Josep Moratalla
Encyclopedia
Josep Moratalla Claramunt (born 1 October 1958 in Esparreguera
, Barcelona, Catalonia
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a central defender.
in 1981 at nearly 23. He played eight seasons with the Catalonia
and national powerhouse, but only appeared 19 times in La Liga
in his first four years combined, barred by José Ramón Alexanko
and Migueli
; for instance, when the Blaugrana won the league in 1984–85, he only totalled 104 minutes, in two matches.
Even though used rarely in his first seasons, Moratalla started in the 1982 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, a 2–1 win against Standard Liège
at the Camp Nou
, and was a used substitute for Barcelona in the 1986 European Cup Final
, lost in a penalty shootout to FC Steaua Bucureşti.
He played with Barça until 1988, being first-choice in his final two years and adding the Spanish Cup
to his trophy cabinet in his final year. Moratalla retired from football at only 31, after two seasons in the second division
with another team in Catalonia, UE Figueres
. Afterwards, he had a brief spell in management, with amateurs CE Europa
, in the same region.
Esparreguera
Esparreguera is a town in Catalonia, in the province of Barcelona, Spain. It is situated in the comarca of el Baix Llobregat....
, Barcelona, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
) is a retired 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 played as a central defender.
Football career
Moratalla signed for FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in 1981 at nearly 23. He played eight seasons with the Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and national powerhouse, but only appeared 19 times in 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...
in his first four years combined, barred by José Ramón Alexanko
José Ramón Alexanko
José Ramón Alexanko Ventosa , also referred to as Alesanco or Alexanco, is a retired Spanish footballer and manager....
and Migueli
Migueli
Miguel Bernardo Bianquetti , aka Migueli, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central defender....
; for instance, when the Blaugrana won the league in 1984–85, he only totalled 104 minutes, in two matches.
Even though used rarely in his first seasons, Moratalla started in the 1982 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, a 2–1 win against Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
at the Camp Nou
Camp Nou
Camp Nou , sometimes called "the Nou Camp" in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957....
, and was a used substitute for Barcelona in the 1986 European Cup Final
1986 European Cup Final
The 1986 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, on 7 May 1986, that saw Steaua Bucureşti of Romania defeat Barcelona of Spain in an extraordinary penalty shoot out, after 120 minutes of play could not separate the two sides...
, lost in a penalty shootout to FC Steaua Bucureşti.
He played with Barça until 1988, being first-choice in his final two years and adding the Spanish Cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
to his trophy cabinet in his final year. Moratalla retired from football at only 31, after two seasons 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:...
with another team in Catalonia, UE Figueres
UE Figueres
Unió Esportiva Figueres is a Spanish football team based in Figueres, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1919 and refounded in 2007, it plays in Primera Catalana, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Vilatenim, with a seating capacity of 9,472.-History:Figueres was first...
. Afterwards, he had a brief spell in management, with amateurs CE Europa
CE Europa
Club Esportiu Europa is a Spanish/Catalan sports club, based in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. The club is best known for its football team who in 1928, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were founder members of La Liga. During the late 1990s they won the Copa Catalunya...
, in the same region.
Honours
- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1981–82 - Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 1984–85 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1982–83, 1987–88; Runner-up 1983–84, 1985–86 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 1983; Runner-up 1985 - Spanish League CupCopa de la LigaThe Copa de la Liga was a Spanish football tournament created in 1982.Due to time constraints, saturation and club pressure, the competition only lasted four years, being cancelled in 1986...
: 1982–83, 1985–86 - European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe 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...
: Runner-up 1985–86