Josep Moratalla

Josep Moratalla Claramunt (born 1 October 1958) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.

Football career

Born in Esparreguera, Barcelona, Catalonia, Moratalla signed for FC Barcelona in 1981 at nearly 23, from Deportivo de La Coruña in the third division. He played eight seasons with the national powerhouse, but only appeared 19 times in La Liga in his first four years combined, barred by José Ramón Alexanko and Migueli –[1][2][3] for instance, when the Blaugrana won the national championship in the 1984–85 campaign, he only totalled 104 minutes in two games. He made his league debut for the club on 28 February 1982, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 home win against Sevilla FC.[4]

Even though used rarely in his beginnings, Moratalla started in the 1982 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, a 2–1 win against Standard Liège at the Camp Nou,[5] Additionally, he was a used substitute in the 1986 European Cup Final, lost in a penalty shootout to FC Steaua Bucureşti.[6]

Moratalla played with Barcelona until 1988, being first-choice in his final two years and adding the Copa del Rey to his trophy cabinet in his last. He retired from football at only 32 after three seasons in the second level with another team in his native region, UE Figueres;[7] he had a brief spell in management afterwards, with neighbouring amateurs CE Europa.[8]

Honours

References

  1. ↑ "La zaga que se opondrá al Bilbao, un completo acertijo" [Defense that will play Bilbao, a major riddle]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 9 April 1985. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "Moratalla: "Se decidió que Schuster no asistiese a las reuniones de las primas"" [Moratalla: "It was decided that Schuster would not attend the meetings regarding bonuses"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 4 September 1986. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Ángel Iturriaga (1 December 2012). "Barça: 113 años y 113 alineaciones" [Barça: 113 years and 113 lineups] (in Spanish). Perarnau Magazine. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "2–0: Victoria merecida, pero no fácil sobre el Sevilla" [2–0: Deserved but not easy win over Sevilla]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 1 March 1982. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "1981/82: Home sweet home for Barcelona". UEFA.com. 1 June 1982. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  6. ↑ Jonathan Stevenson and Chris Bevan (22 April 2008). "When Bryan Robson tamed Barca". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
  7. ↑ "3–1: El Figueres mantiene sus aspiraciones de ascenso" [3–1: Figueres' possibilities of promotion intact]. ABC (in Spanish). 22 May 1989. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Fa 10 anys… Moratalla pensava que salvaria l’Europa del descens a Primera Catalana" [10 years ago… Moratalla thought he would save Europa from relegating to Primera Catalana] (in Catalan). Barcelona Televisió. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
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