José Francisco Molina
Encyclopedia
José Francisco Molina Jiménez (born 8 August 1970) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
11 years of his extensive professional career were spent at Atlético Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña
, where he won a total of five titles combined. Over the course of 14 seasons, he appeared in 415 La Liga
matches.
Molina represented Spain
at two European Championships
and one World Cup
.
, being purchased in 1991 by local giants Valencia CF
. After a loan stint with neighbours Villarreal CF
, he was sold to Albacete Balompié
, making his La Liga
debut on 8 January 1995, in a 1–0 home win against Real Oviedo
. Even though he conceded eight goals in the last matchday, a home loss against Deportivo de La Coruña
, Albacete managed to escape relegation.
Molina's club career was intimately related with Atlético de Madrid, of which he claimed to be a fan. Signing in 1995, he helped the capital
team win a 1995–96 double (league and Copa del Rey
), missing only two league matches in four seasons combined.
Joining league champions Deportivo La Coruña after Atlético's relegation in 1999–2000, he proceeded to win a Spanish cup and two supercups
, being an undisputed starter throughout his stint in Galicia.
However, on 14 October 2002, Molina announced that he suffered from testicular cancer
, and that he was forced to undergo treatment for his illness, thus missing most of the 2002–03 season (10 league appearances, as Depor finished third). He eventually recovered fully.
After his link expired, Molina returned home to Valencia for 2006–07, playing for top division strugglers Levante UD
, but didn't renew his contract after the season's end, retiring subsequently, with the club retaining its league status.
In 2009–10, Molina started a coaching career, with Villarreal C
, in Tercera División
. On 12 May 2011, he replaced fired Javi Gracia
at the helm of the reserves
, in Segunda División
, as the team was seriously threatened with relegation.
debut as an outfield player against Norway
on 24 April 1996 - a cameo appearance
as a left winger, as all replacements had been made by coach Javier Clemente
and Juan Manuel López retired injured.
He was then included in the squads for UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup
, but had to wait until Euro 2000 for first-choice status - although he was dropped after a blunder in the opening 1–0 loss (to Norway) and did not play afterwards.
Deportivo
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 goalkeeper.
11 years of his extensive professional career were spent at Atlético Madrid and 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...
, where he won a total of five titles combined. Over the course of 14 seasons, he appeared in 415 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...
matches.
Molina represented 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...
at two European Championships
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
and one World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
.
Club career
Born in Valencia, Molina started playing professionally with modest UD AlziraUD Alzira
Unión Deportiva Alzira is a Spanish football team based in Alzira, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1946, it plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home games at Estadio Luis Suñer Picó, with a capacity of 8,000 seats.-Background:...
, being purchased in 1991 by local giants 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...
. After a loan stint with neighbours 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...
, he was sold to Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded on August 2, 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a 17,300-seat capacity.-History:The club was founded...
, making his 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...
debut on 8 January 1995, in a 1–0 home win against Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
. Even though he conceded eight goals in the last matchday, a home loss 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...
, Albacete managed to escape relegation.
Molina's club career was intimately related with Atlético de Madrid, of which he claimed to be a fan. Signing in 1995, he helped 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...
team win a 1995–96 double (league and Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The 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 ....
), missing only two league matches in four seasons combined.
Joining league champions Deportivo La Coruña after Atlético's relegation in 1999–2000, he proceeded to win a Spanish cup and two supercups
Supercopa de España
The Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
, being an undisputed starter throughout his stint in Galicia.
However, on 14 October 2002, Molina announced that he suffered from testicular cancer
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. In the UK, approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of...
, and that he was forced to undergo treatment for his illness, thus missing most of the 2002–03 season (10 league appearances, as Depor finished third). He eventually recovered fully.
After his link expired, Molina returned home to Valencia for 2006–07, playing for top division strugglers Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
, but didn't renew his contract after the season's end, retiring subsequently, with the club retaining its league status.
In 2009–10, Molina started a coaching career, with Villarreal C
Villarreal CF C
Villarreal Club de Fútbol C, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Villarreal, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 2002, it is the third team of Villarreal CF, and plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Ciudad Deportiva Villarreal CF, with a capacity of 1,500...
, in Tercera División
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
. On 12 May 2011, he replaced fired Javi Gracia
Javi Gracia
Javier 'Javi' Gracia Carlos is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, who currently manages Greek club Kerkyra.-Playing career:...
at the helm of the reserves
Villarreal CF B
Villarreal Club de Fútbol B is a Spanish football team based in Villarreal, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1999, it is the reserve team of Villarreal CF, and plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Ciudad Deportiva Villarreal CF, with a 5,000-seat capacity.Unlike in...
, 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:...
, as the team was seriously threatened with relegation.
International career
Molina made his Spanish national teamSpain 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...
debut as an outfield player against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
on 24 April 1996 - a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
as a left winger, as all replacements had been made by coach Javier Clemente
Javier Clemente
Javier Clemente Lázaro, is a Spanish football manager. The veteran La Liga manager has spent most of his career at two clubs: Athletic Bilbao and RCD Espanyol. Between 1992 and 1998, he managed Spain and went 31 games unbeaten. He was also the the first foreign manager of Serbia. His most recent...
and Juan Manuel López retired injured.
He was then included in the squads for UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
, but had to wait until Euro 2000 for first-choice status - although he was dropped after a blunder in the opening 1–0 loss (to Norway) and did not play afterwards.
Team
Atlético 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...
: 1995–96 - 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 ....
: 1995–96
Deportivo
- 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 ....
: 2001–02 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 20002000 Supercopa de EspañaThe 2000 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 20 August and 27 August 2000. It contested by RCD Espanyol, who were Spanish Cup winners in 1999–00, and RC Deportivo, who won the 1999–00 Spanish League.-First leg:-Second leg:...
, 20022002 Supercopa de EspañaThe 2002 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 18 August and 25 August 2002. It contested by RCD de la Coruña, who were Spanish Cup winners in 2001–02, and Valencia CF, who won the 2001–02 Spanish League.-First leg:-Second leg:...