essentially ended Juan's Arsenal career.

Millwall

He had a brief period on loan for two months at Millwall in 2003. There he played three league matches and one League Cup match.

Flamengo

Juan moved to Flamengo in the beginning of 2006. Late in that year he scored one goal in the final of Brazilian Cup against Vasco da Gama and was named "man of the match".

After being voted one of the best players in the Brazilian Série A 2007, Juan received the second place prize Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) award for best left back awarded by Revista Placar, a prestigious Brazilian football magazine. Juan played well once again in the 2008 season, this time winning the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) award as the best player in his position.[4]

On August 22, 2008 Juan received his first call up to Brazil National Team to play against Chile and Bolivia in the qualifying round of the World Cup 2010.[5][6] After this spell with the national team Juan was occasionally referred to as Juan Maldonado to avoid confusion with Juan, another former Flamengo player who had also been called up for Brazil around this time.

On May 22, 2009 Juan received a 30-day ban for threatening Botafogo's Maicosuel in the 2009 Rio de Janeiro State League finals.[7]

São Paulo

In December 2010, as his Flamengo contract was expiring, São Paulo announced interest in signing the player. Juan declared that a return to São Paulo, the club where he played as a youth player before joining Arsenal, would be "like moving home."[8] Juan joined São Paulo at the start of 2011 season. After the finish of his loan for Santos, Juan, that was out of Ney Franco's plans, didn't back to club.[9]

Santos

In February 2012 Juan joined Santos FC on a season long loan after São Paulo signed left back Cortês from Botafogo.[10] The move has worked out well with Juan playing regularly and helping his side win the 2012 São Paulo State Championship.

Return to São Paulo

On May 2013, after the reformulation made by president Juvenal Juvêncio and coach Ney Franco, that removed from staff of club seven players, Juan was reintegrated to Tricolor. In the Juvêncio's words: "O rapaz [Juan] chegou impecável e disposto a jogar" ("The boy [Juan] came with a flawless form and wishing to play").[11] In next month, Juan made his new début by team against Atlético Mineiro, in a game valid by Brazilian League. Juan came in from the bench as a substitute for Thiago Carleto, that injured off. According Juan: "Estou muito feliz de poder defender o São Paulo novamente."("I am very happy to defend São Paulo again").[12]

On June 5, 2013, Juan made his new début as a player of 11-team of São Paulo. The game finished 1–0 for Goiás, and the player was criticized by fans. According Juan, that did not understand the claims: "Quando o resultado não vem, sobra para alguém. Mais uma vez, sobrou para mim. Queria entender qual o problema da torcida comigo. Eu me esforço, luto. Sei que não estou 100%, que eu posso render mais, mas time grande é assim, tem pressão" ("When we could not win, somebody always is faulted. One more time, I was the faulted. I would want to understand which the fans' problems with me. I try, I fight. I know I am not 100% conditioned, that I can play better, but in great club the things are this way, under pressure").[13]

Vitória

On August 30, 2013, Juan was presented in Esporte Clube Vitória. He chose the side from Bahia because of Caio Júnior, with who worked at CR Flamengo, period that Juan came to Brazilian team.[14] Ironically, with Júnior's dismissed, Juan will work again with Ney Franco, the coach that, in the start of 2013, did not have Juan in his plains, when both of them were in São Paulo FC. Juan scored his first goal in September 04, in the lose for Flamengo by 1-2.[15]

On October 5, 2013, in the lose of Vitória for 2-3 against São Paulo, Juan scored a goal against his former club and was very scolded by Tricolor fans. His goal also was very criticized by Rogério Ceni, captain of rival, who affirmed Juan shooted the penalty kick with his both feet, what is prohibited in football.[16]

Career statistics

(Correct as of December 1, 2012)
Club Season Brazilian Série A State League Copa do Brasil South America Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Flamengo 2006 292-92-92----4764
2007 346-121----80-54713
2008 3348153----81-56827
2009 19131462511---3886
2010 33101204---10105524
Total 14814-6212-143-262-2503154
São Paulo 2011 314018007004006040
Total 314-180-70-40-6040
Santos 2012 1721122200011024045
Total 1721122200-11024045
Career total 19620-9214-203-412-3503959

according to combined sources on the Flamengo official website[17] and Flaestatística.[18]

International career

Juan debuted in the Brazil National Team on September 7, 2008 as a second half substitute replacing Ronaldinho Gaúcho in the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers 3-0 win over Chile.[19][20][21] Three days later, he played his first match as a starter against Bolivia in Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, also for the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers.[22]

Brazil career statistics

(Correct as of October 19, 2008)
National Football Team Qualifying matches Friendly internationals Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Brazil 200000200

Honours

Arsenal
Fluminense
Flamengo
Santos

Individual

References

External links