Marcelino Elena Explained

Marcelino
Fullname:Marcelino Elena Sierra
Birth Date:26 September 1971
Birth Place:Gijón, Spain
Height:1.88 m
Position:Centre-back
Youthclubs1:Sporting Gijón
Years1:1990–1994
Caps1:115
Goals1:5
Years2:1994–1995
Caps2:14
Goals2:0
Years3:1996–1999
Caps3:122
Goals3:13
Years4:1999–2003
Caps4:17
Goals4:0
Years5:2003–2004
Caps5:46
Goals5:0
Totalcaps:314
Totalgoals:18
Nationalyears1:1998–1999
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0

Marcelino Elena Sierra (born 26 September 1971), known simply as Marcelino, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Club career

Sporting and Mallorca

Marcelino was born in Gijón, Asturias, and began his career at local club Sporting de Gijón, where he appeared sporadically with the first team over three seasons before earning a move to Mallorca in January 1996. There, he was instrumental in a promotion to La Liga, forming a formidable partnership with Iván Campo in 1997–98 as they finished fifth.[1]

In the following season the Balearic Islands side finished third in the league and lost the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final to Lazio, with Marcelino featuring the full 90 minutes in the 2–1 defeat.[2]

Newcastle United

In 1999, Marcelino transferred to Newcastle United for £5.8 million after impressing with Mallorca in Spain and Europe. A lot was expected of him at his new team, but he appeared only 20 times (all competitions) for the club in the first year and a half, being placed with the reserve team for the rest of his spell and finally reaching an agreement to leave in January 2003, having not featured for the main squad since 11 February 2001, against Charlton Athletic.[3]

Marcelino also suffered several different injuries during his time with the Magpies, which stuttered his career there.[4] Scans on the affected areas were occasionally declared to be inconclusive,[5] the most serious of his injuries being a snapped finger tendon which prevented him from playing for two months.[6]

Later years

After one and a half seasons in Segunda División with Polideportivo Ejido,[7] Marcelino retired. He subsequently spent two years as Everton's Spanish scout, and also worked as a football commentator for RTVE's Premier League matches.[8]

Marcelino later worked as a football agent.[9] [10]

International career

Marcelino earned five caps for Spain over a seven-month period, the first coming against Italy in Salerno on 18 November 1998.[11] He would play his last international in an UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier rout of San Marino (9–0 home win, 90 minutes played).

Honours

Mallorca

1998

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Iván Campo, aquel central melenudo que jugó en el Alavés. Iván Campo, that hairy stopper who played in Alavés. Vavel. Aitor. Pérez de Guereñu. es. 21 February 2017. 25 January 2019.
  2. News: El Mallorca pierde con orgullo. Mallorca lose proudly. El País. Santiago. Segurola. es. 20 May 1999. 28 January 2016.
  3. Web site: Clinical Charlton too hot for Newcastle. BBC Sport. 11 February 2001. 16 February 2013.
  4. Web site: Never again.... BBC Sport. 1 April 2003. 6 October 2009.
  5. News: Buyers beware – costly flops are everywhere. The Guardian. Kevin. McCarra. 23 August 2005. 8 February 2011.
  6. News: Marcelino frustrates Newcastle. The Independent. 8 November 2000. 8 February 2011.
  7. News: Marcelino, de la Premier a Segunda. Marcelino, from Premier to Segunda. Mundo Deportivo. José María. Miedes. Salva. Rodríguez. es. 30 January 2003. 15 December 2014.
  8. News: Qué fue de… Marcelino Elena: los difíciles inicios del 'boom' español en la Premier. What happened to… Marcelino Elena: the tough beginnings of the Premier's Spanish boom. 20 minutos. Edu. Casado. es. 22 October 2013. 25 August 2021.
  9. News: Marcelino: "Marco Asensio debe tener minutos para crecer". Marcelino: "Marco Asensio must have minutes to grow". Marca. Paco. Muñoz. es. 26 November 2014. 25 January 2019.
  10. News: Nico Rodríguez se reúne con Marcelino Elena. Nico Rodríguez meets Marcelino Elena. El Comercio. es. 6 January 2017. 25 January 2019.
  11. News: Notable alto. B Plus. Mundo Deportivo. Javier. Gascón. es. 19 November 1998. 22 May 2013.