Juan Miguel "Juanmi" Gelabert Margüello (born 19 September 1972), sometimes known as just Juanmi, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender or a left back.

Juanmi Gelabert
Personal information
Full name Juan Miguel Gelabert Margüello
Date of birth (1972-09-19) 19 September 1972 (age 52)
Place of birth Capdepera, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
CE Escolar
Mallorca
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1995 Palencia 80 (3)
1991–1992Venta Baños (loan)
1995–1998 Elche 113 (1)
1998–2000 Hércules 54 (3)
2000–2001 Recreativo 40 (0)
2001–2003 Sevilla 23 (0)
2003–2005 Córdoba 52 (0)
2005–2007 Sporting Gijón 61 (0)
Total 423 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career

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Born in Capdepera, Majorca, Balearic Islands, Gelabert played five of his first seven years as a senior in the third division, his only season in the second level being 1997–98 with Elche CF (39 games, all starts, team relegation). In the following campaign he signed for Valencian neighbours Hércules CF – in the same category – and met the same fate.[1]

In 2000–01, Gelabert returned to division two with Recreativo de Huelva. His solid performances attracted the attention of another Andalusian club, Sevilla CF, which had promoted to La Liga in precisely that season, but he was used sparingly during his spell with his new team, only playing in five games in his second year.

Gelabert played his final four seasons as a professional in the second tier, with Córdoba CF and Sporting de Gijón. In 2007, after having been hit by a ball in his left eye in a match against Cádiz CF, he was forced to retired from football, at the age of 34.[2] He immediately began working towards obtaining his coaching license and as a director of football, adding some appearances as a sports commentator.

In the 2011–12 season, Gelabert returned to Hércules as head of the youth ranks.[3]

Personal life

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Gelabert's son César is also a footballer.[4] A midfielder, he was groomed at Real Madrid.

References

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  1. ^ "Juanmi de paso hacia primera" [Juanmi on his way to the first] (in Spanish). El Rincón de Eugenio. Retrieved 25 January 2012.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Retirado por un balonazo" [Retired by a football]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 26 June 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Con parecernos al Barça en un 10% me conformo" [If we resemble Barca 10% i am a happy man]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 26 June 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  4. ^ "El resurgir de Gelabert, el mirlo que se rompió las dos rodillas" [The resurgence of Gelabert, the blackbird that broke both knees] (in Spanish). Relevo. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
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