Toché Verdú
Encyclopedia
José Verdú Nicolás, aka Toché (born 1 January 1983 in Santomera
, Murcia
), is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Panathinaikos FC
in Greece
, as a striker.
, making his first team debut in 2003–04, in a 0–0 home draw against Deportivo de La Coruña
. The following season
he was loaned to CD Numancia
, where he appeared in only five matches as the side from Soria
was eventually relegated from La Liga
, although he was seriously injured during the campaign.
Toché spent the following seasons on loan at Hércules CF
and Real Valladolid
(both in the second division
), returning to Numancia for 2007–08, and appearing sporadically as it achieved top flight promotion.
On 30 December 2008, after having taken almost no part in the top division season, Toché left Numancia for level two team Albacete Balompié
, signing a contract for the rest of the season and the next one.
On 27 August 2009, however, he moved teams again, joining promoted FC Cartagena
. He had a breakthrough season in 2009–10
, as the Murcian
side nearly achieved a second consecutive promotion, only missing two league matches (3,317 minutes) and ranking in the Pichichi Trophy's top three.
On 19 July 2011, after netting a further 16 league goals with Cartagena, Toché signed a three-year contract with Panathinaikos FC
in Greece
. He scored on his official debut for the team, making it 2–1 in an eventual 3–4 home loss against Odense Boldklub for the third qualifying round
of the UEFA Champions League
(4–5 aggregate loss).
Santomera
Santomera is a Spanish municipality in the autonomous community of Murcia. It has a population of 13,919 and an area of 44.2 km².-External links:*...
, Murcia
Region of Murcia
The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast....
), is a 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 plays for Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, as a striker.
Football career
Toché came up through the ranks of Atlético de MadridAtlético 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...
, making his first team debut in 2003–04, in a 0–0 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...
. The following season
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
he was loaned to CD Numancia
CD Numancia
Club Deportivo Numancia de Soria, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 9 April 1945, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Nuevo Estadio Los Pajaritos, with a 10,200-seat capacity.Besides football it has other...
, where he appeared in only five matches as the side from Soria
Soria
Soria is a city in north-central Spain, the capital of the province of Soria in the autonomous community of Castile and León. , the municipality has a population of c. 39,500 inhabitants, nearly 40% of the population of the province...
was eventually relegated from 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...
, although he was seriously injured during the campaign.
Toché spent the following seasons on loan 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...
and 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....
(both 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:...
), returning to Numancia for 2007–08, and appearing sporadically as it achieved top flight promotion.
On 30 December 2008, after having taken almost no part in the top division season, Toché left Numancia for level two team 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...
, signing a contract for the rest of the season and the next one.
On 27 August 2009, however, he moved teams again, joining promoted FC Cartagena
FC Cartagena
Fútbol Club Cartagena is a Spanish football team based in Cartagena, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 1995, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Cartagonova, with a capacity of 15,105 spectators....
. He had a breakthrough season in 2009–10
2009–10 Segunda División
The 2009–10 Segunda División was made up of the following teams:-League table:||rowspan=15 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-2009–10 Results:To read this table, the home team is listed in the left-hand column....
, as the Murcian
Region of Murcia
The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast....
side nearly achieved a second consecutive promotion, only missing two league matches (3,317 minutes) and ranking in the Pichichi Trophy's top three.
On 19 July 2011, after netting a further 16 league goals with Cartagena, Toché signed a three-year contract with Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. He scored on his official debut for the team, making it 2–1 in an eventual 3–4 home loss against Odense Boldklub for the third qualifying round
2011–12 UEFA Champions League
The 2011–12 UEFA Champions League is the 57th season of the European Cup, Europe's premier football tournament, and the 20th season in its current Champions League format. The final venue will be the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany...
of the 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...
(4–5 aggregate loss).