José Francisco Molina

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José Molina
Personal information
Full name	José Francisco Molina Jiménez
Date of birth	August 8, 1970 (1970-08-08) (age 39)
Place of birth	Valencia, Spain
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1990–1991 1991–1994 1993–1994 1994–1995 1995–2000 2000–2006 2006–2007 1990–2007	UD Alzira Valencia B → Villarreal (loan) Albacete Atlético Madrid Deportivo La Coruña Levante Total	000 0(0) 018 0(0) 018 0(0) 023 0(0) 189 0(0) 169 0(0) 034 0(0) 451 0(0)
National team
1996–2000	Spain	009 0(0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

José Francisco Molina Jiménez (born August 8, 1970 in Valencia) is a former Spanish football goalkeeper.

[edit] Club career

Molina started playing professionally with UD Alzira, being snapped in 1991 by local giants Valencia CF. After a loan stint with neighbours Villarreal CF, he was sold to Albacete Balompié, making his first division debut on January 8, 1995, in a 1–0 home win against Real Oviedo. Even though he conceded eight goals in the last matchday, a home loss against Deportivo de La Coruña, Albacete managed to escape relegation.

Molina's club career was intimately related with Atlético de Madrid, of which he claimed to be a fan of. Signing in 1995, he helped the capital team win a 1995–96 double (league and cup), missing only two league matches in four seasons combined.

Joining league champions Deportivo La Coruña after Atlético's relegation in 1999-2000, he proceeded to win a Spanish cup and two supercups, being an undisputed starter throughout his stint in Galicia.

However, on October 14, 2002, Molina announced that he suffered from testicular cancer,^[1][2] and that he was forced to undergo treatment for his illness, thus missing most of the 2002–03 season (10 league appearances, as Depor finished third). He eventually recovered fully.^[3][4]

After his link expired,^[5] Molina returned home to Valencia for 2006–07, playing for league strugglers Levante UD, but didn't renew his contract after the season's end, retiring subsequently, with the club retaining its league status.

In 2009–10, Molina started a coaching career, with Villarreal C, in Tercera División.

[edit] International career

Molina made his Spanish national team debut as an outfield player against Norway in April 24, 1996 - a cameo appearance as a left winger, as all replacements had been made by then-coach Javier Clemente and Juan Manuel López retired injured.

He was then included in the squads for UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup but had to wait until Euro 2000 for first-choice status - although he was dropped after a blunder in the opening 1–0 loss (to Norway) and did not play afterwards.^[6]

[edit] Club statistics

[edit] Honours

[edit] Team

• Spanish League: 1995–96
• Spanish Cup: 1995–96, 2001–2002
• Spanish Supercup: 2000, 2002

[edit] Individual

• Zamora Trophy: 1995–96

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)

Spain Squad v • d • e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 1996 1 Zubizarreta • 2 López • 3 Belsué • 4 Alkorta • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro • 7 Amavisca • 8 Guerrero • 9 Pizzi • 10 Donato • 11 Alfonso • 12 Sergi • 13 Cañizares • 14 Kiko • 15 Caminero • 16 Otero • 17 Manjarín • 18 Amor • 19 Salinas • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Molina • Coach: Clemente v • d • e Spain squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Zubizarreta • 2 Ferrer • 3 Aranzábal • 4 Alkorta • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro • 7 Morientes • 8 Guerrero • 9 Pizzi • 10 Raúl • 11 Alfonso • 12 Sergi • 13 Cañizares • 14 Campo • 15 Aguilera • 16 Celades • 17 Etxeberria • 18 Amor • 19 Kiko • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Molina • Coach: Clemente v • d • e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 2000 1 Cañizares • 2 Salgado • 3 Aranzábal • 4 Guardiola • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro (c) • 7 Helguera • 8 Fran • 9 Munitis • 10 Raúl • 11 Alfonso • 12 Sergi • 13 Casillas • 14 Gerard • 15 Engonga • 16 Mendieta • 17 Etxeberria • 18 Paco • 19 Velasco • 20 Urzaiz • 21 Valerón • 22 Molina • Coach: Camacho

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Pedro Jaro	Zamora Trophy 1995–96	Succeeded by Jacques Songo'o