Juanfran

Born in Valencia, Valencian Community, Juanfran started his professional career at Levante UD, where he attracted the attention of local giants Valencia CF, signing after three seasons for €1 million. On 31 August 1997 he played his first La Liga game, a 2–1 away loss against RCD Mallorca, and went on to make 54 competitive appearances for the Che. Juanfran joined RC Celta de Vigo prior to the 1999–2000 campaign for €4 million, where he was an undisputed starter in a Galician team that appeared in the UEFA Cup and the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League (he scored in a 1–1 draw at Club Brugge KV to progress to the knockout rounds of the latter competition). However, in 2003–04, they would also be relegated to Segunda División. After leaving Celta in 2004, Juanfran joined Turkish club Beşiktaş JK, but soon fell out of favour with team management – the coach who brought him to Istanbul, compatriot Vicente del Bosque, was dismissed midway through the season – and would spend the following campaign on loan to Dutch side AFC Ajax. In 2006–07, Juanfran returned to Spain and joined Real Zaragoza for €1.5 million, being a key defensive element to qualify for the UEFA Cup in that first year. The next season, the player struggled individually and collectively, and the Aragonese returned to the second division after a five-year stint. Juanfran agreed to sign a two-year deal with AEK Athens F.C. on 30 July 2008, earning approximately €1 million per season. He was used regularly during his…

Juanfran earned 11 caps for Spain, making his debut in a friendly with Italy on 29 March 2000 after impressive displays at Celta. Subsequently, he was included in the nation's 2002 FIFA World Cup squad, and appeared in three matches out of five. Juanfran's last game was an UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier against Northern Ireland in June 2003, playing the whole 90 minutes of a 0–0 away draw.

On 10 December 2018, in an interview with Marca, Juanfran revealed he had signed for EFL Championship club Aston Villa as a scout, focusing primarily on Spain and Portugal. He stated "it is a privilege to work for a club like Aston Villa. Everyone identifies it as a big club in England and it’s a dream come true." Juanfran was hired in his first managerial job on 30 June 2020, succeeding Curro Torres at a CD Lugo team in the second division's relegation zone. His debut the following day was a 3–1 home win over CD Numancia; he managed to narrowly avoid relegation, but was dismissed on 11 October after four losses in the first five matches of the new campaign. On 10 April 2023, Juanfran returned to working in the same division at SD Ponferradina. He was their third coach of the season, tasked with its final seven matches, and left on 16 June after failing to prevent relegation. Juanfran returned to Ponfe on 19 March 2024, with the club now in the Primera Federación, on a deal until the end of the campaign. Two years later, he was appointed at CD Arenteiro in the same league.

Getafe

Born in Madrid, Juanfran joined local Getafe CF's youth ranks aged 17, making his senior debut in 2007 with the reserves in the Tercera División. On 12 March 2008 he played his first official game with the first team, coming on as a substitute for Jaime Gavilán in the last minutes of a 1–0 home win against S.L. Benfica in the round of 16 of the UEFA Cup (3–1 aggregate win). His first La Liga appearance came 11 days later, also from the bench, in a 1–0 loss at Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid

After one year with Villarreal CF's reserves in the Segunda División B, which ended in promotion, a first-ever for the team, Juanfran returned to his hometown and signed with Real Madrid. He spent the vast majority of his first seasons with the club with Real Madrid Castilla, also in the third tier. Juanfran made his debut with the first team on 2 May 2010, replacing Fernando Gago in a home league fixture against CA Osasuna, with five minutes to go: the score was then at 2–2, but the Merengues eventually won 3–2 thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo goal.

Betis

In early June 2013, Juanfran agreed to join Real Betis on a free transfer. He scored his first goal in the Spanish top flight on 11 May of the following year, in a 4–3 home victory over Real Valladolid, but the Andalusians were relegated as last.

Deportivo

On 1 September 2014, Juanfran moved to Deportivo de La Coruña in a season-long loan deal and also agreed a contract with Watford, with the…

Levante

Segunda División B: 1995–96 Valencia

Copa del Rey: 1998–99 UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1998 Celta

UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2000 Ajax

KNVB Cup: 2005–06 AEK

Greek Football Cup runner-up: 2008–09

Real Madrid

Copa del Rey: 2010–11 Real Madrid Castilla

Segunda División B: 2011–12