Juanfran

Juan Francisco García García is a defender playing for Levante UD and a former player of the Spanish national team.

He started to play long ago, in 1994, for Levante. The fans of that club called him Juanfran. Performing for that club he drew attention of the scouts from Valencia. As a result in 1997 the footballer signed a 3-year contract with the ‘Bats’. He made his debut for the new team against Mallorca in 1997 but Valencia lost 2-1. Having spent 2 years in Valencia where he took the field in 41 games and won the Copa del Rey in 1999.

Juanfran was transferred to Celta Vigo in 1999. There he became an undisputed leader of the squad. During his first season he played 27 games, scored twice and won the Intertoto Cup of 2000. Through 5 seasons the footballer played 126 games and scored 5 times. However when Celta faced relegation by the end of the season 2003/04 Juanfran left the Spanish club joining a Turkish side Beşiktaş. He didn’t manage to show a good level of play in Turkey and after spending one season with 13 mathces and one goal he was sent on loan to Ajax in 2005 where he didn’t show anything outstanding either.

After his deal with Beşiktaş was broken by the Turks Juanfran found shelter at Zaragoza. Having spent two seasons there he left for Greece joining AEK in 2008. However his play there wasn’t as bright as he might have expected. Juanfran moved back to Spain in 2009 joining Levante. There he played a huge role in his new club’s top-flight return yet on loan from AEK. Juanfran made a permanent move in 2010 and maintained himself as a leader and as a starter. By the end of the season 2011/12 he counted 71 appearances for Levante.

Juanfran also has 11 appearances for the senior national squad on his account.