|
 |
 |
|
JUAN MANUEL DELGADO MORENO 'JUANMA'
Date of Birth: 13 January, 1977
Nationality: Spain
Period at Deportivo: 2005 - 2007
Transfer: Free transfer (2005, from Racing Santander)
Clubs: CD Tenerife (2007-?), Deportivo (2005-2007), Racing de Santander (2000-2005), Salamanca (2000), Atlético Madrid B (1999-2000), Recreativo (1997-1999), Ayamonte (1995-1997)
Sold: Released
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 82 kg
Position: Defender (Central)
|
|
|
 Tough defender 'JUANMA' was the first signing of coach Caparrós, just weeks after the ex-Sevilla boss took over at Deportivo. He made a very good work during his first season in Depor, but an injury complicated his regular appearance during the season 2006/2007, the one that meant the last one in the Galician squad..
Born in Madrid, at a very young age he moved with his parents to the region of Huelva where aged eleven he was picked for the Recreativo youth system. Curiously he played as a goalkeeper before his physical qualities made him move one line forward to the defence. It would remain his position until today.
Aged eighteen, Juanma signed his first professional contract at SanRoque de Jepe from the Tercera División before in 1995 he moved to Ayamonte from the same league. From there was retaken by Recreativo to play in the Segunda División B. Considered a starter, Juanma achieved promotion with his team. The season 1998/1999 he coincided with coach Joaquín Caparrós at Recreativo (and Luci as defensive partner) and played his best season so far. It attracted the interest of Atlético de Madrid, and in 1999 he moved back to the Spanish capital.
But at Atlético he never made his debut in the Primera División and spent the season with their B-team. The first team relegated and for Juanma it was time to move on again. Salamanca took him away although he would spent just six months there before in December 2000 he ended up at Racing de Santander.
 His debut at the highest level, on 14 January 2001, saw his side losing against Málaga (0-1) and the season ended with relegation. Fortunately for him and the club, one year later they were back at the highest level with Juanma being an indispensable part of their team. And they stayed in the Primera División for the next three years although it was close on all occasions. Never did Juanma's team finish higher as sixteenth place.
It was one of the reasons why at the end of June 2005 the transfer rumours surrounding Juanma came as a surprise. Deportivo were rebuilding their team after the arrival of new coach Joaquín Caparrós but lacked financial means. Deportivo already possessed Jorge Andrade, Coloccini, César Martin and Pablo Amo for the defensive positions but Juanma's contract had run out at Racing. That's why his addition can be considered as back-up for these positions, because Caparrós knows Juanma's seriousness.
When the deal was finalised early July, Juanma explained his relationship with Caparrós. "During the negotiations I spoke with him several times as he had asked for my signing. And his presence there was one of the reasons for me wanting to come over. He explained me that I have to compete with great central defenders, all of them international players. But I want to make it difficult for them and to find my place in the team. I know Caparrós's style and he never works with starters and reserves. I have the sensation that we all will compete at the same level".
And he did it. The Andalusian defender competed at the same level than Coloccini and Andrade. Juanma appeared in 23 of the 38 matches for the season 2005/2006. He was a normal starter, specially after Andrade fell down with a serious knee injury. He even scored four goals in one single season, an impressive number taking in mind that he only scored three in his four previous seasons in Primera.
For this reasons, Juanma was considered as the best signing for the season 2005/2006. But the following campaign was the opposite case. During the pre-season, the Andalusian went trough surgery for a pubalgy problem, and he started the season 2006/2007 sidelined and out of shape. Coach Caparrós forced his return and Juanma wasn't the same one. He always gave the sensation of been timingless and uncoordinated with his team-mates in defence. At the end, he only played seven liga games and was even expelled in two opportunities.
And with Caparrós leaving the club, Juanma was in the door out. President Lendoiro wasn't satisfied with his performance, and the defender never received an offer in order to extend his contract. At the end, he signed a three-year contract with CD Tenerife, an historic club in Spain that was struggling in Segunda.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
