José García Calvo facts for kids
García Calvo training with Valladolid in 2007
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Antonio García Calvo | ||
| Date of birth | 1 April 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Madrid, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Viajes Nogal-Berlín | |||
| 1993–1994 | Real Madrid | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994–1995 | Real Madrid C | 7 | (0) |
| 1994–1997 | Real Madrid B | 38 | (0) |
| 1996–1997 | Real Madrid | 16 | (0) |
| 1997–2001 | Valladolid | 128 | (4) |
| 2001–2006 | Atlético Madrid | 106 | (4) |
| 2006–2009 | Valladolid | 67 | (4) |
| Total | 362 | (12) | |
| International career | |||
| 1996–1998 | Spain U21 | 9 | (0) |
| 2002 | Spain | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
José Antonio García Calvo, born on April 1, 1975, is a Spanish former footballer. He played as a central defender, which means he was a key player in the defense, helping to stop the other team from scoring.
During his career, he played for important clubs in Madrid, like Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. However, he is most known for his time with Valladolid. He played in 267 matches in La Liga, Spain's top football league, over 12 seasons. He also scored ten goals in these matches.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Starting at Real Madrid
García Calvo grew up playing football in the Real Madrid youth system. He was born in Madrid, Spain. He played six games for the main Real Madrid team when they won the La Liga championship in the 1996–97 season. Overall, he played 16 games for Real Madrid.
His very first game was on March 2, 1996. Real Madrid won that home game 5–0 against UD Salamanca. Another defender from the youth academy, Fernando Sanz, also played his first top-level match that day.
Time at Real Valladolid
After playing for Real Madrid, García Calvo joined Real Valladolid. He became a regular player there, meaning he played almost every game. He scored his first professional goal in his first year with Valladolid. This goal came in a 4–0 home win against Real Zaragoza.
Moving to Atlético Madrid
Next, García Calvo spent five years playing for another club from Madrid, Atlético Madrid. He was a very important player for them. He helped Atlético Madrid get promoted from the Segunda División (Spain's second division) in 2002. He played 35 matches that season.
Returning to Valladolid
García Calvo found it harder to play regularly in his last two seasons at Atlético Madrid. So, in the summer of 2006, he went back to Valladolid. He helped his team return to the top league, La Liga, in the 2006–07 season. They had been out of the top league for three years.
He was a definite starter during the next season. He even scored a goal in a 2–2 home draw against Deportivo de La Coruña on September 2, 2007. Valladolid managed to stay in the top league that season.
Retirement and New Role
García Calvo had ongoing foot problems during the 2008–09 season. Because of these injuries, he decided to retire from playing football at the age of 34. One year later, he was given a new job. He became the director of football for his last club, Valladolid.
Playing for Spain
Senior National Team
García Calvo played three games for the Spanish national team. His first game was on August 21, 2002, against Hungary. This was a special game, a Ferenc Puskás testimonial match, which ended in a 1–1 draw.
Under-21 Team Success
Before playing for the main national team, he was part of the Spanish under-21 team. This team won the 1998 UEFA European Championship. This was a big achievement for him and his teammates.
Achievements and Awards
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 1996–97
Atlético Madrid
- Segunda División: 2001–02
Valladolid
- Segunda División: 2006–07
Spain U21
See also
In Spanish: José Antonio García Calvo para niños
