Juan Francisco García

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Juanfran
Personal information
Full name	Juan Francisco García García
Date of birth	July 15, 1976 (1976-07-15) (age 33)
Place of birth	Rafelbuñol, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Left back
Club information
Current club	AEK Athens
Number	7
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1994–1997 1997–1999 1999–2004 2004–2006 2005–2006 2006–2008 2008–	Levante Valencia Celta Vigo Beşiktaş → Ajax (loan) Zaragoza AEK Athens	048 (1) 041 (0) 126 (6) 013 (1) 016 (0) 063 (0) 026 (0)
National team
1998 2000–2003	Spain U21 Spain	001 (0) 011 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 June 2009. * Appearances (Goals)

"Juanfran" redirects here, For other people, See Juanfran (disambiguation).

Juan Francisco García García, aka Juanfran (born July 15, 1976 in Rafelbuñol, Valencia), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for AEK Athens FC, as a left defender.

Club career

Juanfran started his professional career at Levante UD, where he attracted the attention of Valencian Community giants Valencia CF, signing after three seasons for €1 million. On August 31, 1997, he played his first La Liga match, in a 2–1 loss at RCD Mallorca, and went on make 50 overall appearances for the Che.

Juanfran joined Celta de Vigo prior to 1999–2000 for €4 millions, where he was an undisputed starter in a Galicia team that appeared in the UEFA Cup and the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League (Juanfran netted in a 1–1 tie at Club Brugge, as Celta proggressed to the knockout round). However, in 2003–04, Celta would also be relegated to Segunda División.

After leaving Celta in 2004, Juanfran joined Turkish giants Beşiktaş JK,^[1] but soon fell out of favour with team management (the coach who brought him to Istanbul, compatriot Vicente del Bosque, was dismissed midway through the season) and would spend the following season on loan to Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam.^[2]

In 2006–07, Juanfran returned to Spain, joining Real Zaragoza for €1.5 million,^[3] where he was a key defensive element as the Aragonese team achieved a UEFA Cup spot. The following season, Juanfran struggled individually and collectively, and Zaragoza returned to the second level after a five-year stint.

On July 30 2008, Juanfran agreed to sign a two-year deal with AEK Athens FC, earning approximately €1 million per season.^[4]

International career

Juanfran had 11 caps for Spain, making his international debut in a friendly against Italy, on March 29, 2000, after impressive displays at Celta. Subsequently, he was included in the nation's 2002 FIFA World Cup squad, and appeared in three matches out of five.

Juanfran's last match was an Euro 2004 qualifier against Northern Ireland in 2003, playing the whole 90 minutes of a 0–0 away draw.

Honours

• Levante:
  • Second Division B: 1995–96

• Valencia:
  • Spanish Cup: 1998–99

• Celta:
  • UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2000

• Ajax:
  • Dutch Cup: 2005–06

• AEK Athens:
  • Greek Cup: Runner-up 2008–09

References

External links

• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Juan Francisco García FIFA competition record

v • d • e Spain squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Casillas • 2 Curro Torres • 3 Juanfran • 4 Helguera • 5 Puyol • 6 Hierro (c) • 7 Raúl • 8 Baraja • 9 Morientes • 10 Tristán • 11 de Pedro • 12 A. Luque • 13 Ricardo • 14 Albelda • 15 Romero • 16 Mendieta • 17 Valerón • 18 Sergio • 19 Xavi • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Joaquín • 23 Contreras • Coach: Camacho