Juan Manuel Asensi

Born in Alicante, Valencian Community, Asensi began his career at local Elche – at the time in La Liga – before joining Barcelona in 1970, for 80 million pesetas. During his time at the club, he was instrumental in helping the Catalans win the league in 1974 (34 matches, 11 goals, third-best in squad), also adding the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1979 and scoring in the final held in Basel. After only ten matches in the 1980–81 season, but 484 competitive appearances with 124 goals, 32-year-old Asensi moved to Mexico where he would play until his retirement in 1983. He had two brief spells at coaching, with Barcelona's youth sides and lowly Orihuela.

Asensi represented Spain 41 times, scoring seven goals. His debut came on 23 February 1969 in a 1–2 loss against Belgium for the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification, as the country did not make it to the final stages. Asensi was picked for the squads at the 1978 World Cup and UEFA Euro 1980 – his last international was played in the latter competition, also against Belgium (and also 1–2 defeat) – and also competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

International goals

Barcelona

La Liga: 1973–74 Copa del Rey: 1970–71, 1977–78, 1980–81 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1978–79 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: 1971 Trophy Play-Off