Jesús Seba

Zaragoza

Seba was born in Zaragoza, Aragon. He made his professional – and La Liga – debut at the age of 18 for local Real Zaragoza, in a 1–1 draw against Real Sociedad. He would garner praise for his early performances, ultimately leading to a call-up for the Spain under-21 team – notably scoring twice against Frem in the 1992–93 UEFA Cup (eventual 6–1 aggregate win). However, in March 1993, Seba suffered a serious ankle tear when attempting a turn in a Copa del Rey match. The injury would stunt his development and later prove a turning point in his career, as he would figure sparingly in top-flight football in the following seasons. After a loan in Segunda División with Villarreal, Seba was released by Zaragoza and moved on a free transfer to England's Wigan Athletic, for the start of the 1995–96 campaign.

Wigan Athletic

Seba came to Wigan as one of the 'Three Amigos', alongside Roberto Martínez – also his teammate at Zaragoza – and Isidro Díaz, drafted in by new chairman Dave Whelan in the summer of 1995; the signings were a real coup for an English Third Division side, especially considering Football League teams rarely searched for talent abroad in the mid-90s and that Seba was also an under-21 international. 'Jesus is a Wiganer' was an early joke at the club, and Spanish flags adorned Springfield Park on matchdays as Spanish fever gripped the town's football supporters. Seba scored his first goal with his first touch in a pre-season friendly, and…

As well as playing three matches for the Spanish under-21s, Seba appeared twice for the Aragon autonomous side, against Castile and León in 2002 and Chile on 28 December 2006. The latter, a 1–0 victory, was their first fixture against a FIFA-accredited international team.

Seba was married with two daughters, and his former teammates Martínez and Xavi Aguado ranked amongst his closest friends.