Juan Carlos Unzué
Encyclopedia
Juan Carlos Unzué Labiano (born 22 April 1967) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
A complete player with reflexes and agility, he endured a 17-year professional career, namely representing Sevilla FC
– nearly 300 official appearances, he also spent two seasons at FC Barcelona
, without no impact – then went on to work extensively as a goalkeepers' manager.
, Navarre
, Unzué came through the ranks of hometown Club Atlético Osasuna
, but could not break into the first team. Moving to La Liga
giants FC Barcelona
in 1988, more of the same, as he was barred by legendary Andoni Zubizarreta
.
Joining Sevilla FC
for 1990–91, he blossomed as a top flight player, rarely missing a game in his first five seasons. As the Andalusia
ns were relegated in 1996–97, he moved to CD Tenerife
for a further two seasons.
After two gameless years at Real Oviedo
, as backup to local youngster Esteban
, Unzué returned to his first club, being the starter in his first year and second-choice in the 2002–03 season. He retired from the game at 36, after having helped the Navarre
se reach the last-four in the domestic cup.
Unzué immediately returned to the Camp Nou
, as the goalkeeping coach of the Frank Rijkaard
-led club. After the Dutch
left five years later, he retained his position, under Josep Guardiola
.
On 17 June 2010, after five years with Barcelona, Unzué had his first head coach experience, joining Segunda División
team CD Numancia
. Only one year after, he returned to his previous position, replacing Carles Busquets
.
Spain U20
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 goalkeeper.
A complete player with reflexes and agility, he endured a 17-year professional career, namely representing Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
– nearly 300 official appearances, he also spent two seasons at FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, without no impact – then went on to work extensively as a goalkeepers' manager.
Football career
Born in PamplonaPamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
, Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, Unzué came through the ranks of hometown Club Atlético Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
, but could not break into the first team. Moving to 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...
giants FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in 1988, more of the same, as he was barred by legendary Andoni Zubizarreta
Andoni Zubizarreta
Andoni Zubizarreta Urreta is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.The all-time most capped player for the Spanish national team for several years, he played with individual and team success for Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona , appearing in more than 950...
.
Joining Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
for 1990–91, he blossomed as a top flight player, rarely missing a game in his first five seasons. As the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns were relegated in 1996–97, he moved to CD Tenerife
CD Tenerife
Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, with a 24,000-seat capacity.-History:Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in...
for a further two seasons.
After two gameless years at Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
, as backup to local youngster Esteban
Esteban Andrés Suárez
Esteban Andrés Suárez, simply Esteban is a Spanish footballer who plays for UD Almería as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
, Unzué returned to his first club, being the starter in his first year and second-choice in the 2002–03 season. He retired from the game at 36, after having helped the Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
se reach the last-four in the domestic cup.
Unzué immediately returned to 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....
, as the goalkeeping coach of the Frank Rijkaard
Frank Rijkaard
Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard is a Dutch football manager of Dutch and Surinamese descent and former player. Rijkaard has played for Ajax, Real Zaragoza and Milan, and represented his national side 73 times, scoring 10 goals. In his coaching career, he has been at the helm of the Dutch national side,...
-led club. After the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
left five years later, he retained his position, under Josep Guardiola
Josep Guardiola
Josep "Pep" Guardiola i Sala , is a Spanish football manager and former player. Guardiola played as a defensive midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career with FC Barcelona, whom he currently manages. He was part of Johan Cruyff's dream team that won Barcelona's first European Cup....
.
On 17 June 2010, after five years with Barcelona, Unzué had his first head coach experience, joining Segunda División
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:...
team CD Numancia
CD Numancia
Club Deportivo Numancia de Soria, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 9 April 1945, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Nuevo Estadio Los Pajaritos, with a 10,200-seat capacity.Besides football it has other...
. Only one year after, he returned to his previous position, replacing Carles Busquets
Carles Busquets
Carles Busquets Barroso is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper, mostly for FC Barcelona.-Football career:...
.
Honours
Barcelona- 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...
: 1988–89 - 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 ....
: 1989–90
Spain U20
- FIFA U-20 World CupFIFA U-20 World CupThe FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
: Runner-up 19851985 FIFA World Youth ChampionshipThe 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship, the ninth edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in the Soviet Union from August 24 to September 7, 1985. The tournament took place in eight venues — Baku, Yerevan, Leningrad, Minsk, Moscow, Hoktemberyan, Tbilissi and Sumqayit — where a total...