Melli (Spanish footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado | ||
| Date of birth | 6 June 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Barbate, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Simurq | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1988–2001 | Betis | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2004 | Betis B | 58 | (1) |
| 2002 | → Poli Ejido (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2002–2010 | Betis | 177 | (4) |
| 2010–2011 | Tenerife | 25 | (1) |
| 2011–2013 | Gent | 59 | (3) |
| 2013–2014 | Sheriff | 23 | (3) |
| 2014–2015 | Ergotelis | 10 | (1) |
| 2015– | Simurq | 7 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2000–2001 | Spain U16 | 6 | (1) |
| 2001 | Spain U17 | 4 | (1) |
| 2002–2003 | Spain U19 | 8 | (0) |
| 2003 | Spain U20 | 9 | (0) |
| 2003–2006 | Spain U21 | 20 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 March 2015. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado, commonly known as Melli (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmeʎi]; born 6 June 1984), is a Spanish footballer who plays for Azerbaijani club Simurq PIK. A versatile defender, he can appear as either a right back or a central defender.
He spent most of his professional career at Betis, for which he appeared in 215 official games and won one Copa del Rey.
Club career
Born in Barbate, Cádiz, Melli joined Real Betis as a 14-year-old, and made his way up through the ranks until he reached the reserve team in 2001. He served a small loan stint at Andalusia neighbours Polideportivo Ejido in the late stages of the 2001–02 season, with two appearances in the second division.
Melli scored his first career goal through a header from a Joaquín corner kick, against CA Osasuna on 18 September 2004 (2–3 away loss). He also appeared in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup during the 2005–06 campaign: in the latter he netted an essential goal at AZ Alkmaar, which allowed Betis to progress into the next round –[1] this came just one week after having scored two unfortunate own goals against FC Barcelona in a La Liga match at the Camp Nou.[2]
Melli won his first medal for Betis during the 2005 final of the Copa del Rey against Osasuna at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, on 11 June 2005, playing the full 90 minutes plus extra time in an eventual 2–1 win. He continued to be a defensive presence in the following seasons for the Verdiblancos, playing an average of 25 league games and suffering relegation in 2008–09.
In late August 2011, after another relegation, now with CD Tenerife (in the second level) whom he joined in the 2010 summer – a second consecutive for the Canary Islands club – Melli moved abroad for the first time and signed a two-year contract for K.A.A. Gent in Belgium, joining compatriot César Arzo. After leaving in the 2013 summer he represented, in quick succession, FC Sheriff Tiraspol, Ergotelis F.C. and Simurq PIK.[3]
International career
Melli represented the Spanish national team at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.
Honours
Club
- Betis
- Sheriff
Country
- Spain U16
- Spain U19
- Spain U20
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: Runner-up 2003
Personal life
Melli's nickname stems from the Spanish word mellizo (twin), as he himself is a twin. His brother Víctor is also a footballer, also being nicknamed Melli. A goalkeeper, he never played in higher than division three during his career.[5]
References
- ↑ Melli swoops to revive Betis
- ↑ Blistering Barça back in the groove; UEFA.com, 18 February 2006
- ↑ "Simurq daha bir futbolçu ilə müqavilə imzaladı" (in Azerbaijani). Simurq PFK. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ Dani delivers for Betis; UEFA.com, 12 June 2005
- ↑ Mellizos en el fútbol mundial (III) (Twins in world football (III)); Diarios de Fútbol, 23 November 2007 (Spanish)
External links
- BDFutbol profile
- Futbolme profile (Spanish)
- Melli – FIFA competition record
- Soccerway profile
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