Juan Ignacio Martínez
Encyclopedia
Juan Ignacio Martínez Jiménez (born 24 June 1964 in Rabasa, Alicante
, Valencian Community
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a right defender, and the current manager of Levante UD
.
and Elche CF
, Martínez competed only at amateur level during his career, never in higher than the fourth division
. He played for Elche CF Ilicitano, CD Benicarló, UD Melilla
- due to his compulsory military service
- Alicante, UD Vall de Uxó
, UD Almansa
and FC Torrevieja
.
Martínez ended his career in 1990, at only 26.
in the fourth level, which he led to three consecutive playoff appearances, albeit without any promotion.
In 2005–06, Martínez led FC Cartagena
to the first position in division three
, but again fell short in the second stage, thus missing on promotion. He first reached the professionals - second level
- in the 2007–08 season, coaching UD Salamanca
to a final 7th place.
After another campaign in the second division, with Albacete Balompié
, Martínez returned to Cartagena (freshly returned to the category) and led the Murcian
to the fifth position in his first year
and the 13th in his second
.
Affectionately known as "JIM" (his full name's initials), he was appointed coach at La Liga
outfit Levante UD
on 9 June 2011, replacing Getafe CF
-bound Luis García
. After two draws in the first two rounds, Martínez coached the team to seven consecutive wins - including a 1–0 home triumph against Real Madrid
- which meant it led the league during several rounds.
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
) 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 right defender, and the current manager of Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
.
Playing career
After playing youth football for both Alicante CFAlicante CF
Alicante Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1918, it plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home matches at Ciudad Deportiva Villafranqueza.-History:...
and Elche CF
Elche CF
Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with a capacity of 38,750 seats.-Recent seasons:-Season to...
, Martínez competed only at amateur level during his career, never in higher than the fourth division
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
. He played for Elche CF Ilicitano, CD Benicarló, UD Melilla
UD Melilla
Union Deportiva Melilla is a Spanish football team based in the autonomous city of Melilla. Founded in 1943 and refounded in 1976, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal Álvarez Claro, with a 12,000-seat capacity.-History:Unión Deportiva...
- due to his compulsory military service
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
- Alicante, UD Vall de Uxó
UD Vall de Uxó
Unión Deportiva Vall de Uxó is a football team based in La Vall d'Uixó, in Castellón province, autonomous community of Valencian Community, Spain. Founded in 1975, it plays in Regional Preferente. Its stadium is José Mangriñán, which has a capacity of 4,000 seats.-History:Unión Deportiva Vall de...
, UD Almansa
UD Almansa
Unión Deportiva Almansa is a Spanish football team based in Almansa, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded in 1992, it plays in Tercera División - Group 18, holding home games at Polideportivo Municipal de Almansa, with a capacity of 5,500 seats.-Season to season:---------*1...
and FC Torrevieja
FC Torrevieja
Fútbol Club Torrevieja is a Spanish football team based in Torrevieja, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1993, it plays in Tercera División - Group 6, holding home games at Estadio Vicente García, with a capacity of 8,000 seats.-History:...
.
Martínez ended his career in 1990, at only 26.
Coaching career
Martínez began managing in 1997, his first stop being precisely Alicante. In the following years, he coached several teams in the lower leagues - also working in youth and women's football - his longest spell being four years with AD Mar Menor-San JavierAD Mar Menor-San Javier
Agrupación Deportiva Mar Menor-San Javier was a Spanish football team based in San Javier, in the Region of Murcia. Founded in 1980, it last played in Tercera División - Group 13, holding home matches at Estadio Pitín, with a capacity of 3,000 seats....
in the fourth level, which he led to three consecutive playoff appearances, albeit without any promotion.
In 2005–06, Martínez led FC Cartagena
FC Cartagena
Fútbol Club Cartagena is a Spanish football team based in Cartagena, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 1995, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Cartagonova, with a capacity of 15,105 spectators....
to the first position in division three
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, but again fell short in the second stage, thus missing on promotion. He first reached the professionals - second level
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:...
- in the 2007–08 season, coaching UD Salamanca
UD Salamanca
Unión Deportiva Salamanca, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 16 March 1923, it currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 2....
to a final 7th place.
After another campaign in the second division, with Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded on August 2, 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a 17,300-seat capacity.-History:The club was founded...
, Martínez returned to Cartagena (freshly returned to the category) and led the Murcian
Region of Murcia
The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast....
to the fifth position in his first year
2009–10 Segunda División
The 2009–10 Segunda División was made up of the following teams:-League table:||rowspan=15 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-2009–10 Results:To read this table, the home team is listed in the left-hand column....
and the 13th in his second
2010–11 Segunda División
-Personnel and sponsorship:-Managerial changes:-League table:||style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=11 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-Positions by round:Source: -Results:...
.
Affectionately known as "JIM" (his full name's initials), he was appointed coach at 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...
outfit Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
on 9 June 2011, replacing Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
-bound Luis García
Luis García Plaza
Luis García Plaza is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central defender, and the current manager of Getafe CF.-Playing career:In his career, García never played in higher than Segunda División B...
. After two draws in the first two rounds, Martínez coached the team to seven consecutive wins - including a 1–0 home triumph against Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
- which meant it led the league during several rounds.