José Mari (footballer, born 1971)

Born in Logroño, La Rioja, José Mari was trained in the youth system of CA Osasuna and began his senior career with the reserves in Segunda División B, his first match taking place towards the end of 1988–89. He spent another two seasons at that level, but also made his La Liga debut for the first team under manager Pedro María Zabalza, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–0 home win against Real Betis just prior to his 20th birthday.[1]

José Mari began 1991–92 with the B-side, but by October he was part of the main squad. At the end of the campaign he had started four league games and appeared from the bench in another four, and also made his European bow on 22 October 1991 when he played the last eight minutes in place of Miguel Sola in a 0–0 home draw against VfB Stuttgart.[2]

José Mari was confirmed as a first-team member for 1992–93, featuring in 20 matches (although he only played 90 minutes seven times) and scoring his first goal in a 1–3 home loss to RCD Español.[3] He was even more prominent the next season, but broke his ankle in March 1994 and Osasuna were eventually relegated in last place.[4]

José Mari initially remained in Pamplona and played in Segunda División until January 1995, when he was signed by FC Barcelona for 150 million pesetas (equivalent to around GB£720,000 at the time) and returned to the top level on a three-year contract.[5] He later stated that the move had been close to completion the previous year, but his serious injury led to its delay.

Once at Camp Nou, José Mari was immediately involved in the matchday squads under Johan Cruijff, starting seven of the remaining league games. He also featured in both legs of a UEFA Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain F.C. which ended in elimination, where he missed a good chance to score a vital away goal in France, angering the Dutch coach;[6] in the domestic league, the side could only rank fourth.

In the 1995 summer transfer window, José Mari joined Betis – who had just finished above Barça in the table – for barely a third of his purchase price, 60m ptas (£317,000), agreeing to a six-year deal. He was one of three Barcelona players transferred in discounted deals along with Óscar Arpón and former Osasuna teammate Francisco Sánchez Jara, in the wake of Ángel Cuéllar's move in the opposite direction via his buyout clause.[7]

During his only year at the Estadio Benito Villamarín, José Mari appeared in 23 games overall as Lorenzo Serra Ferrer's side went on to finish eighth. Subsequently, he left Seville and moved to Athletic Bilbao for a transfer fee of around £1.2 million, arranged by controversial club president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera without the knowledge of the manager.[4]

José Mari signed a four-year contract at Athletic, being eligible under their recruitment policy due to learning his skills at a club in the region. A teammate from his time with Osasuna youths, Iñigo Larrainzar, was already playing there.

In his first season – at the outset of the Luis Fernández managerial era – José Mari was a regular fixture (33 games, 28 starts), scoring the winning goal on his debut against Rayo Vallecano[8] and netting the equaliser in an eventual 2–1 home victory over his former side Barcelona on 23 November 1996.[9] His status thereafter diminished to squad member, and he only appeared in a combined 35 matches in the next three years.[7]

José Mari did play the whole game in a crucial win over Zaragoza in May 1998 which ensured that Athletic finished runners-up, which he described as "the most intense game I played in".[4] This success enabled him to appear once more in the Champions League, where he started a group phase clash against Rosenborg BK.[10]

José Mari departed from Bilbao on 30 June 2000 at the end of his contract, aged 29. He made 77 official appearances during his four-year tenure.

Afterwards, José Mari was a regular in the second tier with both CD Leganés and Burgos CF, being administratively relegated with the latter. He then dropped down one further level to play with CF Reus Deportiu, but a worsening back injury marred his short return to Catalonia, as his team was also relegated.[4]