Canito (Spanish footballer, born 1956)

Canito

Personal information
Full name	José Cano López
Date of birth	(1956-04-23)23 April 1956
Place of birth	Llavorsí, Spain
Date of death
Place of death	La Pobla de Montornès, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Youth career
	Iberia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1974–1975	Lloret
1975–1979	Español	43	(5)
1975–1976	→ Lleida (loan)	32	(1)
1977–1978	→ Cádiz (loan)	20	(0)
1979–1981	Barcelona	25	(2)
1981–1982	Español	31	(4)
1982–1984	Betis	54	(1)
1984–1985	Zaragoza	24	(0)
1985–1986	Belenenses	17	(1)
1986–1987	Lloret
1988	Iberiana
Total		246	(14)
International career
1976–1977	Spain U21	2	(0)
1979	Spain amateur	4	(1)
1981	Spain B	1	(0)
1978	Spain	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Cano and the second or maternal family name is López.

José Cano López (23 April 1956 – 25 November 2000), commonly known as Canito, was a Spanish footballer who played during the 1970s and 1980s.

During his professional career, amongst others, the defensive midfielder represented both major teams in Barcelona, Español and FC Barcelona, albeit with little impact at the latter.

Club career

Born in Llavorsí, Lleida, Catalonia, Canito began playing professionally with RCD Español. After serving two loans, at UE Lleida and Cádiz CF, he moved permanently to the first team.

After solid displays in the 1978–79 season, Canito signed with Español's neighbours FC Barcelona. He helped the club win the Copa del Rey in his second year, but was also ostracized following an incident involving main team Español: as the club was fighting to avoid relegation from La Liga against Hércules CF, he was warming up in the sidelines for Barcelona, and celebrated when the Pericos netted the goal which led to salvation, to the fury of the crowd at the Camp Nou.

Canito then returned to his main club as part of the deal that sent goalkeeper Urruti in the opposite direction, but left after only one year after falling out with coach José María Maguregui. He subsequently represented Real Betis, Real Zaragoza and also spent one season in Portugal with C.F. Os Belenenses after which he moved back to his country, retiring in amateur football at the age of 32.

International career

During one of his best club seasons, at Español, Canito picked up his sole cap for Spain: on 21 December 1978 he played the last 20 minutes of the 0–1 friendly defeat with Italy, in Rome.

Death

Canito fell into a severe drug addiction after retiring. Even though he was aided psychologically and economically by Barcelona and Espanyol's Veterans Associations, he could not recover, and was found dead in his sister's home in La Pobla de Montornès, Province of Tarragona, on 25 November 2000. He was only 44 years old.

Honours

Barcelona

• Copa del Rey: 1980–81

External links

• Canito profile at BDFutbol
• National team data (Spanish)
• Canito at National-Football-Teams.com
• Canito profile at ForaDeJogo
• Spain stats at Eu-Football