Josico

Josico

Personal information
Full name	José Joaquín Moreno Verdú
Date of birth	(1975-01-06) 6 January 1975
Place of birth	Hellín, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Albacete
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1995	Hellín
1995–1998	Albacete	97	(7)
1998–2002	Las Palmas	129	(12)
2002–2008	Villarreal	152	(5)
2008–2009	Fenerbahçe	14	(0)
2009–2011	Las Palmas	37	(2)
Total		429	(26)
International career
1996–1997	Spain U21	7	(1)
Managerial career
2014	Las Palmas
2014–2015	Las Palmas B
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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

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

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

Football career

Born in Hellín, 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 in 28 matches (scoring twice), but his team was relegated after five consecutive years in the top level; his first game in the main category of Spanish football occurred on 18 November 1995, as he featured the full 90 minutes in a 0–3 away loss against FC Barcelona.

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

Deemed surplus to requirements by Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini, Josico joined Fenerbahçe S.K. on 28 August 2008, as the Süper Lig side was coached by former Spain manager Luis Aragonés. 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 second division, at the same time of a former club mate, Antonio Guayre.

In late May 2011, after having contributed with 25 games for the club's league status preservation, 36-year-old Josico announced his retirement from professional football. He returned to the Canary Islands the following year, being charged with watching the opposing teams.

Josico was appointed Las Palmas' first-team manager on 26 May 2014, replacing fired Sergio Lobera after a 2–3 home loss against Recreativo de Huelva. 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.

On 3 July Josico was appointed at the helm of the Canarians' reserve team, in Segunda División B.

Honours

Club

Villarreal

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2003, 2004

Country

Spain U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1998

External links

• Josico profile at BDFutbol
• Josico manager profile at BDFutbol
• El Mundo stats (Spanish)