Josico Explained

Josico
Fullname:José Joaquín Moreno Verdú[1]
Birth Date:6 January 1975
Birth Place:Hellín, Spain
Height:1.77 m
Position:Defensive midfielder
Youthclubs1:Albacete
Years1:1994–1995
Years2:1995–1998
Years3:1998–2002
Years4:2002–2008
Years5:2008–2009
Years6:2009–2011
Clubs1:Hellín
Clubs6:Las Palmas
Caps2:97
Caps3:129
Caps4:152
Caps5:14
Caps6:37
Totalcaps:429
Goals2:7
Goals3:12
Goals4:5
Goals5:0
Goals6:2
Totalgoals:26
Nationalyears1:1996–1997
Nationalteam1:Spain U21
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:1
Manageryears1:2013–2014
Manageryears2:2014
Manageryears3:2014–2015
Manageryears4:2015–2016
Manageryears5:2017
Manageryears6:2017–2018
Manageryears7:2019–2020
Manageryears8:2021
Managerclubs1:Las Palmas (youth)
Managerclubs2:Las Palmas
Managerclubs3:Las Palmas B
Managerclubs4:Jumilla
Managerclubs5:Atlético Baleares
Managerclubs6:Elche
Managerclubs7:S.S. Reyes
Managerclubs8:Socuéllamos

José Joaquín Moreno Verdú (born 6 January 1975), known as Josico, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, currently a manager.

His 16-year professional career was mainly associated with Las Palmas and Villarreal (six years apiece), and he amassed La Liga totals of 240 matches and 13 goals over nine seasons.

Playing career

Born in Hellín, Province of Albacete, Josico made his debut in La Liga with Albacete Balompié in the 1995–96 season, immediately after joining from local amateurs Hellín Deportivo. He played 28 matches (scoring twice), but his team was relegated after five consecutive years in the top division; his first game in the competition occurred on 18 November 1995, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 away loss against FC Barcelona.[2]

Josico went on to represent UD Las Palmas for four seasons, joining Villarreal CF for the 2002–03 campaign, where he played a major part in the club's domestic and European consolidation: in 2004–05 the player made 29 appearances – 28 as starter – as the Valencian Community side finished third, as well as being their captain.[3] [4]

Deemed surplus to requirements by Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini,[3] Josico joined Fenerbahçe S.K. on 28 August 2008 as the Süper Lig side was coached by former Spain manager Luis Aragonés.[5] After just one season in Turkey, where he was used sparingly, he was released, and quickly signed with one of his first clubs, Las Palmas in the Segunda División, at the same time of former teammate Antonio Guayre.[6]

In late May 2011, after having contributed 25 matches to help his team to avoid relegation, the 36-year-old Josico announced his retirement from professional football.[7] He returned to the Canary Islands the following year, being charged with watching the opposing teams.[8]

Coaching career

Josico was appointed Las Palmas' first-team manager on 26 May 2014, replacing the fired Sergio Lobera after a 2–3 home loss against Recreativo de Huelva.[9] He still managed to lead the side to the sixth position in the regular season, then ousted Sporting de Gijón 2–0 on aggregate in the top-flight promotion playoffs.[10]

On 3 July 2014, Josico moved to the Canarians' reserve team in the Segunda División B.[11] In the following years, he continued working in the lower leagues.[12] [13] [14] [15]

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamFromToRecord
Las Palmas26 May 20143 July 2014 [16]
Las Palmas B3 July 20149 March 2015 [17]
Jumilla10 November 201515 February 2016[18]
Atlético Baleares15 March 201713 June 2017[19]
Elche20 November 201727 February 2018[20]
S.S. Reyes8 November 2019Present[21]
Total

Honours

Las Palmas

1999–2000[22]

Villarreal

2003,[23] 2004[24]

Spain U21

1998[25]

Notes and References

  1. News: José Joaquín Moreno Verdú "JOSICO". El Mundo. es. 1 September 2008.
  2. News: El Barcelona estrena liderato. Barcelona leaders for the first time. El País. Robert. Álvarez. es. 19 November 1995. 16 June 2014.
  3. News: Histórico capitán de Villarreal se enfrasca en polémica con su club. Historic Villarreal captain engaged in controversy with his club. La Tercera. es. 13 June 2008. 13 July 2022.
  4. News: Mucho más que un entrenador. Much more than a manager. El País. Rafael. Pineda. es. 14 March 2013. 13 July 2022.
  5. Web site: Josico joins Fenerbahçe. Fenerbahçe S.K.. 28 August 2008. 28 August 2008.
  6. News: Broche a 6 décadas de ilusión. Icing on cake to 6 decades of hunger. Canarias7. David. Ojeda. es. 21 August 2009. 13 July 2022.
  7. News: Josico se retira: "Es el momento de decir adiós". Josico retires: "It's time to say goodbye". Marca. es. 26 May 2011. 26 May 2011.
  8. News: Josico se estrenará como técnico dirigiendo al tercer juvenil del club. Josico to make coaching debut in charge of club's third juvenil. Canarias7. David. Ojeda. es. 22 June 2013. 13 July 2022.
  9. News: Lobera es destituido y Josico y Javi Guerrero toman el mando. Lobera is dismissed and Josico and Javi Guerrero take over. Diario AS. es. 26 May 2014. 12 June 2014.
  10. Web site: Las Palmas, un paso más cerca de Primera. Las Palmas, one step closer to Primera. Europa Press. es. 15 June 2014. 16 June 2014.
  11. Web site: Josico, nuevo entrenador de Las Palmas Atlético. Josico, new manager of Las Palmas Atlético. UD Las Palmas. es. 3 July 2014. 5 October 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006112919/http://www.udlaspalmas.es/-/josico-nuevo-entrenador-de-las-palmas-atletico. 6 October 2014.
  12. News: El Baleares ficha como técnico a Armando de la Morena, del Atlético de Madrid juvenil. Baleares sign Armando de la Morena as manager, from Atlético de Madrid youths. Diario de Mallorca. Tony. Tenerife. es. 23 June 2017. 13 July 2022.
  13. Web site: Oficial Josico, nuevo entrenador del Elche C.F.. Official Josico, new manager of Elche C.F.. Elche CF. es. 20 November 2017. 21 November 2017.
  14. News: Abelardo tiene una cuenta pendiente con Josico. Abelardo has score to settle with Josico. Diario AS. Iván. Molero. es. 11 January 2020. 13 July 2022.
  15. News: Sergio Campos será el entrenador del Socuéllamos hasta final de temporada. Sergio Campos will manage Socuéllamos until end of the season. El Español. es. 23 December 2021. 13 July 2022.
  16. Web site: Josico: José Joaquín Moreno Verdú. BDFutbol. 10 April 2017.
  17. Web site: Josico: José Joaquín Moreno Verdú. BDFutbol. 10 April 2017.
  18. Web site: Josico: José Joaquín Moreno Verdú. BDFutbol. 10 April 2017.
  19. Web site: Josico: José Joaquín Moreno Verdú. BDFutbol. 10 April 2017.
  20. Web site: Josico: José Joaquín Moreno Verdú. BDFutbol. 23 November 2017.
  21. Web site: Josico: José Joaquín Moreno Verdú. BDFutbol. 18 December 2019.
  22. News: La voz de los héroes del Insular. The voice of the Insular heroes. La Provincia. Paco. Cabrera. es. 22 June 2014. 13 July 2022.
  23. News: El Villarreal jugará la UEFA por primera vez en su historia. Villarreal will play UEFA for the first time in their history. Diario Córdoba. es. 27 August 2003. 13 July 2022.
  24. News: El Villarreal vuelve a la UEFA tras ganar la Intertoto. Villarreal return to UEFA after winning the Intertoto. El Mundo. es. 23 August 2004. 13 July 2022.
  25. News: Josico, el técnico del Elche que vio en vivo ‘El Doblete’ y dejó al Atleti sin Europa. Josico, the Elche coach who witnessed 'The Double' live and left Atleti out of Europe. Mundo Deportivo. Chema. G. Fuente. es. 28 November 2017. 13 July 2022.