"I do not see qualities to be a left end, put yourself in the goal".
That Independiente FC de Vigo coach did not imagine that
Josiño
, that six-year-old boy who only thought about playing soccer, would continue under the crossbar at 41.
José Juan Figueiras
(Vigo, 1979) is the oldest player who disputes the Copa del Rey.
The title of 'grandfather' of Spanish football is held by César Caneda, the central defender of SD Logroñés, but he is willing to fight it.
It is seen with rope to endure some more active season.
For now, his longevity brings him a prize: to receive
Real Madrid
defending the
Alcoyano
goal
.
"I take it as a reward for my career, a game to enjoy sharing the field with players who are in the world top," explains the globetrotting goalkeeper who has played only one match in the First Division.
It was with Celta against Racing on May 11, 2003. "
Pinto
had chickenpox and
Cavallero
was expelled as soon as the game started, so
Lotina
took me out," he recalls.
"In the 98th minute we won 2-1 and they had a foul in favor. I made a mistake at the start and they scored. I had a bitter feeling from my debut."
A year later, he started in the second leg of the quarterfinal of the Cup in an eleven where they were
Berizzo
,
Mostovoi
or
Gustavo López
.
They beat Alavés, but were eliminated by the only survivor of Segunda.
Those years helped him to know the benches of many First Class stadiums, including the
Bernabéu
.
"Then I also came back with Granada, but I didn't play either."
From Celta he went to
Ourense
to be the goalkeeper with the least thrashed in Segunda B and cross the country to land at Ciudad de Murcia, the project of the controversial agent
Quique Pina
who touched the Primera for two consecutive years.
"He is a soccer man and has taken his teams to the highest levels."
He lived it in Murcia and Granada, where from Second B they also reached First.
Without a place in the highest category, he returned to Galicia, this time to
Lugo
to become a legend.
As if it were a mythical British goal, the background of Lugo's 'Anfield', the Anxo Carro, sang its hymn to the rhythm of the chords of
Gloria
by Umberto Tozzi:
Jose, Jose Juan / idol of Anfield / José Juan / Lo paras almost everything / José Juan You lead the defense / José Juan / When you take to the field the fans are safe / with your face, with your gestures / His name is José Juan
.
Quique Setién's football
"I will always remember the song. The people of Lugo have treated me with great affection. I think that is where I have most enjoyed playing football," admits the goalkeeper.
The reason has a name:
Quique Setién
.
"I have had coaches of all kinds,
Lotina
,
Radomir Antic
,
Abel Resino
,
Pacheta
... but the stage with him in Lugo was enjoyable. He forced me to play with my feet because we took the ball from behind, but we reached the top and the football was great, "he recalls.
Was Barça unfair with him?
"It is already known that in a big team if the results do not arrive ... He always goes with his clear ideas and, sooner or later, he will have a team again. Many things have been said about his relationship with the dressing room, but the only thing What I know is that he is very direct. He does not shut up anything and if he has to say something, he does it in front of the group. And at those levels, maybe he doesn't like it. I do like coaches who are face to face " ensures.
After that stage, and at the age of 38, he ended up in
Elche
, as a preliminary step for a life he imagined in Albacete, with his wife and in charge of a gourmet products store that they had just set up.
"In the end we closed it, because we are going to stay in Elche, with the heat and near the sea."
That will be when you hang up the gloves, something you don't see nearby.
"I do not think about it. I enjoy the day to day and I will value the end of the season. If I feel good and Alcoyano wants, then I will continue," he admits.
Recruited by Saúl
It has no trick, beyond the fact that the most important injury of his entire career has been a broken cheekbone and meniscus.
"I try to take good care of my diet. For example, I lose a kilo every year because I feel more agile," he says.
It is advice that he certainly gives to those who want to extend their sporting life, but also to those who are starting out.
The athletic
Saúl
and his brothers, Aaron and Jony Ñíguez -with whom he shares a dressing room at Alcoyano-, have enlisted him as goalkeeping coordinator at their youth soccer club,
Costa City
.
"I like being involved and working with kids, so I didn't think about it when they proposed it to me."
He will tell them that on Wednesday he will face
Courtois
, whom he envies "his passing game and his ability to cover the goal in one on one", although
Ter Stegen
arouses admiration
"because he does everything well".
There will be no T-shirt hunts by protocol - "we will do some trick", he confesses - nor will there be any public in the El Collao stadium, punished by the snow and by the
Covid
pandemic
.
The city is perimeter and has one of the highest incidence in the country, exceeding 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
"It is a pity that the Alcoy fans cannot enjoy this game. But the first thing is health. Let's see if we can surprise."
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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