Geli (footballer) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ángel de Juana García | ||
| Date of birth | 15 February 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Santander, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1987–1989 | Rayo Cantabria | 20 | (6) |
| 1989–1994 | Racing Santander | 113 | (13) |
| 1994–1995 | Zaragoza | 30 | (1) |
| 1995–1998 | Celta | 61 | (3) |
| 1998–1999 | Racing Santander | 20 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Extremadura | 21 | (1) |
| 2000–2004 | Gimnástica | 55 | (2) |
| Total | 320 | (26) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2014–2016 | Celta (youth) | ||
| 2016–2019 | Tropezón | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ángel de Juana García (born on February 15, 1968), known as Geli, is a Spanish former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder during his career. Geli was known for his skills in the middle of the field.
Contents
Geli's Football Journey
Starting His Professional Career
Geli began his professional football journey at the age of 25. He made his first appearance in La Liga, which is Spain's top football league. This happened with his hometown club, Racing de Santander. His manager, Javier Irureta, gave him this big chance.
Winning with Real Zaragoza
After playing for Racing, Geli joined Real Zaragoza in the summer of 1994. He played one season with them. He was a regular player in the league and even scored a goal against FC Barcelona in a 2–1 home win.
Geli also played a part in Zaragoza's amazing win in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. This was a big European competition. He played the last six minutes of the final match, where Zaragoza beat Arsenal 2–1. He also played in seven other games during their winning journey in that competition.
Time at RC Celta de Vigo
Geli spent three seasons playing for RC Celta de Vigo. During this time, he played 61 matches in the top league. He sometimes faced challenges with injuries and not always being in his best form. Interestingly, he scored Celta's 1,500th goal in the main division. This special goal happened on January 3, 1996, in a 3–0 win against Real Betis. He also reunited with his former manager, Javier Irureta, in his last year at Celta.
Finishing His Playing Days
After his time at Celta, Geli returned to Racing de Santander. He later played for CF Extremadura in the Segunda División (Spain's second division). His final club was Gimnástica de Torrelavega in the Segunda División B (the third division). Geli retired from playing football at the age of 36. After retiring, he sometimes worked as a commentator for Racing's matches.
Geli's Coaching Career
After his playing career, Geli moved into coaching. On May 18, 2016, he became the manager of CD Tropezón. This club plays in the Tercera División, which is one of Spain's lower football divisions. He stayed in this role for three years, leaving his position in June 2019.
Major Achievements
Zaragoza
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1994–95
See also
In Spanish: Geli para niños
