Juanito (footballer born 1976)

Football manager infobox
playername = Juanito


fullname = Juan Gutiérrez Moreno
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1976|7|23
nickname = Aceite "(Olive Oil)", Azabache
cityofbirth = Cádiz
countryofbirth = Spain
currentclub = Real Betis
clubnumber = 4
position = Central defender
height = 183 cm
years = 1996–1997
1997–2000
2000–2001
2001–
clubs = Cádiz B
Betis B
Recreativo Huelva (loan)
Real Betis
caps(goals) = ? (?)
98 (7)
37 (0)
224 (18)
nationalyears = 2002–
nationalteam = Spain
nationalcaps(goals) = 23 (3)
pcupdate = 30 September 2008
ntupdate = 30 September 2008

Juan Gutiérrez Moreno, aka Juanito (born July 23 1976 in Cádiz), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays as a central defender for Real Betis and Spain. He is also the current team captain. A player of physical display, he is also noted for his superb aerial ability.

Club career

After taking his first steps as a professional with the B-side of hometown Cádiz CF, Juanito transferred to neighbours Real Betis Balompié in 1997, appearing 3 seasons for the reserves. In 2000-01, he was loaned to another Andalusia outfit, Recreativo de Huelva, in the second level.

Juanito made his debut for the senior Betis team in 2001-02, and immediately established himself as a regular starter, often scoring from deadball situations (his first came on January 27, 2002, a last minute goal at Real Madrid, in a 1-1 tie).

In 2004-05, he scored 4 goals in 33 matches, as Betis achieved UEFA Champions League qualification honours, while also winning the 2005 domestic cup.

In the following three seasons, as Betis constantly battled relegation, successfully, he only missed 13 league matches combined, adding 6 goals.

International career

Juanito made his international debut for Spain on August 21, 2002 against Hungary, in a testimonial for Ferenc Puskás. His first goal for the national side came against the Ivory Coast, in a 3-2 win.

He represented Spain at Euro 2004 and 2008 (playing in the 2-1 win over Greece) and the 2006 World Cup, scoring a header in the 1-0 triumph over Saudi Arabia.

In the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Estonia on October 11, 2008, Juanito scored with a strong header, in a 3-0 away success.

Trivia

*The goal scored by Juanito at the 2006 World Cup was the first ever scored by a Betis player in that competition.
*On April 22, 2007, in the match RCD Espanyol-Betis (2-2), he played the last minutes as a goalkeeper, due to the dismissal of Pedro Contreras, with a penalty being awarded. Raúl Tamudo equalized.

Honours

Domestic

*Spanish Cup: 2004-05

International

*UEFA European Championship: 2008

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=7053 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon
* [http://futbol.sportec.es/seleccion/ficha_jugador.asp?j=326&n=juanito/juan/gutierrez/moreno National team data] es icon
*FIFA player|198446|Juanito