Who is José Juan, hero of 'Alcoyanazo' against Madrid?

Veterancy is a degree and if not ask in Alcoy. On May 11, 2003, a Celta in a Champions position received Racing de Santander in Balaídos. The starting goalkeeper was Pablo Cavallero. The usual substitute Pinto, was not available and the goalkeeper of the subsidiary was in charge of acting as a substitute. The expulsion of the Argentine goal gave him the alternative to the then José Juan Figueras. A goal by Diego Alonso in the discount would seal the final tie (2-2), two goals received in 37 minutes that remain as the only baggage in First of the then youth squad. This Wednesday, 17 years later, José Juan, at 41, has not returned to the First Division, but it has become a nightmare for two. Real Madrid on a historic night, after having given a good account in the previous round of another, Huesca. It's more, Wikipedia named him President of the Government for a few hours!

The efficiency and morale of those from Alcoi led them not to lower their arms at any time in El Collao and their veteran goalkeeper did the rest. José Juan became the enemy number 1 of a Madrid that finished off Hazard, Benzema and Asensio in attack, the trident called to lead the team in the afternoons where they fight for metal. However, the only one that could bring down the local wall was a solitary goal from Militao. The goals of Solbes and Juanan and ten saves from the goal did the rest. But, what has become of José Juan's career in those 17 years?

From Vigo he left in 2005 and began his journey through the second and third categories of Spanish football. Murcia City, Granada 74, Águilas, Granada, Lugo, Elche and, finally, Alcoyano, where the Copa del Rey had a section in its chapter dedicated to heroes and deeds. Two of their teams now have the aroma of Primera, Granada and Elche, but they would not have reached LaLiga without the help of our protagonist, they cans the promotions to Second with the Nasrid in 2009-10 and with the Elche in 2017-18 appear as the greatest successes of the curriculum by José Juan.

Hero in Lugo before Alcoy

Although the place where he lived his best afternoons is in Galicia, near his native Vigo. In Lugo they still have a fond memory of the protagonist of the moment, after his successful five seasons (2012-17) defending the Anxo Carro goal. 132 matches that preceded their march to Elche to seal their return to the silver category with José Juan as the starting goalkeeper.

“Thank you all for the messages and the support received, we continue dreaming”, thanked José Juan after the game through his account Twitter. A social network that soon echoed the deed of the moral team and, in particular, the hero of the night. The goalkeeper's publication quickly surpassed 1,200 'retweets' and approached 13,000 'likes', a madness that Alcoyano's '1' is surely not used to.

Back to normal

“When the ball came out and we saw Real, I thought it was Real Sociedad. But then we saw that it was Real Madrid and we jumped for joy”, recounted in the hours before the crash in an interview with 'Ideal'. “I am very happy and excited because you don't play against them every day. There is a lot of desire”. And what if there were …