Juan Velasco Damas
Encyclopedia
Juan Velasco Damas is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a right defender.
Playing for seven different clubs during his professional career, he appeared in 213 matches in his country's top division
, scoring one goal. Velasco represented Spain
at Euro 2000, and also competed abroad in England
and Greece
.
, appearing in 13 La Liga
matches in 1996–97, a season which ended in relegation: his league debut occurred on 5 March 1997, in a 0–2 away loss against Rayo Vallecano
. In the following two years, he amassed nearly 80 official appearances, contributing prominently in the second as the Andalusia
ns returned to the top level.
After helping Sevilla promote, Velasco joined Celta de Vigo
, experiencing his most successful period: in the 2002–03 season, he appeared in 31 games to help the Galicians qualify for the first time ever to the UEFA Champions League
; in the following year, however, he saw his team suffer relegation.
Velasco played the following three years with Atlético de Madrid (two seasons) and RCD Espanyol
(one), averaging 22 games per campaign. On 18 February 2008, after spending the first months of the new campaign without a club, he signed a three-month contract with English second division
side Norwich City
, following a successful trial. At the end of the season, however, he left for Panthrakikos FC
, freshly promoted to Greece
's top division.
After one year 1/2 of relative playing time, Velasco moved teams in January 2010, but stayed in the country, signing with Larissa FC. He retired in June of the following year, aged 34.
, his debut coming on 26 January 2000 in a 3–0 friendly
win over Poland
(Cartagena
). Selected for UEFA Euro 2000, he did not leave the bench.
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.
Playing for seven different clubs during his professional career, he appeared in 213 matches in his country's top division
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...
, scoring one goal. Velasco represented Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
at Euro 2000, and also competed abroad in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Club career
Velasco started representing professionally local giants Sevilla FCSevilla 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...
, appearing in 13 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...
matches in 1996–97, a season which ended in relegation: his league debut occurred on 5 March 1997, in a 0–2 away loss against Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
. In the following two years, he amassed nearly 80 official appearances, contributing prominently in the second 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 returned to the top level.
After helping Sevilla promote, Velasco joined Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
, experiencing his most successful period: in the 2002–03 season, he appeared in 31 games to help the Galicians qualify for the first time ever to the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The 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...
; in the following year, however, he saw his team suffer relegation.
Velasco played the following three years with Atlético de Madrid (two seasons) and RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
(one), averaging 22 games per campaign. On 18 February 2008, after spending the first months of the new campaign without a club, he signed a three-month contract with English second division
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, following a successful trial. At the end of the season, however, he left for Panthrakikos FC
Panthrakikos F.C.
Panthrakikos is a football club in Komotini of Thrace in North Eastern Greece founded in 1963. The club competed in Super League Greece during the season 2008–2009 for the first time.-History:The early years, 1963-2001...
, freshly promoted to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
's top division.
After one year 1/2 of relative playing time, Velasco moved teams in January 2010, but stayed in the country, signing with Larissa FC. He retired in June of the following year, aged 34.
International career
Velasco was capped five times by SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, his debut coming on 26 January 2000 in a 3–0 friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
win over Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
(Cartagena
Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
). Selected for UEFA Euro 2000, he did not leave the bench.