Juan Carlos (footballer, born 1945)

Juan Carlos Pérez López (14 February 1945 – 16 January 2012), known as Juan Carlos, was a Spanish footballer who played as a midfielder.

Juan Carlos
Personal information
Full name Juan Carlos Pérez López
Date of birth (1945-02-14)14 February 1945
Place of birth Santander, Spain
Date of death 16 January 2012(2012-01-16) (aged 66)
Place of death Santander, Spain
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Toluca
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1964–1966 Rayo Cantabria
1965–1966 → Gimnástica (loan)
1966–1968 Racing Santander 34 (3)
1968–1975 Barcelona 163 (17)
1975–1978 Racing Santander 75 (5)
Total 272 (25)
International career
1973–1974 Spain 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

His 14-year professional career was closely associated with Racing de Santander and Barcelona, having captained both clubs and appeared in 238 La Liga games over the course of ten seasons (22 goals scored).

Club career

Born in Santander, Cantabria, Juan Carlos started his professional career with local Racing de Santander after being promoted from its reserve side, Rayo Cantabria, in early 1966. He played two full seasons with the team, being relegated from Segunda División in 1968.

In the following off-season, Juan Carlos signed with La Liga powerhouse FC Barcelona, making his debut in the competition on 24 November 1968 in a 1–0 home win against RCD Español.[1] He only totalled 19 league appearances in his first two campaigns (four goals), mainly due to injuries.

Subsequently, Juan Carlos became a first-team regular, also managing to be captain of a team which also included Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and Carles Rexach. In 1973–74 he won the national championship – his second major trophy with the Catalans – contributing a career-best seven goals in 34 games, including the fourth in a 5–0 win at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium over Real Madrid.[2][3]

In the 1975 summer, Juan Carlos returned to his previous club, now in the top division, playing a further three seasons. On 7 May 1978 he appeared in his last game, scoring in a 1–0 win against Sporting de Gijón which certified Racing's permanence in the competition.[4]

International career

Juan Carlos earned two caps for Spain, over a three-month period. His debut arrived on 24 November 1973 in a friendly with West Germany, playing 45 minutes in the 1–2 loss in Stuttgart.[5]

Death

Juan Carlos died on 16 January 2012 at the age of 66, in his hometown of Santander, after a long battle with illness.[4][6]

References
  1. Farreras, Martí (25 November 1968). "1–0: Mal partido con innegable superioridad barcelonista" [1–0: Poor match as Barcelona men were superior by far]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  2. Farreras, Martí (18 February 1974). "0–5: Por Madrid pasó un equipo con aires de campeonísimo" [0–5: A team looking very champion walked by Madrid]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  3. "Muere Juan Carlos Pérez, capitán del Barça 1973/74" [Juan Carlos Pérez, captain of 1973/74's Barça, dies] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  4. "Fallece Juan Carlos, capitán del Barça de Cruyff" [Juan Carlos, captain of Cruyff's Barça, dies]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 16 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  5. Rovira, Ramón (25 November 1973). "2–1: Alemania batió por la mínima a España" [2–1: Germany beat Spain by the odd goal]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  6. "Mor Juan Carlos Pérez López, el capità del Barça que va guanyar la Lliga de l'any 1974" [Juan Carlos Pérez López, captain of Barça that won the 1974 league, dies] (in Catalan). Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
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