Wikipedia

Juanfran (footballer, born 1985)

For another person with the same nickname, see Juanfran.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Torres and the second or maternal family name is Belén.

Juan Francisco Torres Belén (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwaɱ fɾanˈθisko ˈtores βeˈlen];[a] born 9 January 1985), known as Juanfran (pronounced [ˈxwaɱfɾan]), is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right-back.

Juanfran
Juanfran with Atlético Madrid in 2018
Personal information
Full name Juan Francisco Torres Belén[1]
Date of birth (1985-01-09) 9 January 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Crevillent, Spain
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
Kelme
Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 Real Madrid B 56 (7)
2004–2006 Real Madrid 6 (0)
2005–2006 → Espanyol (loan) 30 (1)
2006–2011 Osasuna 148 (12)
2011–2019 Atlético Madrid 243 (3)
2019–2021 São Paulo 50 (0)
Total 533 (23)
International career
2003 Spain U17 4 (1)
2003 Spain U18 3 (0)
2004 Spain U19 4 (1)
2003–2005 Spain U20 11 (3)
2004–2006 Spain U21 9 (0)
2012–2016 Spain 22 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Championship
Winner 2012 Poland-Ukraine
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After starting out at Real Madrid, he went on to make a name for himself in La Liga with Osasuna and Atlético Madrid, signing for the latter club in 2011 and going on to win seven major titles, including the 2014 national championship and the 2012 and 2018 Europa League tournaments. He totalled 427 appearances in Spain's top flight.[3]

A Spanish international since 2012, Juanfran was part of the squad that won that year's European Championship, and also represented the nation at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016.

Club career

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Real Madrid

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Born in Crevillent, Alicante, Valencian Community, Juanfran was a product of Real Madrid's youth academy. He had his first main squad opportunity on 24 January 2004, playing 15 minutes in a 2–1 home win against Villarreal CF[4] after solid performances with the B team. Over that and the following seasons, he would play a further five La Liga matches.

Juanfran was loaned out to RCD Espanyol for 2005–06[5] and, although the Catalan side barely avoided relegation, he featured heavily throughout the campaign, scoring on 22 March 2006 in a 1–1 draw at Athletic Bilbao.[6] He started his career as a winger.[7]

Osasuna

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Juanfran signed with CA Osasuna[8] after a deal that allowed Osasuna to get the player without having to pay a transfer fee and with per-set price of €10 million,[9] adding several specifics, which included a possibility of a January 2007 recall by Madrid who also retained a buying option at the end of the season. He played his first game for the Navarrese on 24 September 2006 in a 2–0 away victory over RC Celta de Vigo, and scored the second goal of the match.[10] Additionally, he appeared in nine games and netted once[11] in their semi-final run in the UEFA Cup.

In 2008–09, Juanfran was again ever-present in Osasuna's lineups. On 31 May 2009, in the last matchday, he scored from 30 yards in a 2–1 home defeat of former side Real Madrid, which kept the club in the top flight for another year.[12] In the following campaign, as the former fared better in the league by finishing 12th, he scored a career-best four goals.

Atlético Madrid

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Juanfran (right) playing against Almería in 2013

On 11 January 2011, Juanfran signed for Atlético Madrid until June 2015 for a fee of just over €4 million.[13] He made his official debut two days later, starting in a 3–1 away loss against his first professional club Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.[14]

Juanfran scored his first goal for Atlético on 21 May 2011, in a 4–3 win at RCD Mallorca – the last game of the season – dedicating it to his father who had died two weeks beforehand.[15] In 2011–12 he began being regularly played as a right-back, by both Gregorio Manzano and his successor, Diego Simeone.[16][17] In the Europa League final, which his team won 3–0 against Bilbao, he played in that position;[18] after the match, he dedicated the triumph to his late father, saying "My baby son Oliver is here with me; the only words he knows are 'mama' and 'Atleti',I dedicate this win to my family and to my dad, who passed away last year. I know he's up there looking down on us celebrating now."[19]

On 24 May 2014, Juanfran played all 120 minutes of the Champions League final, lost 4–1 to Real Madrid at the Estádio da Luz.[20] He signed a contract extension one month later, running until 2018.[21]

Juanfran started both legs of the round-of-16 Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven; on 15 March 2016, in the second match, he took the decisive penalty in the 8–7 shootout win (0–0 on aggregate).[22][23] In the final of the competition, also decided on penalties after a 1–1 draw in Milan, he was the only player to fail to convert in an eventual defeat to his former club Real Madrid.[24]

Juanfran left Atlético upon the expiration of his contract on 30 June 2019, having made 355 appearances and won seven trophies for the club.[25]

São Paulo

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On 3 August 2019, Juanfran joined São Paulo FC on a contract running until December 2020.[26] He became the second Spanish footballer to play for the Brazilian club, after Fernando Carazzo Castro in 1936.[27] He made his debut in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A fifteen days later, a 1–0 home victory over Ceará Sporting Club.[28]

In February 2021 – with his second season having overrun due to the COVID-19 pandemic – Juanfran was released, having totalled 56 games for the Tricolor.[29] Having retired, he returned to Spain and joined the Intercity futsal club in his hometown in July.[30]

International career

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Youth

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Juanfran had an extraordinary performance at the 2004 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, as Spain won the tournament and the player received the Golden Player award.[31] In a rare achievement, he took part in two FIFA World Youth Championships, the first in the United Arab Emirates where the national team took the silver medal;[32] in the 2005 edition they reached the quarter-finals, eventually ousted by winners Argentina.[33]

Senior

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Juanfran made his full side debut on 26 May 2012, playing the entire match in a 2–0 friendly win with Serbia in St. Gallen, as a right-back.[34] He was selected by manager Vicente del Bosque for his squad for UEFA Euro 2012,[35] being an unused player as Spain won the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.[36]

On 16 November 2013, Juanfran scored his only goal, playing the entire 2–1 friendly victory in Equatorial Guinea.[37] However, this match was ruled invalid by FIFA as they had not been notified early enough that the referee would be from Equatorial Guinea.[38]

Juanfran was named in Spain's 30-man provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup,[39] and was also included in the final list.[40] With the country already eliminated, he made his tournament debut in the last group game against Australia, playing the whole 90 minutes and assisting David Villa for the first goal of a 3–0 win.[41]

Juanfran featured in the roster for Euro 2016, where he played all of his team's four games. After two years in the international wilderness, in October 2018 the 33-year-old stated that he was still available for selection by the national side.[42]

Style of play

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A former winger, Juanfran usually played as a right-back. While an accomplished defender, he was also known for his ability to get forward and provide accurate crosses for teammates inside the box.[43]

Personal life

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Juanfran married Verónica Sierras, with whom he had two children, Óliver and Alexia.[44][45]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[46][47]
Club Season League Cups Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Real Madrid 2003–04 La Liga 5 0 3 0 0 0 8 0
2004–05 La Liga 1 0 2 0 0 0 3 0
Total 6 0 5 0 0 0 11 0
Espanyol 2005–06 La Liga 30 1 6 0 0 0 36 1
Osasuna 2006–07 La Liga 28 2 4 0 0 0 32 2
2007–08 La Liga 34 3 2 0 0 0 36 3
2008–09 La Liga 35 2 1 0 0 0 36 2
2009–10 La Liga 33 4 3 0 0 0 36 4
2010–11 La Liga 18 1 0 0 0 0 18 1
Total 148 12 10 0 0 0 158 12
Atlético Madrid 2010–11 La Liga 15 1 2 0 0 0 17 1
2011–12 La Liga 26 0 2 0 16 1 44 1
2012–13 La Liga 35 1 6 0 4 0 45 1
2013–14 La Liga 35 0 8 0 12 0 55 0
2014–15 La Liga 35 0 5 0 10 0 50 0
2015–16 La Liga 35 1 1 0 12 0 48 1
2016–17 La Liga 23 0 7 2 6 0 36 2
2017–18 La Liga 17 0 3 0 10 0 30 0
2018–19 La Liga 22 0 2 0 6 0 30 0
Total 243 3 36 2 76 1 355 6
São Paulo 2019 Série A 17 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
2020 Série A 23 0 4 0 2 0 29 0
Total 40 0 4 0 2 0 46 0
Career total 448 16 57 2 77 1 581 19

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[48]
National team Year Apps Goals
Spain 2012 5 0
2013 2 1
2014 5 0
2015 4 0
2016 6 0
Total 22 1
Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Juanfran goal.[48]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 16 November 2013 Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea   Equatorial Guinea 2–1 2–1 Friendly

Honours

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Espanyol

Atlético Madrid

Spain U19

Spain U20

Spain

Individual

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ In isolation, Belén is pronounced [beˈlen].

References

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  1. ^ "Acta del partido celebrado el 18 de mayo de 2019, en Valencia" [Minutes of the match held on 18 May 2019, in Valencia] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Juanfran". Atlético Madrid. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Un veterano de Primera: 350 partidos para Jordi Alba" [A Primera veteran: 350 games for Jordi Alba] (in Spanish). Be Soccer. 13 February 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  4. ^ Martínez, Roberto (25 January 2004). "A zarpazos" [Clawing it]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Madrid loan lifts Espanyol". UEFA. 15 August 2005. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  6. ^ Ugalde, Iñaki (23 March 2006). "Yeste llega al rescate" [Yeste comes to the rescue]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  7. ^ Varela, Javier (8 June 2014). "Juanfran, el lateral con alma de extremo" [Juanfran, the full-back with the soul of a winger] (in Spanish). La Rioja. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Osasuna secure Juanfran deal". UEFA. 29 August 2006. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  9. ^ "Juanfran firma con el CA Osasuna para las próximas cuatro temporadas" [Juanfran signs with Osasuna for the next four seasons] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 29 August 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2006.
  10. ^ "Osasuna gana por primera vez en Balaídos" [Osasuna win at Balaídos for the first time]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 25 September 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  11. ^ Salido Cobo, Jorge (14 December 2006). "Osasuna saca jugo de un inofensivo Parma" [Osasuna profit from harmless Parma]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Osasuna 2–1 Real Madrid". ESPN Soccernet. 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  13. ^ "Atletico signs winger Juanfran from Osasuna". Sports Illustrated. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  14. ^ "El Madrid derrota a un débil Atlético en la Copa del Rey" [Madrid beat weak Atlético in the King's Cup]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 13 January 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  15. ^ "La Liga: Mallorca 3–4 Atlético". Atlético Fans. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  16. ^ "Manzano prueba a Juanfran como lateral derecho" [Manzano tests Juanfran as right-back]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 6 October 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  17. ^ Moreno, Jorge A. (12 March 2012). "El Atlético reinventa a Juanfran" [Atlético reinvent Juanfran]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  18. ^ Atkin, John (9 May 2012). "Falcao at double as Atlético march to title". UEFA. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  19. ^ Doyle, Mark (9 May 2012). "Emotional Juanfran dedicates Atletico Madrid's Europa League triumph to late father". Goal. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  20. ^ McNulty, Phil (24 May 2014). "Real Madrid 4–1 Atlético Madrid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  21. ^ Casáñez, Juan (25 June 2014). "Koke y Juanfran prolongan sus contratos hasta 2019 y 2018" [Koke and Juanfran extend their contracts until 2019 and 2018]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  22. ^ "Ten-man PSV hold off Atlético". UEFA. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  23. ^ "Atlético Madrid overcome PSV in lengthy shoot-out". UEFA. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  24. ^ Burt, Jason (28 May 2016). "Atletico's Champions League defeat will cut deep as curse of 'El Pupas' strikes again". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Atlético Madrid's Juanfran 'leaves as an Indian' with emotional speech". Diario AS. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  26. ^ Leonan, Érico (3 August 2019). "Entrega, exemplo e liderança: Juanfran é tricolor" [Commitment, example and leadership: Juanfran is tricolor] (in Portuguese). São Paulo FC. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  27. ^ "Juanfran é o segundo espanhol do São Paulo e primeiro europeu em 50 anos" [Juanfran is São Paulo's second Spaniard and the first European in 50 years]. Gazeta Esportiva (in Portuguese). 3 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  28. ^ Schmidt, André (19 August 2019). "Equilíbrio e precisão: a consistente estreia de Juanfran pelo São Paulo" [Balance and precision: Juanfran's consistent debut for São Paulo]. Lance! (in Portuguese). Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  29. ^ Hazan, Marcelo (24 February 2021). "São Paulo decide não renovar contrato de Juanfran" [São Paulo decide not to renew Juanfran's contract] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  30. ^ Hernández, Monserrate (21 July 2021). "El internacional Juanfran Torres confirma en Crevillent su retirada" [International Juanfran Torres confirms his retirement in Crevillent] (in Spanish). Onda Cero. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  31. ^ a b "2004: Juanfran". UEFA. 1 April 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  32. ^ a b "Brasil é campeão mundial sub-20 e conquista a tríplice coroa" [Brazil are under-20 world champions and conquer the triple crown]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). 19 December 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  33. ^ Portillo, Miguel (25 June 2005). "España se despide del Mundial sub'20" [Spain say goodbye to the under'20 World Cup]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  34. ^ Villalobos, Fran (26 May 2012). "Adrián está listo para la Eurocopa" [Adrián is ready for Euro]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  35. ^ "Llorente, Javi Martínez y Xabi Alonso en la lista de Del Bosque" [Llorente, Javi Martínez and Xabi Alonso make Del Bosque squad] (in Spanish). EITB. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  36. ^ "Reina, Valdés, Juanfran, Albiol y Llorente: los otros campeones de la Eurocopa" [Reina, Valdés, Juanfran, Albiol and Llorente: the other Eurocup champions]. ABC (in Spanish). 2 July 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  37. ^ Estepa, Javier (17 November 2013). "De pasear la estrella a ver las estrellas" [From parading star to seeing stars]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  38. ^ "La FIFA anula el Guinea-España" [FIFA annul Guinea-Spain]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 31 December 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  39. ^ "World Cup 2014: Diego Costa and Fernando Torres in Spain squad". BBC Sport. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  40. ^ "World Cup 2014: Spain drop Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas". BBC Sport. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  41. ^ Chowdhury, Saj (23 June 2014). "Australia 0–3 Spain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  42. ^ "Juanfran still hoping for Spain recall Juanfran still hoping for Spain recall". Diario AS. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  43. ^ "A closer look at Spain's Euro 2012 squad". The Globe and Mail. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  44. ^ Naranjo, Alma (27 May 2016). "Las mujeres del Madrid ganan a las del Atlético en la final de la Champions" [Real Madrid's women defeat Atlético's in Champions final] (in Spanish). El Español. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  45. ^ "Griezmann, Juanfran, Siqueira...: Pluie de bébés à l'Atletico Madrid!" [Griezmann, Juanfran, Siquiera...: It's raining babies at Atlético Madrid!] (in French). Pure People. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  46. ^ Juanfran at BDFutbol
  47. ^ "Juanfran". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  48. ^ a b "Juanfran". European Football. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  49. ^ Astruells, Andrés (13 April 2006). "¡Increíble Espanyol!" [Incredible Espanyol!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  50. ^ "Atletico Madrid win La Liga". Sport 24. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  51. ^ "Real Madrid – At. Madrid" (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  52. ^ Le Miere, Jason (22 August 2014). "VIDEO Atlético Madrid 1–0 Real Madrid (2–1 agg.): Highlights; Mandžukić goal wins Atlético the Spanish Super Cup". International Business Times. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  53. ^ "Barcelona 0–0 Atletico Madrid: Catalans win Spanish Super Cup". BBC Sport. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  54. ^ "Falcao at double as Atlético march to title". UEFA. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  55. ^ Hafez, Shamoon (16 May 2018). "Marseille 0–0 Atlético Madrid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  56. ^ "Chelsea 1–4 Atletico Madrid". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  57. ^ Sanders, Emma (15 August 2018). "Real Madrid 2–4 Atlético Madrid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  58. ^ "Madrid finally fulfil Décima dream". UEFA. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  59. ^ Johnston, Neil (29 May 2016). "Real Madrid 1–1 Atlético Madrid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  60. ^ Atkin, John (1 July 2012). "Spain overpower exhausted Italy to win UEFA EURO 2012 final". UEFA. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  61. ^ "The Liga BBVA team of the season". La Liga. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  62. ^ "UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season". UEFA. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  63. ^ Casal, Rafa (16 May 2016). "Atletico dominate UEFA's La Liga team of the season". Marca. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
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