José Luis Caminero
Encyclopedia
José Luis Pérez Caminero (born 8 November 1967 in Madrid
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a midfielder
.
Arguably one of the best Spanish footballers of the 1990s, Caminero was able to play in any midfield position, in the middle or in the wings. Having played in 408 La Liga
games over the course of 14 seasons (57 goals), he possessed a vast array of skills: dribble, shot and physique, and his career was almost exclusively associated with Valladolid
and Atlético Madrid.
Caminero represented Spain
in one World Cup
and one European Championship
, scoring in both tournaments.
, Caminero joined Real Valladolid
for 1989–90, helping the side barely avoid relegation. He netted his first La Liga
goal in the following season, in a 3–1 home win against Valencia CF
on 16 December 1990.
The peak of Caminero's career took place from 1993–94, when he moved to Atlético de Madrid. He was a key member of the squad that won an historical double in 1995–96, contributing with nine league goals in 37 games. Accordingly, after the season, he was given the Spanish Footballer of the Year award by both the Madrid
newspaper El País and the prestigious football magazine Don Balón
, being the only Atlético player to win both awards during one season, and scored a career-best 14 goals in the following campaign.
After four seasons at Atlético, Caminero re-joined Valladolid, where he ended his active playing career in 2004, after the team's top level relegation. In his final years, he further enhanced his versatility by playing in the sweeper position.
After his retirement, Caminero was installed as the team's sports director
. He left the position citing personal reasons after 2007–08. In May 2011, he returned to Alético, in the same predicament.
debut on 8 September 1993, in a 2–0 friendly win against Chile
.
Later, he represented Spain at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
in the United States
, where he was the nation's leading scorer at three (netting twice against Bolivia
in a 3–1 win) and also in UEFA Euro 1996 in England
, where he scored a late equalizer against France
. Overall, he scored eight goals in 21 caps
.
. Spanish movie director Pedro Almodóvar
included his dribbling against FC Barcelona
's defender Miguel Ángel Nadal
in his 1997 film Live Flesh (Carne trémula
).
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 midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Arguably one of the best Spanish footballers of the 1990s, Caminero was able to play in any midfield position, in the middle or in the wings. Having played in 408 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 14 seasons (57 goals), he possessed a vast array of skills: dribble, shot and physique, and his career was almost exclusively 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....
and Atlético Madrid.
Caminero 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...
in 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...
and one European Championship
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...
, scoring in both tournaments.
Club career
After unsuccessfully emerging through the ranks 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...
, Caminero joined 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....
for 1989–90, helping the side barely avoid relegation. He netted his first 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...
goal in the following season, in a 3–1 home win 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...
on 16 December 1990.
The peak of Caminero's career took place from 1993–94, when he moved to Atlético de Madrid. He was a key member of the squad that won an historical double in 1995–96, contributing with nine league goals in 37 games. Accordingly, after the season, he was given the Spanish Footballer of the Year award by both the 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...
newspaper El País and the prestigious football magazine Don Balón
Don Balón
Don Balón was a Spanish weekly sports magazine specialising in Spanish and international football. It was distributed on five continents....
, being the only Atlético player to win both awards during one season, and scored a career-best 14 goals in the following campaign.
After four seasons at Atlético, Caminero re-joined Valladolid, where he ended his active playing career in 2004, after the team's top level relegation. In his final years, he further enhanced his versatility by playing in the sweeper position.
After his retirement, Caminero was installed as the team's sports director
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...
. He left the position citing personal reasons after 2007–08. In May 2011, he returned to Alético, in the same predicament.
International career
Caminero made his 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 on 8 September 1993, in a 2–0 friendly win against Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
.
Later, he represented Spain at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he was the nation's leading scorer at three (netting twice against Bolivia
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
in a 3–1 win) and also in UEFA Euro 1996 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...
, where he scored a late equalizer against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. Overall, he scored eight goals in 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...
.
Club
- 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
- Spanish League
Arrest
In June 2009, Caminero was arrested for possible connections to drug traffic operations, with a further 30 people being taken into custody for interrogation. He was released upon the reading of his rights.Caminero in popular culture
Caminero's football genius also made it to the silver screenSilver screen
A silver screen, also known as a silver lenticular screen, is a type of projection screen that was popular in the early years of the motion picture industry and passed into popular usage as a metonym for the cinema industry...
. Spanish movie director Pedro Almodóvar
Pedro Almodóvar
Pedro Almodóvar Caballero is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer.Almodóvar is arguably the most successful and internationally known Spanish filmmaker of his generation. His films, marked by complex narratives, employ the codes of melodrama and use elements of pop culture, popular...
included his dribbling 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....
's defender Miguel Ángel Nadal
Miguel Ángel Nadal
Miguel Ángel Nadal Homar is a retired Spanish footballer and current coach.Nicknamed The Beast, Nadal based his game in a tremendous physical display, also being adaptable to various defender and midfielder positions....
in his 1997 film Live Flesh (Carne trémula
Carne trémula
Live Flesh is a 1997 Spanish romantic drama thriller film, written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Liberto Rabal, Javier Bardem, and Francesca Neri...
).