Josemi Explained

Josemi
Fullname:José Miguel González Rey
Birth Date:15 November 1979[1]
Birth Place:Torremolinos, Spain
Height:1.830NaN0
Position:Defender
Youthclubs1:Torremolinos
Years1:1997–1998
Clubs1:Torremolinos
Years2:1998–2001
Clubs2:Málaga B
Caps2:67
Goals2:1
Years3:2001–2004
Clubs3:Málaga
Caps3:93
Goals3:0
Years4:2004–2006
Clubs4:Liverpool
Caps4:21
Goals4:0
Years5:2006–2008
Clubs5:Villarreal
Caps5:32
Goals5:0
Years6:2008–2010
Clubs6:Mallorca
Caps6:53
Goals6:1
Years7:2010–2011
Clubs7:Iraklis
Caps7:26
Goals7:0
Years8:2011–2012
Clubs8:Cartagena
Caps8:18
Goals8:0
Years9:2012–2013
Clubs9:Levadiakos
Caps9:25
Goals9:0
Years10:2013–2014
Clubs10:Skoda Xanthi
Caps10:16
Goals10:0
Years11:2014–2015
Clubs11:Atlético Kolkata
Caps11:20
Goals11:0
Totalcaps:371
Totalgoals:2

José Miguel González Rey (born 15 November 1979), known as Josemi, is a Spanish former footballer. Mainly a right back, he also played as a central defender.

He appeared in 178 La Liga matches over nine seasons (one goal), with Málaga, Villarreal and Mallorca, also representing Liverpool for one and a half seasons where he won two major titles including the 2005 Champions League. He later competed professionally in Greece, before moving to the newly formed Indian Super League.

Club career

Early career

Born in Torremolinos, Málaga, Josemi started his professional career at Málaga CF, arriving from local amateurs Torremolinos Club de Fútbol in 1998. He started appearing for his new club with the reserve team, in Tercera División.

After one match in 2000–01's closer, a 0–4 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruña on 17 June 2001,[2] Josemi went on to become an essential defensive element for the Andalusia side, helping them to the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup and soon attracting interest from bigger European clubs.

Liverpool

Subsequently, Josemi became Rafael Benítez's first signing as Liverpool manager, for £2 million in the summer of 2004.[3] He played 15 games in the Premier League in his debut season and, after an initial run, he was sent off in the club's 4–2 victory at Fulham on 16 October 2004,[4] his subsequent ban leading to Steve Finnan re-establishing himself as first-choice right-back.

Josemi made seven appearances (five starts) in the Reds' victorious campaign in the UEFA Champions League, but struggled to make the substitutes bench in the knockout stages, and also lost his place in the first half of 2005–06, suggesting he would soon leave Anfield.[5] [6]

Return to Spain

On 29 December 2005, it was announced that Liverpool and Villarreal CF had agreed to swap Josemi and Jan Kromkamp in the January 2006 transfer window.[7] He made a good start and appeared in 22 league matches in 2006–07, but only took part in only one the following season for the eventual La Liga runners-up.

In July 2008, Josemi signed for RCD Mallorca. He scored his first goal as a professional on 23 November, in a 2–2 home draw against former owners Málaga.[8] In his second year he was challenged by new signing Felipe Mattioni, but ended up contributing with 28 games as the Balearic Islands side finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

Later years

At nearly 31, Josemi left Spain for the second time in August 2010, signing a three-year contract with Iraklis Thessaloniki FC. After only one season – which brought Superleague Greece relegation due to irregularities – however, he returned to his country and joined FC Cartagena in Segunda División, on a two-year deal.[9]

On 21 August 2014, after two seasons in Greece with Levadiakos F.C. and Skoda Xanthi F.C. respectively, Josemi was a third-round draft pick for Atlético de Kolkata in the inaugural draft of the Indian Super League draft.[10] He made his debut in the competition in the opening match, starting a 3–0 home victory over Mumbai City FC,[11] and formed a formidable stopper partnership with Arnab Mondal during his first year,[12] acting as team captain in the final win over the Kerala Blasters in the absence of countryman Luis García,[13] where he also won the Fittest Player of the Match award.[14]

Following his successful debut season, on 12 June 2015 Josemi renewed his contract with Atlético for one more year.[15] He was released on 13 November, after being ruled out for the remainder of the campaign due to injury.[16]

On 22 September 2016, after almost a year with a club, 36-year-old Josemi announced his retirement.[17] In February 2017, he returned to Málaga as match delegate.[18]

Club statistics

[19] [20]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Málaga2000–01La Liga100010
2001–02La Liga23020250
2002–03La Liga32020140480
2003–04La Liga37040410
Total930801401150
2004–05Premier League1501070230
2005–06Premier League60004020120
Total2101011020350
Villarreal2005–06La Liga9010100
2006–07La Liga2204010270
2007–08La Liga10403080
Total3209040450
2008–09La Liga25150301
2009–10La Liga28030310
Total53160591
2010–11Superleague Greece26020280
2011–12Segunda División18010190
2012–13Superleague Greece25050300
2013–14Superleague Greece16020180
2014Indian Super League170170
2015Indian Super League3030
Total200200
Career total3041340290203691

Honours

Málaga

2002

Liverpool

2004–05

2005

Runner-up 2004–05

Atlético Kolkata

2014

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Club World Championship Japan 2005 – Official Rosters . FIFA . 4 December 2005 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051219093824/http://www.fifa.com/documents/tournaments/cwc/CWC_2005_sl-latest.xls . 19 December 2005 . dead .
  2. http://elpais.com/diario/2001/06/18/deportes/992815251_850215.html El Deportivo exhibe su enorme pegada y derrota a un Málaga tenaz (Deportivo display enormous pace and defeat tenacious Málaga)
  3. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=210056.html Josemi joins Liverpool
  4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3724106.stm Fulham 2–4 Liverpool
  5. Web site: Obscure Footballer of the Week #3: Josemi. The False Nine. Dutton. James. 21 December 2012. 17 March 2020.
  6. Web site: Ranking every Spaniard to play for Liverpool in the Premier League. Planet Football. 23 June 2019. 17 March 2020.
  7. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=382039.html Anfield calls for Kromkamp
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20121026121040/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252830?cc=5739 Mallorca 2–2 Málaga
  9. http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/josemi-central-tapado-paco-gomez/20110701dasdaiftb_6/Tes Josemi es el central tapado por Paco Gómez (Josemi is Paco Gómez's surprise stopper)
  10. Web site: Kerala snap up Michael Chopra, Kolkata sign Josemi as ISL teams splash Rs 16 crore. Firstpost. Dhar. Pulasta. 21 August 2014. 21 August 2014.
  11. Web site: Indian Super League: Atletico de Kolkata stun Mumbai City FC 3-0 in 1st ISL 2014 match. 12 October 2014.
  12. Web site: Josemi: Arnab Mondal has the quality to play abroad. Goal. Bali. Rahul. 22 December 2014. 22 December 2014.
  13. Web site: Substitute Mohammed Rafique hands Atlético de Kolkata the title. Indian Super League. 20 December 2014. 22 December 2014.
  14. Web site: Awards. Indian Super League. 22 December 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141225020244/http://www.indiansuperleague.com/isl-2014/awards. 25 December 2014.
  15. Web site: Atletico de Kolkata retain Josemi and Ofentse Nato for the second edition of ISL. Goal. Bera. Kaustav. 12 June 2015. 23 June 2015.
  16. Web site: ISL: Helder Postiga, Dejan Lekic boost Atletico de Kolkata. NDTV. 11 November 2015. 19 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151119130206/http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/251605-isl-helder-postiga-dejan-lekic-boost-atletico-de-kolkata. 19 November 2015.
  17. Web site: Former Liverpool defender Josemi retires. Yahoo! Sports. 22 September 2016. 22 September 2016.
  18. Web site: Josemi ocupará el cargo de delegado. Josemi will occupy the delegate position. Málaga CF. es. 8 February 2017. 25 May 2017.
  19. Web site: Josemi: José Miguel González Rey. BDFutbol. 22 October 2014.
  20. Web site: Josemi. Soccerway. 22 October 2014.
  21. News: Sao Paulo 1–0 Liverpool . BBC Sport . 18 December 2005 . 8 June 2022.