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Nino (footballer, born 1980)

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Martínez and the second or maternal family name is Modesto.
Nino
Nino as a Tenerife player in 2010
Personal information
Full name Juan Francisco Martínez Modesto[1]
Date of birth (1980-06-10) 10 June 1980 (age 44)[1]
Place of birth Vera, Spain
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Elche B (assistant)
Youth career
CD Vera
1995–1997 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Elche B
1998–2006 Elche 273 (88)
2006–2008 Levante 19 (1)
2007–2008 → Tenerife (loan) 40 (18)
2008–2011 Tenerife 119 (60)
2011–2016 Osasuna 143 (27)
2016–2021 Elche 170 (38)
Total 764 (232)
Managerial career
2021– Elche B (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Juan Francisco Martínez Modesto (born 10 June 1980), known as Nino, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a striker, currently assistant manager of Elche CF Ilicitano.

He was the player with the most matches and goals in the history of both the Segunda División, with 571 matches and 194 goals, and of Elche, with 461 appearances and 135 goals.[2][3] In La Liga, he represented Levante, Tenerife, Osasuna and Elche, becoming the first player to reach 700 games in Spain's two professional divisions.[4]

Club career

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Elche

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An extremely prolific goalscorer in the Segunda División, Nino was born in Vera, Province of Almería, and first appeared professionally with Elche CF, making his debut on 8 November 1998 in a 3–0 win over Real Murcia CF.[5] In his first season with the club, 1998–99, he achieved promotion from Segunda División B, scoring a crucial last-minute goal against UD Melilla on 27 June.[5]

In the following campaign, Nino made his debut in the second division against Recreativo de Huelva,[5] and eventually scored twice in 16 matches, going on to develop as an influential figure for the Province of Alicante team.[6][7] He consolidated as a starter under the command of Jorge D'Alessandro, who gave him the nickname "bulldog".[5]

In 2000–01, Nino appeared in 40 out of 42 fixtures, including the first 34 consecutively, as a starter, finishing the season with 12 goals.[5] He then scored Elche's first goal of 2001–02, against Levante UD.[5] His first brace arrived on 18 November 2001 in the 2–1 away win over Gimnàstic de Tarragona, and his first hat-trick came on 17 March 2002 as the hosts defeated Xerez CD 4–0.[5] Two weeks later, his two goals helped to beat the Luis Aragonés-led Atlético Madrid in a historic 5–1 victory at the Estadio Martínez Valero.[5]

Levante, Tenerife and Osasuna

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After having scored 20 goals during 2004–05, Nino made his La Liga debut two seasons later, joining neighbours Levante.[7] However, he would only find the net once throughout the entire campaign, in a 2–1 loss at CA Osasuna on 20 December 2006,[8] but the Valencians managed to avoid relegation after finishing in 15th position.[9]

Nino returned to the second tier in 2007–08, loaned to CD Tenerife, and finished with 18 goals, second-best in the league behind Xerez's Yordi. The move was made permanent afterwards, on a three-year deal.[10][11]

In 2008–09, Nino was finally crowned the second division's top scorer at 29 goals and Tenerife returned to the top flight after a seven-year hiatus.[12][13][14] In the next season, he was again their main attacking reference: on 18 April 2010 he scored three times at home against Getafe CF (3–2),[15] totalling 14 but suffering relegation.[16] He bettered to 17 the following campaign, but the Canary Islands side dropped down another league.[17]

Nino rejoined the top flight in early July 2011, with the 31-year-old signing a 2+1 contract with Osasuna.[18] He netted in only his second official game, a 2–1 home win over Sporting de Gijón.[19]

Return to Elche

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On 19 August 2016, after the Navarrese were promoted back to the main division, Nino remained in the second one with Elche, rejoining the club a decade after leaving.[20] He scored 12 times in his first season of his second spell, including two in a 4–4 draw with Gimnàstic on 8 October,[21] but his team was eventually relegated.[22]

Nino ignored offers from division two and while the majority of the squad left, the captain decided to stay along with vice-captain Edu Albácar in order to see them promote again.[5] A controversy regarding his possible departure in the winter transfer window due to friction with coach Josico raised doubts in the board and threatened their season, but the support of fans and goals in Badalona put them back on track.[5]

On 4 June 2018, the new president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, visited the Martínez Valero before an international match against Croatia; the chairman, who had played with Nino at Levante, asked to meet him again to "give him a hug".[5] Six days later, on the day of his 38th birthday, he scored a vital goal in the fight for promotion, entering the field 1–0 down and equalising the game against Sporting Atlético.[5] He totalled 46 competitive appearances and scored 16 times, including four in the playoffs, three of them against Sporting B.[23][5] After the promotion, he was appointed town crier of the Elche festivities, delivering his speech on 8 August 2018 from the balcony of the city hall in front of a crowded Plaza de Baix.[5]

On 1 December 2019, the 39-year-old Nino scored in a 2–0 victory over Racing de Santander with a long-range shot; this was his 130th goal for Elche, thus equaling Pierita as the club's all-time scorer,[24] but he would only find the net away from home from that point on.[5] On 9 February 2020, his late brace salvaged a 2–2 draw at CD Lugo to make him the solo leader.[25]

Nino started against Extremadura UD on 12 June 2020, thus becoming the first-ever player in the history of the club to play a match after turning 40.[14] In the next fixture he scored in a 2–1 loss away to SD Ponferradina, and in doing so at the age of 40 years and 5 days, he became the first in the history of the second tier to achieve this feat after his 40th birthday.[5] On 16 August, he scored the only goal of the play-off semi-final tie against Real Zaragoza, and his team eventually beat Girona FC 1–0 on aggregate to secure promotion.[5][23]

Last season and retirement

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On 26 September 2020, Nino finally fulfilled his dream of playing with Elche in the main division, replacing the injured Cifu in the 31st minute of the 0–3 home loss to Real Sociedad.[5] Following the retirement of Cádiz CF's Alberto Cifuentes in October, he was now the oldest player in the competition.[2]

On 16 December 2020, Nino scored his last goal for the side,[5] a 70th-minute equaliser in an eventual 2–1 victory over amateurs CD Buñol in the first round of the Copa del Rey, and in doing so at the age of 40 years and 189 days, he became the oldest scorer in the tournament's history, breaking the previous record held by César Rodríguez since 1960 (39 years and 330 days) while also being the first to do this after turning 40;[2] however, he only held the distinction until November 2022, being surpassed by Jorge Molina.[26] On 3 January 2021, he took the field in the 1–0 away loss against Athletic Bilbao, thus becoming the first player to reach 700 games in Spain's two professional levels.[4]

Nino played his last minutes as a professional against Athletic Bilbao on 22 May 2021, at the age of 40 years and 346 days, being the fifth oldest player in history to appear in the top flight behind Harry Lowe, Ricardo, Cifuentes and Amedeo Carboni.[5] He only started three times during the campaign, all in the cup, and played 16 league matches, always as a substitute and in most cases with the result decided, totalling just 277 minutes;[5] he was thus unable to break Donato's mark of being the top tier's oldest scorer at 40 years and 138 days.[5][23]

On 9 June 2021, Nino announced his retirement;[5][27] no other footballer equaled his record of scoring in 23 successive seasons,[2] and with over 300 goals in the Spanish football league system he ranked among the top ten highest scorers alongside the likes of César, Hugo Sánchez, David Villa, Raúl, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.[23] On 2 September, he was named assistant manager of René Martínez at his last club's reserves.[28]

Career statistics

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[29]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Elche 1998–99 Segunda División B 17 2 0 0 — 4[a] 1 21 3
1999–00 Segunda División 16 2 1 0 — — 17 2
2000–01 40 12 1 0 — — 41 12
2001–02 42 17 1 0 — — 43 17
2002–03 41 10 1 0 — — 42 10
2003–04 34 12 1 1 — — 35 13
2004–05 41 20 3 0 — — 44 20
2005–06 42 13 0 0 — — 42 13
Total 273 88 8 1 — 4 1 285 90
Levante 2006–07 La Liga 19 1 1 1 — — 20 2
Tenerife 2007–08 Segunda División 40 18 0 0 — — 40 18
2008–09 42 29 1 0 — — 43 29
2009–10 La Liga 38 14 2 0 — — 40 14
2010–11 Segunda División 39 17 1 1 — — 40 18
Total 159 78 4 1 — — 163 79
Osasuna 2011–12 La Liga 36 6 0 0 — — 36 6
2012–13 25 3 1 0 — — 26 3
2013–14 4 0 0 0 — — 4 0
2014–15 Segunda División 41 11 0 0 — — 41 11
2015–16 37 7 0 0 — 3[b] 0 40 7
Total 143 27 1 0 — 3 0 147 27
Elche 2016–17 Segunda División 39 12 2 1 — — 41 13
2017–18 Segunda División B 38 12 2 0 — 6[c] 4 46 16
2018–19 Segunda División 37 7 1 0 — — 38 7
2019–20 40 7 2 0 — 4[d] 1 46 8
2020–21 La Liga 16 0 3 1 — — 19 1
Total 170 38 10 2 — 10 5 190 45
Career total 764 232 24 5 0 0 17 6 805 243
  1. ^ Appearances in the 1999 Segunda División B play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in the 2016 Segunda División play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in the 2018 Segunda División B play-offs
  4. ^ Appearances in the 2020 Segunda División play-offs

Honours

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Nino". Diario AS (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Millar, Colin (17 December 2020). "Spanish football cult hero breaks record in Copa del Rey". Football España. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  3. ^ Gómez, Verónica (29 March 2022). "Nino: casi 250 goles y ninguno en San Mamés" [Nino: nearly 250 goals and none at San Mamés] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Archived from the original on 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b Díaz, Adrián (3 January 2021). "Nino, primer jugador que alcanza los 700 partidos de Liga entre Primera y Segunda" [Nino, first player to reach 700 league games between Primera and Segunda]. Marca (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Hernández, Monserrate (8 June 2021). "Nino se retira: 100 puntos que marcan una trayectoria de leyenda" [Nino retires: 100 points that mark a legendary career] (in Spanish). Onda Cero. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  6. ^ Visiedo, Víctor (3 December 2019). "Nino, el delantero veratense que ha hecho historia en Elche" [Nino, the Vera-born forward who has made history in Elche]. Diario de Almería (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b Ramírez, Alberto (23 August 2020). "Nino, el "dios" cuarentón que ha devuelto al Elche a Primera División" [Nino, the forty-year-old "god" who has returned Elche to Primera División]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Osasuna 2–1 Levante". ESPN Soccernet. 20 December 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  9. ^ Santos, Jorge; Zea, Antonio; Martínez, Ángel David; Dalence, Daniel. "Spain 2006/07". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  10. ^ "El Tenerife se hace en propiedad con Nino, que ha firmado por tres años" [Tenerife complete outright acquisition of Nino, who has signed for three years]. El Diario (in Spanish). 31 January 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Nino es el tercer máximo goleador de la historia del Tenerife" [Nino is the third all-time scorer in the history of Tenerife]. Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). 15 October 2014. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  12. ^ Santos, Javier (31 May 2009). "El Tenerife acaricia el ascenso al son de Nino" [Tenerife caress promotion with the soundtrack of Nino]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Nino, máximo goleador de la temporada" [Nino, season top scorer]. Marca (in Spanish). 21 June 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Nino cumple 40 años y bate un nuevo récord en el Elche CF" [Nino turns 40 and breaks a new record at Elche CF] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. 10 June 2020. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Nino treble inspires Tenerife". ESPN Soccernet. 18 April 2010. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  16. ^ "Nino agrandó su leyenda tras anotar catorce goles" [Nino's legend grows larger as he scores fourteen goals]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 24 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  17. ^ Rodríguez, Ubay (20 March 2015). "Nino, un futbolista especial" [Nino, a special footballer] (in Spanish). Vavel. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  18. ^ "Osasuna ficha a Nino" [Osasuna sign Nino] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  19. ^ "Osasuna claim first win". ESPN Soccernet. 11 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  20. ^ "El Elche anuncia el regreso de Nino, diez años después" [Elche announce the return of Nino, ten years later]. Marca (in Spanish). 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  21. ^ "El Nàstic no gana ni en un partido loco" [Nàstic do not even win in a crazy match]. Marca (in Spanish). 8 October 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  22. ^ Galicia, Samuel (3 July 2017). "Nino seguirá en el Elche para devolverlo a Segunda división" [Nino will remain at Elche to return them to Segunda división]. Marca (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  23. ^ a b c d "LaLiga: Elche's 40 year old striker 'The Grandfather' of LaLiga". Verge. 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  24. ^ "Nino iguala a Pierita como máximo goleador de la historia del Elche" [Nino equals Pierita as the top scorer in the history of Elche]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 1 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Nino se convierte en el máximo goleador en solitario de la historia del Elche" [Nino becomes the top solo scorer in the history of Elche] (in Spanish). Alicante Plaza. 9 February 2020. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  26. ^ "Jorge Molina becomes the oldest goalscorer in Copa del Rey history". OneFootball. 14 November 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  27. ^ Díaz, Adrián (9 June 2021). "Nino: "Me retiro de lo que más quiero, la ilusión se ha acabado"" [Nino: "I retire from what I love the most, the hunger has gone"]. Marca (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  28. ^ Sirera, Quique (2 September 2021). "Nino se convierte en el segundo entrenador del Ilicitano" [Nino becomes the assistant manager of Ilicitano]. Super Deporte (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  29. ^ Nino at Soccerway
  30. ^ a b "Forlán y Valdés recogen el Pichichi y el Zamora 2008–09" [Forlán and Valdés get 2008–09 Pichichi and Zamora]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
[edit]
  • Nino at BDFutbol
  • Nino at Futbolme (in Spanish)
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