Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado, known as Melli (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmeʎi]), born 6 June 1984, is a Spanish footballer. A versatile defender, he can play as either a right back or a central defender.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado | ||
| Date of birth | (1984-06-06) 6 June 1984 (age 38) | ||
| Place of birth | Barbate, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1988–2001 | Betis | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2004 | Betis B | 58 | (1) |
| 2002 | → Poli Ejido (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2002–2010 | Betis | 177 | (4) |
| 2010–2011 | Tenerife | 25 | (1) |
| 2011–2013 | Gent | 59 | (3) |
| 2013–2014 | Sheriff | 23 | (3) |
| 2014–2015 | Ergotelis | 10 | (1) |
| 2015 | Simurq | 14 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Neftchi Baku | 26 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Reus | 12 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | Mirandés | 44 | (4) |
| National team | |||
| 2000–2001 | Spain U16 | 6 | (1) |
| 2001 | Spain U17 | 4 | (1) |
| 2002–2003 | Spain U19 | 8 | (0) |
| 2003 | Spain U20 | 9 | (0) |
| 2003–2006 | Spain U21 | 20 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 May 2019 | |||
He spent most of his professional career at Betis, for which he appeared in 215 competitive matches and won one Copa del Rey.
Born in Barbate, Cádiz, Melli joined Real Betis as a 14-year-old, and made his way up through the ranks until he reached the reserve team in 2001. He spent a short period on loan at Andalusia neighbours Polideportivo Ejido in the late stages of the 2001–02 season, with two appearances in the second division.
Melli scored his first career goal through a header from a Joaquín corner kick, against CA Osasuna on 18 September 2004 (2–3 away loss).[1] He also appeared in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup during the 2005–06 campaign: in the latter, he netted an essential goal at AZ Alkmaar, which allowed Betis to progress to the next round[2]– this came just one week after having scored two own goals against FC Barcelona, in a La Liga match at the Camp Nou.[3]
Melli won his first medal for Betis in the 2005 final of the Copa del Rey against Osasuna at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, on 11 June 2005, playing the full 90 minutes plus extra time in an eventual 2–1 win.[4] He continued to be a defensive presence in the following seasons for the Verdiblancos, playing an average of 25 league matches and suffering relegation in 2008–09.
In late August 2011, after another relegation, now with CD Tenerife (in the second level) whom he joined in summer 2010 – a second consecutive for the Canary Islands club – Melli moved abroad for the first time and signed a two-year contract for K.A.A. Gent in Belgium, joining compatriot César Arzo.[5] After leaving in 2013 he represented, in quick succession, FC Sheriff Tiraspol, Ergotelis FC, Simurq PIK[6] and Neftchi PFK, the latter two sides competing in the Azerbaijan Premier League.[7]
Following his release from Neftchi on 20 June 2016,[8] 32-year-old Meli returned to Spain and signed a one-year contract with CF Reus Deportiu.[9]
Melli represented Spain at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels. He made his debut for the latter on 29 April 2003 when he was 18, playing 18 minutes in a 1–0 win over Australia in Lorca,[10] and scored his only goal in another friendly, a 3–1 defeat of Scotland on 2 September 2004.[11]
In the run up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, senior team manager Luis Aragonés called up Melli to a get-together, however he was ultimately not part of the squad at the finals and never earned a full cap.[12]
Melli's nickname stemmed from the Spanish word mellizo (twin), as he himself was a twin. His brother Víctor was also a footballer, also being nicknamed Melli. A goalkeeper, he never played in higher than division three during his career.[13]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Betis | 2002–03[14] | La Liga | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003–04[14] | La Liga | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05[14] | La Liga | 29 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | ||
| 2005–06[14] | La Liga | 31 | 0 | 5[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 11[lower-alpha 3] | 1 | 47 | 1 | |
| 2006–07[14] | La Liga | 27 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08[14] | La Liga | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09[14] | La Liga | 26 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 30 | 1 | ||
| 2009–10[14] | Segunda División | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 2 | ||
| Total | 177 | 4 | 26 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 215 | 5 | ||
| Tenerife | 2010–11[14] | Segunda División | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 25 | 1 | |
| Gent | 2011–12[15] | Belgian Pro League | 37 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | 41 | 4 | |
| 2012–13[15] | Belgian Pro League | 22 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4[lower-alpha 4] | 1 | 29 | 3 | |
| Total | 59 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 70 | 7 | ||
| Sheriff | 2013–14[15] | Divizia Naţională | 23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 29 | 3 |
| Ergotelis | 2014–15[15] | Superleague Greece | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | |
| Simurq | 2014–15[15] | Azerbaijan Premier League | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | |
| Neftchi Baku | 2015–16[15] | Azerbaijan Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | 310 | 12 | 40 | 3 | 21 | 2 | 371 | 17 | ||
Betis
Sheriff
Spain U16
Spain U19
Spain U20