José Antonio Reyes
Encyclopedia
José Antonio Reyes Calderón (born 1 September 1983) is a Spanish
professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid.
Mainly a left winger but also a forward, he made his professional debuts for hometown's Sevilla
at only 16, signing with England
's Arsenal
aged 20.
After a relatively successful career abroad, Reyes returned to his country, going on to represent both main sides in Madrid
, Real
and Atlético, also having a short loan spell in Portugal
.
Reyes gained 21 caps
for Spain
, and represented the nation at the 2006 World Cup
.
, south-east Seville, to Spanish Kale (Gitanos) parents, Reyes joined the youth ranks of local Sevilla FC
at the age of 10. His talent was identified, and he represented the club at all youth levels.
He finally signed a full contract in 1999, making his full squad debuts during 1999–2000 at just 16, in a game against Real Zaragoza
, and was later called up to Spain's squad
for the UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
. With the Andalusia
ns now in Segunda División
, he added another first-team club appearance.
After Sevilla promoted, Reyes established his reputation as a versatile offensive unit in the following years, his 22 goals in 86 matches over four seasons at Sevilla leading to other clubs taking notice, although the player's popularity with the club's fans made a move to a bigger Spanish club politically difficult for Sevilla's club president.
wishing to hang onto him, Reyes signed with English club Arsenal
during the January transfer window
of the 2003–04 season. The £
10.5 million transfer fee was negotiated with top ups, depending on the success of Arsenal, which could have risen to £17 million.
He made his debut on 1 February 2004 in a 2–1 win over Manchester City
; two days later, he scored an own goal against Middlesbrough
in the Football League Cup
. Later that month, Reyes scored twice against Chelsea
to knock them out of the FA Cup. He also scored against Chelsea in the season's UEFA Champions League
quarterfinals, and his goals in the penultimate two games of the season helped keep Arsenal's unbeaten run
in the Premier League going.
Hat-trick
s in friendlies
during the summer 2004 showed his improvement, and Reyes was a prominent influence on Arsenal's impressive start to the 2004–05 season, in which he managed to score in each of the first six games. However, Reyes struggled during the middle of the season after Arsenal's defeat by Manchester United
at Old Trafford. His inconsistent performance brought little reward for much of the season, and yet towards the end of it he scored three valuable goals.
In early 2005, Reyes was reported to be homesick
while at Arsenal, even though his parents, Mari and Francisco, as well as brother Jesús lived with him in England
. During a prank call perpetrated by Cadena COPE
Radio of Spain in February 2005, a prankster claiming to be Emilio Butragueño
, at the time director of football
of Real Madrid
, speaking on behalf of the president of the club, reportedly called Reyes' agent and spoke to Reyes himself about a possible transfer deal. In the ensuing conversation, Reyes allegedly declared that life in London
was far from what he had envisioned and he would welcome a move back to his native Spain. Reyes also supposedly said that he wanted out of the club as there were "bad people" at Arsenal.
On 21 May 2005, Reyes became only the second player in history (after Kevin Moran) to be sent off in an FA Cup final, when he was dismissed for a second yellow card shortly before the end of extra time against Manchester United, though Arsenal still went on to win the game in a penalty shootout.
He temporarily ended speculation about a move away from Highbury
in July 2005, when he signed a new six-year contract and declared that he was "looking forward to having many more successful years at the club."
In Arsenal's 2005–06 Champions League run, Reyes featured heavily against, among others, Real Madrid, Juventus
and Villarreal CF
in the most impressive Champions League results for Arsenal to date. He came on as a substitute in the 17 May 2006 final against FC Barcelona
, which Arsenal lost 2–1. However, in August 2006, he expressed a desire not to play in Arsenal's Champions League qualifying match against NK Dinamo Zagreb – to do so would render him 'cup-tied
' and complicate a move to Real Madrid. Club manager Arsène Wenger
left him out of the team, thus fuelling speculation that a transfer was soon to be agreed.
in the summer of 2006, when the candidate Arturo Baldasano of the then on-going Real Madrid presidential campaign claimed he would sign them, if elected. Reyes further hinted towards a transfer to Real. After making two official statements on Arsenal's website denying media reports of being unhappy, alleged quotes from Reyes in the Spanish press contradicted his denials. This tested the patience of Wenger, who reacted angrily to Real Madrid's attempts to unsettle his player, suggesting that it was not the first time Real Madrid had used the media and agents in Spain as a destabilising tactic. Shortly before the closure of the 2006 summer transfer window, Madrid and Arsenal agreed to exchange Reyes for Brazil
ian international Júlio Baptista
, each on a season-long loan deal.
Reyes scored his first goal for Real Madrid on 17 September 2006, with a free kick
against Real Sociedad
, in a 2–0 home win. On the final day of the season, the focus was on soon-to-be-departed David Beckham
and Roberto Carlos, but Reyes, brought from the bench for injured Beckham, netted twice as Real came from behind to beat RCD Mallorca
and claim yet another La Liga
title.
Real Madrid appointed former Getafe CF
coach Bernd Schuster
on 8 July 2007, increasing the chances that Reyes would sign a permanent deal and stay in Spain.
12 million. He made his club debut against S.S. Lazio
, scoring and assist
once in a 3–1 victory in the annual Amsterdam Tournament
(while at Arsenal, he was named the tournament's MVP in its 2004 edition). Reyes' first campaign with the Colchoneros was disastrous, as he was often barred by Maxi Rodríguez and Simão Sabrosa
, failing to score a single goal in 26 league appearances.
On 8 August 2008, S.L. Benfica announced the signing of Reyes on a one-year loan deal. The Portuguese
also bought 25% of his playing rights for a fee of €2.65 million, and ensured a buying option of the remainder 75% for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut in a friendly match against Feyenoord. He replaced Jonathan Urretavizcaya
in the 79th minute and, a minute afterwards, following a cross from Ariza Makukula
, he made a volley which hit the post. His debut goal for Benfica was scored against city-rivals Sporting Clube de Portugal on 28 September 2008: after an understanding between Reyes and Pablo Aimar
, and a pass from the same, he scored in fashion. Later in the same week, he would score again against S.S.C. Napoli
, helping Benfica to a 2–0 home triumph in the season's UEFA Cup first round – the Reds eventually won 4–3 on aggregate.
Reyes' return to Atlético proved to be much more successful, as he re-united with Quique Flores, his manager at Benfica from the previous season. He scored his first official goal in Spain in more than two years on 9 January 2010, with a long-range effort at Real Valladolid
, in a 4–0 triumph. By then, he had beaten the competition of Maxi and started in the wings alongside Simão. On 14 February 2010, Reyes put in a Man of the match
performance in Atlético's 2–1 win against FC Barcelona
, setting up the opening goal for Diego Forlán
in the eventual champions' only league defeat of the season
. Four days later, in the Europa League 1–1 home draw against Galatasaray SK
, he scored a stunning free kick
from the right wing on the 22nd minute, after he was brought down just outside the box (3–2 aggregate win). On 28 March, he curled in a left-footed shot from the right wing just inside the box, opening the score in the Madrid derby
against his former team, in an eventual 2–3 loss.
On 27 August 2010, Reyes opened the score in the 2010 UEFA Super Cup
against F.C. Internazionale Milano
(eventually 2–0 win), after a one-two
combination with Argentine
Sergio Agüero
. His first league goal of the season
came in a 1–4 defeat at Hércules CF
on 9 January 2011, which inspired an impressive run of scoring form, with goals in successive home games in February/March, against Valencia CF
, former club Sevilla and Villarreal CF
.
Reyes took up more responsibility for the 2011–12 campaign
, and established himself as one of the team's most important players. On 28 July 2011, he scored twice for Atlético in a 2–1 Europa League win against Strømsgodset IF. In the second leg, a week later, he was again on the scoresheet, also assisting a goal for Adrián López
in a 2–0 away success.
on 6 September 2003, replacing Raúl
during a 3–0 friendly win in Portugal
; he would be left out of Iñaki Sáez
's UEFA Euro 2004 squad.
Two years later, he was picked for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
, but only appeared once in four matches – the 1–0 group stage win against Saudi Arabia
, with Spain already qualified as first.
Reyes was again overlooked for the victorious Euro 2008 tournament, as manager Luis Aragonés
preferred the likes of David Silva
and Santi Cazorla
on the wings.
|-
|1999–00||rowspan="5"|Sevilla
||La Liga
||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|2000–01||Segunda División
||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||2||0
|-
|2001–02||rowspan="3"|La Liga
||29||8||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||30||8
|-
|2002–03||34||8||3||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||37||11
|-
|2003–04||21||5||4||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||25||6
|-
|2003–04||rowspan="3"|Arsenal
||rowspan="3"|Premier League||13||2||4||2||||||4||1||21||5
|-
|2004–05||30||9||7||2||||||8||1||45||12
|-
|2005–06||26||5||6||1||||||12||0||44||6
|-
|2006–07||Real Madrid
||La Liga
||30||6||2||0||colspan="2"|–||4||1||36||7
|-
|2007–08||rowspan="1"|Atlético Madrid||rowspan="1"|La Liga
||26||0||5||0||colspan="2"|–||6||0||37||0
|-
|-
|2008–09||Benfica||Primeira Liga||24||4||1||0||||||5||1||30||5
|-
|2009–10
||rowspan="3"|Atlético Madrid||rowspan="3"|La Liga
||30||2||7||1||colspan="2"|–||10||1||47||4
|-
|2010–11
||33||6||5||0||colspan="2"|–||5||1||43||7
|-
|2011–12
||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||4||3||5||3
|-
206||35||27||4||colspan="2"|–||29||6||252||44
69||16||17||5||||||24||2||110||23
27||4||3||0||||||5||1||29||5
302||55||47||9||||||58||8||401||73
|2003||4||2
|-
|2004||6||0
|-
|2005||5||0
|-
|2006||6||2
|-
!Total||21||4
|}
Arsenal
Real Madrid
Benfica
Atlético Madrid
Spain U-19
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...
professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid.
Mainly a left winger but also a forward, he made his professional debuts for hometown's Sevilla
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
at only 16, signing with England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
aged 20.
After a relatively successful career abroad, Reyes returned to his country, going on to represent both main sides in 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...
, 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, also having a short loan spell in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Reyes gained 21 caps
Cap (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 Spain
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...
, and represented the nation at the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
Early career
Born in UtreraUtrera
Utrera is a municipality in south-west Spain. It is in the province of Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. As of 2008 it has a population close to 50,202....
, south-east Seville, to Spanish Kale (Gitanos) parents, Reyes joined the youth ranks of local Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
at the age of 10. His talent was identified, and he represented the club at all youth levels.
He finally signed a full contract in 1999, making his full squad debuts during 1999–2000 at just 16, in a game against Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
, and was later called up to Spain's squad
Spain national under-17 football team
The Spain national under-17 football team represents Spain in international football at this age level and is controlled by Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain....
for the UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
The UEFA U-17 Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. From 1982 to 2001 it was an Under-16 event.This meeting serves as a preliminary competition for the FIFA U-17 World Cup every other year....
. With the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns now in Segunda División
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:...
, he added another first-team club appearance.
After Sevilla promoted, Reyes established his reputation as a versatile offensive unit in the following years, his 22 goals in 86 matches over four seasons at Sevilla leading to other clubs taking notice, although the player's popularity with the club's fans made a move to a bigger Spanish club politically difficult for Sevilla's club president.
Arsenal
Despite Sevilla manager Joaquín CaparrósJoaquín Caparrós
Joaquín de Jesús Caparrós Camino is a Spanish football coach, currently in charge of RCD Mallorca.-Football career:Caparrós was born in Utrera, Province of Seville, Andalusia. After an obscure career as a player, he started coaching in his mid-20's, his first club being amateurs San José Obrero CF...
wishing to hang onto him, Reyes signed with English club Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
during the January transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
of the 2003–04 season. The £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
10.5 million transfer fee was negotiated with top ups, depending on the success of Arsenal, which could have risen to £17 million.
He made his debut on 1 February 2004 in a 2–1 win over Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
; two days later, he scored an own goal against Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. Later that month, Reyes scored twice against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
to knock them out of the FA Cup. He also scored against Chelsea in the season's UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
quarterfinals, and his goals in the penultimate two games of the season helped keep Arsenal's unbeaten run
The Invincibles (football)
In English football, "The Invincibles" has been used to refer to either the Preston North End team of the 1880s, or the Arsenal team of the 2003–04 season...
in the Premier League going.
Hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
s in friendlies
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
during the summer 2004 showed his improvement, and Reyes was a prominent influence on Arsenal's impressive start to the 2004–05 season, in which he managed to score in each of the first six games. However, Reyes struggled during the middle of the season after Arsenal's defeat by Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
at Old Trafford. His inconsistent performance brought little reward for much of the season, and yet towards the end of it he scored three valuable goals.
In early 2005, Reyes was reported to be homesick
Homesickness
Homesickness is the distress or impairment caused by an actual or anticipated separation from the specific home environment or attachment objects....
while at Arsenal, even though his parents, Mari and Francisco, as well as brother Jesús lived with him in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. During a prank call perpetrated by Cadena COPE
Cadena COPE
COPE, an acronym for Cadena de Ondas Populares Españolas is a private, right wing, commercial, Spanish radio network owned by a series of institutions within the Spanish Catholic Church...
Radio of Spain in February 2005, a prankster claiming to be Emilio Butragueño
Emilio Butragueño
Emilio Butragueño Santos is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a striker.He was best known for his spell with Real Madrid...
, at the time 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...
of Real Madrid
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...
, speaking on behalf of the president of the club, reportedly called Reyes' agent and spoke to Reyes himself about a possible transfer deal. In the ensuing conversation, Reyes allegedly declared that life in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
was far from what he had envisioned and he would welcome a move back to his native Spain. Reyes also supposedly said that he wanted out of the club as there were "bad people" at Arsenal.
On 21 May 2005, Reyes became only the second player in history (after Kevin Moran) to be sent off in an FA Cup final, when he was dismissed for a second yellow card shortly before the end of extra time against Manchester United, though Arsenal still went on to win the game in a penalty shootout.
He temporarily ended speculation about a move away from Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
in July 2005, when he signed a new six-year contract and declared that he was "looking forward to having many more successful years at the club."
In Arsenal's 2005–06 Champions League run, Reyes featured heavily against, among others, Real Madrid, Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
and Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
in the most impressive Champions League results for Arsenal to date. He came on as a substitute in the 17 May 2006 final against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, which Arsenal lost 2–1. However, in August 2006, he expressed a desire not to play in Arsenal's Champions League qualifying match against NK Dinamo Zagreb – to do so would render him 'cup-tied
Cup-tied
Cup-tied is an adjective, used primarily in association football, to describe a player who is ineligible to play in a knockout cup competition after transferring from another club during that competition.-Application:...
' and complicate a move to Real Madrid. Club manager Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
left him out of the team, thus fuelling speculation that a transfer was soon to be agreed.
Real Madrid
Reyes was linked to Real Madrid along with Arsenal teammate Cesc FàbregasCesc Fàbregas
Francesc "Cesc" Fàbregas i Soler is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona.Fàbregas started his career as a trainee with Barcelona but was signed by Premier League side Arsenal in September 2003 at the age of 16...
in the summer of 2006, when the candidate Arturo Baldasano of the then on-going Real Madrid presidential campaign claimed he would sign them, if elected. Reyes further hinted towards a transfer to Real. After making two official statements on Arsenal's website denying media reports of being unhappy, alleged quotes from Reyes in the Spanish press contradicted his denials. This tested the patience of Wenger, who reacted angrily to Real Madrid's attempts to unsettle his player, suggesting that it was not the first time Real Madrid had used the media and agents in Spain as a destabilising tactic. Shortly before the closure of the 2006 summer transfer window, Madrid and Arsenal agreed to exchange Reyes for Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian international Júlio Baptista
Júlio Baptista
Júlio César Baptista is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder or forward for Málaga CF of the Spanish La Liga...
, each on a season-long loan deal.
Reyes scored his first goal for Real Madrid on 17 September 2006, with a free kick
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
against Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, in a 2–0 home win. On the final day of the season, the focus was on soon-to-be-departed David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
and Roberto Carlos, but Reyes, brought from the bench for injured Beckham, netted twice as Real came from behind to beat RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
and claim yet another 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...
title.
Real Madrid appointed former Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
coach Bernd Schuster
Bernd Schuster
Bernhard Schuster is a German football manager and former player, currently unemployed. His nickname is "der Blonde Engel" .-Club career:...
on 8 July 2007, increasing the chances that Reyes would sign a permanent deal and stay in Spain.
Atlético Madrid
However, reports surfacing on 29 July indicated that city-rivals Atlético Madrid were on the verge of landing the player. Later that day, Wenger confirmed that Reyes' departure was imminent, and that a more specific announcement would be made shortly. On 30 July, Reyes passed his medical, penning a four-year deal, reportedly worth €Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
12 million. He made his club debut against S.S. Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
, scoring and assist
Assist (football)
In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
once in a 3–1 victory in the annual Amsterdam Tournament
Amsterdam Tournament
The Amsterdam Tournament is a pre-season association football competition, held in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The competition is hosted by Eredivisie club Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena. It was inaugurated in 1975 as the Amsterdam 700 Tournament to celebrate 700 years of history in the city...
(while at Arsenal, he was named the tournament's MVP in its 2004 edition). Reyes' first campaign with the Colchoneros was disastrous, as he was often barred by Maxi Rodríguez and Simão Sabrosa
Simão Sabrosa
Simão Pedro Fonseca Sabrosa, OIH , commonly known as Simão , is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Beşiktaş J.K. in Turkey, mainly as a left winger - he can also play as a forward - with dribbling and set piece skills as primary attributes.Having played in his country for two of the three...
, failing to score a single goal in 26 league appearances.
On 8 August 2008, S.L. Benfica announced the signing of Reyes on a one-year loan deal. The Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
also bought 25% of his playing rights for a fee of €2.65 million, and ensured a buying option of the remainder 75% for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut in a friendly match against Feyenoord. He replaced Jonathan Urretavizcaya
Jonathan Urretavizcaya
Jonathan Matías Urretaviscaya da Luz is an Uruguayan footballer of Basque descent who plays for Vitória S.C. on loan from S.L. Benfica in the Portuguese first division, as a right winger.-Football career:...
in the 79th minute and, a minute afterwards, following a cross from Ariza Makukula
Ariza Makukula
Ariza Makukula is a Portuguese footballer of Congolese descent who plays for Manisaspor in Turkey, as a centre forward.-Club career:...
, he made a volley which hit the post. His debut goal for Benfica was scored against city-rivals Sporting Clube de Portugal on 28 September 2008: after an understanding between Reyes and Pablo Aimar
Pablo Aimar
Pablo César Aimar Giordano is a Argentine professional footballer who plays for Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the Portuguese first division. An attacking midfielder with a vast array of skills, he also holds a Spanish passport....
, and a pass from the same, he scored in fashion. Later in the same week, he would score again against S.S.C. Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
, helping Benfica to a 2–0 home triumph in the season's UEFA Cup first round – the Reds eventually won 4–3 on aggregate.
Reyes' return to Atlético proved to be much more successful, as he re-united with Quique Flores, his manager at Benfica from the previous season. He scored his first official goal in Spain in more than two years on 9 January 2010, with a long-range effort at 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....
, in a 4–0 triumph. By then, he had beaten the competition of Maxi and started in the wings alongside Simão. On 14 February 2010, Reyes put in a Man of the match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
performance in Atlético's 2–1 win against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, setting up the opening goal for Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán Corazo is an Uruguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Internazionale and the Uruguayan national team. He is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe, and also received the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup.Forlán was born...
in the eventual champions' only league defeat of the season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
. Four days later, in the Europa League 1–1 home draw against Galatasaray SK
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
, he scored a stunning free kick
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
from the right wing on the 22nd minute, after he was brought down just outside the box (3–2 aggregate win). On 28 March, he curled in a left-footed shot from the right wing just inside the box, opening the score in the Madrid derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
against his former team, in an eventual 2–3 loss.
On 27 August 2010, Reyes opened the score in the 2010 UEFA Super Cup
2010 UEFA Super Cup
The 2010 UEFA Super Cup was the 35th UEFA Super Cup organised by the European football governing body UEFA. It took place at the Stade Louis II in Monaco on 27 August 2010. It was contested by Internazionale, who won the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League, and Atlético Madrid, who won the 2009–10 UEFA...
against F.C. Internazionale Milano
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
(eventually 2–0 win), after a one-two
Push and run
Push-and-run, also known as a one-two, a wall pass or a give-and-go, is a tactic often used in association football. It was devised and developed by Arthur Rowe, who was the manager of English football club Tottenham Hotspur from 1949....
combination with Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Sergio Agüero
Sergio Agüero
Sergio Leonel "Kun" Agüero del Castillo is an Argentine footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester City in England's Premier League and the Argentine national team....
. His first league goal of the season
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
came in a 1–4 defeat at Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
on 9 January 2011, which inspired an impressive run of scoring form, with goals in successive home games in February/March, against Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, former club Sevilla and Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
.
Reyes took up more responsibility for the 2011–12 campaign
2011–12 La Liga
The 2011–12 La Liga season is the 81st since its establishment. Barcelona are the defending champions, having won their 21st La Liga title in the previous season for the third time in a row. The campaign began on 27 August 2011, and will end on 13 May 2012...
, and established himself as one of the team's most important players. On 28 July 2011, he scored twice for Atlético in a 2–1 Europa League win against Strømsgodset IF. In the second leg, a week later, he was again on the scoresheet, also assisting a goal for Adrián López
Adrián López Álvarez
Adrián López Álvarez, simply Adrián , is a Spanish footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid as a forward.-Oviedo / Deportivo:...
in a 2–0 away success.
International career
Reyes earned his first full cap for SpainSpain 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...
on 6 September 2003, replacing Raúl
Raúl González
Raúl González Blanco , known simply as Raúl, is a Spanish footballer who plays as a striker. He currently plays for German club Schalke 04....
during a 3–0 friendly win in Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
; he would be left out of Iñaki Sáez
Iñaki Sáez
José Ignacio "Iñaki" Sáez Ruiz is a retired Spanish football defender and manager.The vast majority of his professional career was spent with Athletic Bilbao, which he later also coached in various levels, appearing in more than 300 official games with his main club.In addition to two other clubs...
's UEFA Euro 2004 squad.
Two years later, he was picked for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, but only appeared once in four matches – the 1–0 group stage win against Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
, with Spain already qualified as first.
Reyes was again overlooked for the victorious Euro 2008 tournament, as manager Luis Aragonés
Luis Aragonés
José Luis Aragonés Suárez , usually referred to as Luis Aragonés and sometimes simply as Luis, is a former Spanish footballer and national coach....
preferred the likes of David Silva
David Silva
David Josué Jiménez Silva is a Spanish footballer who plays for Manchester City and the Spanish national team. Silva is capable of playing on the wing, as a traditional number 10 and sometimes as a supporting striker...
and Santi Cazorla
Santi Cazorla
Santiago "Santi" Cazorla González is a Spanish footballer who plays for Málaga CF in La Liga.A versatile winger, he can play on either flank, being ambidextrous...
on the wings.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 11 October 2003 | Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan Hanrapetakan or Republican Stadium is an all-seater multi-use stadium in Yerevan, Armenia. The construction of the stadium was built in 1937 and finished within the year. Some developments were implemented after World War II.-Overview:... , Yerevan Yerevan Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country... , Armenia Armenia Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia... |
0–3 | 0–4 | Euro 2004 qualifying UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying Group 6 Standings and results for Group 6 of the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying tournament.Group 6 consisted of Armenia, Greece, Northern Ireland, Spain and Ukraine... |
|
| 2. | 11 October 2003 | Vazgen Sargsyan, Yerevan, Armenia | 0–4 | 0–4 | Euro 2004 qualifying UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying Group 6 Standings and results for Group 6 of the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying tournament.Group 6 consisted of Armenia, Greece, Northern Ireland, Spain and Ukraine... |
|
| 3. | 1 March 2006 | José Zorrilla, Valladolid Valladolid Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales... , Spain 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... |
2–2 | 3–2 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 4. | 3 June 2006 | Manuel Martínez Valero Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero The Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero is located in the city Spanish in Elche in Alicante, Spain. It is a sports arena that houses matches of Elche CF, a team that is currently playing in the Liga Adelante . Its name pays tribute to the late president of the club Elche, Manuel Martinez Valero... , Elche, Spain 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... |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
Club
- (correct as of 28 August 2011)
|-
|1999–00||rowspan="5"|Sevilla
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
||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...
||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|2000–01||Segunda División
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:...
||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||2||0
|-
|2001–02||rowspan="3"|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...
||29||8||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||30||8
|-
|2002–03||34||8||3||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||37||11
|-
|2003–04||21||5||4||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||25||6
|-
|2003–04||rowspan="3"|Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
||rowspan="3"|Premier League||13||2||4||2||||||4||1||21||5
|-
|2004–05||30||9||7||2||||||8||1||45||12
|-
|2005–06||26||5||6||1||||||12||0||44||6
|-
|2006–07||Real Madrid
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...
||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...
||30||6||2||0||colspan="2"|–||4||1||36||7
|-
|2007–08||rowspan="1"|Atlético Madrid||rowspan="1"|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...
||26||0||5||0||colspan="2"|–||6||0||37||0
|-
|-
|2008–09||Benfica||Primeira Liga||24||4||1||0||||||5||1||30||5
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
||rowspan="3"|Atlético Madrid||rowspan="3"|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...
||30||2||7||1||colspan="2"|–||10||1||47||4
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
||33||6||5||0||colspan="2"|–||5||1||43||7
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 La Liga
The 2011–12 La Liga season is the 81st since its establishment. Barcelona are the defending champions, having won their 21st La Liga title in the previous season for the third time in a row. The campaign began on 27 August 2011, and will end on 13 May 2012...
||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||4||3||5||3
|-
206||35||27||4||colspan="2"|–||29||6||252||44
69||16||17||5||||||24||2||110||23
27||4||3||0||||||5||1||29||5
302||55||47||9||||||58||8||401||73
International
|-|2003||4||2
|-
|2004||6||0
|-
|2005||5||0
|-
|2006||6||2
|-
!Total||21||4
|}
Honours
Sevilla- Second DivisionSegunda DivisiónThe 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:...
: 2000–01
Arsenal
- Premier League: 2003–04
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 2004–05 - FA Community ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
: 20042004 FA Community ShieldThe 2004 FA Community Shield was the 82nd FA Community Shield, a football match played between the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup competitions...
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...
: 2006–07
Benfica
- Portuguese League CupPortuguese League CupThe Taça da Liga , officially known as bwin Cup, is a competition organized by the Portuguese League for Professional Football started in the 2007–08 football season. For the first three seasons it was known as Carlsberg Cup for sponsorship reasons...
: 2008–09
Atlético Madrid
- UEFA Europa League: 2009–10
- UEFA Super Cup: 20102010 UEFA Super CupThe 2010 UEFA Super Cup was the 35th UEFA Super Cup organised by the European football governing body UEFA. It took place at the Stade Louis II in Monaco on 27 August 2010. It was contested by Internazionale, who won the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League, and Atlético Madrid, who won the 2009–10 UEFA...
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: Runner-up 2009–102009–10 Copa del ReyThe 2009–10 Copa del Rey was the 106th staging of the Copa del Rey. The competition began on August 22, 2009 and concluded on May 19, 2010 with the final held at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, in which Sevilla FC lifted the trophy for the fifth time in their history with a 2–0 victory over...
Spain U-19
- UEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
: 20022002 UEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe 2002 UEFA Under-19 Championship was held in Norway between 21 July and 28 July 2002. The top three finishers in each group qualified for the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. Players born on or after 1 January 1983 were eligible to participate in this competition.It was the first tournament...