Juan Carlos Ablanedo
Encyclopedia
Juan Carlos Ablanedo Iglesias (born 2 September 1963 in Mieres, Asturias
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Due to his above-average reflexes, he was nicknamed El gatu (cat
), and represented local Sporting de Gijón
for almost 20 years as a professional.
. A product of the team's famed youth system, Mareo, he received his first-team debut on 2 January 1983, as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 home win over RCD Español
.
After two further appearances in the following season, Ablanedo became the Asturian
side's undisputed starter, totalling 399 La Liga
matches. In 1986–87, as Sporting finished fourth, he appeared in 42 contests (out of 44, as the league had a second stage for the top-six).
Ablanedo retired from football after 1998–99, with Sporting now in the second division
. He also had some serious injuries during his career, playing in only two games in his last season, and none in 1991–92. He was awarded three Zamora Trophies
(in 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1989–90).
, the first coming on 24 September 1986, in a 3–1 friendly
win over Greece
, in Gijón
. He would be a backup in both the 1986
and 1990
FIFA World Cup
s.
Previously, Ablanedo helped the nation's U21s
conquer the 1986 European Championship
.
Individual
Mieres, Asturias
Mieres is a municipality of Asturias, Spain with approximately 45,000 inhabitants. The municipality of Mieres is made up of the capital, Mieres del Camino and the villages of Baiña, Figaredo, Cenera, Loredo, Bustiello, La Peña, La Rebollada, Santullano, Santa Rosa, Seana, Ujo, Urbies, Valdecuna,...
) 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 goalkeeper.
Due to his above-average reflexes, he was nicknamed El gatu (cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
), and represented local Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
for almost 20 years as a professional.
Club career
During his career, Ablanedo played solely for Sporting de GijónSporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
. A product of the team's famed youth system, Mareo, he received his first-team debut on 2 January 1983, as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 home win over RCD Español
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
.
After two further appearances in the following season, Ablanedo became the Asturian
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
side's undisputed starter, totalling 399 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. In 1986–87, as Sporting finished fourth, he appeared in 42 contests (out of 44, as the league had a second stage for the top-six).
Ablanedo retired from football after 1998–99, with Sporting now in 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:...
. He also had some serious injuries during his career, playing in only two games in his last season, and none in 1991–92. He was awarded three Zamora Trophies
Ricardo Zamora Trophy
The Ricardo Zamora Trophy is a football award, established by Spanish newspaper MARCA in 1958. The award goes to the goalkeeper who has the lowest "goals-to-games" ratio. It is named after legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora....
(in 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1989–90).
International career
Ablanedo earned four caps for the Spain national football 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...
, the first coming on 24 September 1986, in a 3–1 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...
win over Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
, in Gijón
Gijón
Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
. He would be a backup in both the 1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
and 1990
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
FIFA 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...
s.
Previously, Ablanedo helped the nation's U21s
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...
conquer the 1986 European Championship
1986 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1986, which spanned two years , had 29 entrants. Spain U-21s won the competition after a penalty shootout, the first in the U-21 competition's history....
.
Honours
Spain U21- UEFA European Under-21 Football 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...
: 19861986 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 1986, which spanned two years , had 29 entrants. Spain U-21s won the competition after a penalty shootout, the first in the U-21 competition's history....
Individual
- Zamora TrophyRicardo Zamora TrophyThe Ricardo Zamora Trophy is a football award, established by Spanish newspaper MARCA in 1958. The award goes to the goalkeeper who has the lowest "goals-to-games" ratio. It is named after legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora....
: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1989–90