José Antonio García Calvo
Encyclopedia
José Antonio García Calvo (born 1 April 1975 in Madrid
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a central defender.
During his professional career, he represented both Madrid
sides, Real
and Atlético (but was mainly associated with Valladolid
), appearing in 355 La Liga
games over the course of 15 seasons (12 goals).
's youth system, García Calvo appeared in six matches for the first team appearances as it won the league championship
in 1996–97, eventually totalling only 16 during his spell. His first match with the first team came on March 2, 1996, in a 5–0 success against UD Salamanca
(Fernando Sanz
, another centre-back from the youth ranks, also played his first top flight match that day). Subsequently, he signed with Real Valladolid
where he was a first team regular for four years, scoring his first professional goal in his first season.
Calvo then added five years in another side from the capital
, Atlético de Madrid
, being instrumental in the colchoneros 2001–02 promotion from the second division
, with 35 matches played (and 11 bookings).
Unable to settle at Atlético in his final two years, García Calvo returned to Valladolid in 2006, helping the side return to the top flight after a three-year absence. He was an undisputed starter throughout the subsequent campaign, scoring in a 2–2 home draw against Deportivo de La Coruña
, on 2 September 2007, as the Castile-La Mancha
outfit finally finished retained its status.
Following recurrent foot
problems that ailed him throughout 2008–09, Calvo announced his retirement from the game, at 34. Immediately afterwards, he was appointed his last club's director of football
.
for the Spain national football team
, the first coming on August 21, 2002 against Hungary
(1–1), during a Ferenc Puskás
testimonial match
.
Previously, he was picked for the under-21 side
that won the 1998 European Championship
.
Spain U21
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
) is a retired Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who played as a central defender.
During his professional career, he represented both Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
sides, Real
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
and Atlético (but was mainly associated with Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
), appearing in 355 La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
games over the course of 15 seasons (12 goals).
Club career
A product of Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
's youth system, García Calvo appeared in six matches for the first team appearances as it won the league championship
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
in 1996–97, eventually totalling only 16 during his spell. His first match with the first team came on March 2, 1996, in a 5–0 success against UD Salamanca
UD Salamanca
Unión Deportiva Salamanca, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 16 March 1923, it currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 2....
(Fernando Sanz
Fernando Sanz
Fernando Sanz Durán is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central defender.He spent seven years of his professional career with Málaga - after starting out at Real Madrid - appearing in more than 250 official games...
, another centre-back from the youth ranks, also played his first top flight match that day). Subsequently, he signed with Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
where he was a first team regular for four years, scoring his first professional goal in his first season.
Calvo then added five years in another side from the capital
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Atlético de Madrid
Atlético de Madrid
Club Atlético de Madrid, S.A.D., commonly known as Atlético Madrid, is a Spanish football club based in Madrid who play in La Liga. Atlético have won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey on nine occasions, including a double in 1996; in Europe, they won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1962, were...
, being instrumental in the colchoneros 2001–02 promotion from the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, with 35 matches played (and 11 bookings).
Unable to settle at Atlético in his final two years, García Calvo returned to Valladolid in 2006, helping the side return to the top flight after a three-year absence. He was an undisputed starter throughout the subsequent campaign, scoring in a 2–2 home draw against Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
, on 2 September 2007, as the Castile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha is an autonomous community of Spain. Castile-La Mancha is bordered by Castile and León, Madrid, Aragon, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, and Extremadura. It is one of the most sparsely populated of Spain's autonomous communities...
outfit finally finished retained its status.
Following recurrent foot
Foot
The foot is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws...
problems that ailed him throughout 2008–09, Calvo announced his retirement from the game, at 34. Immediately afterwards, he was appointed his last club's director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
.
International career
García Calvo earned three capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Spain national football team
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, the first coming on August 21, 2002 against Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
(1–1), during a Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...
testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
.
Previously, he was picked for the under-21 side
Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
that won the 1998 European Championship
1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1998, which spanned two years , had 46 entrants. Before the quarter-finals stage, Romania were chosen as the hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....
.
Honours
Real Madrid- Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
: 1996–97
Spain U21
- European Under-21 ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
: 19981998 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 1998, which spanned two years , had 46 entrants. Before the quarter-finals stage, Romania were chosen as the hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....