Monday, February 3, 2020

Andalusia Greatest All-time 23 member team

This blogger Artur Yanturin of Russia copied many of my blog teams.  This blog was one of them.  It was my Russia All-Time Team here.  His team was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.   His Spartak Moscow All-Time team entry of was published in October 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2017.  His entry of the Dutch-German rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.  He also copied many many of my blog entries.

His Facebook and Instagram


Sergio Ramos and Isco

Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.


BasqueCataloniaCastile without Madrid playersMadrid CommunityAndalusiaGaliciaExtremadura
Spain without Catalan players World Cup 2010

Andalusia is an autonomous community in southern Spain. It is the most populous, and the second largest autonomous community in the country. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a "historical nationality". The territory is divided into eight provinces: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga and Seville. Its capital is the city of Seville.   

The football clubs in the region included Sevilla, Real BetisCádiz CF, Córdoba CF, UD Almería, Málaga and Granada CF. 

The Andalusia autonomous football team is not in any league, and plays only friendly matches. In recent years, they have played mostly during the Christmas break of the football leagues. They play mostly against national teams from other countries, but would not be eligible for international league play, where Spain is represented by a single national team.

This is my selection of all-time 23 member team for Andalusia.   The all-time teams of Basque and Catalonia were based on ethnicity, but this team is a mixture of based on birth places and ethnicity.

Team
GK: Miguel Reina
Reina started with Cordoba in 1964, but better known for playing with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid (seven years apiece).  He won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the 1972–73 season.  With Atletico Madrid, he also reached the final of the 1974 European Cup against FC Bayern Munich at the Heysel Stadium in Belgium.  At the international level, he was capped 5 times.  He was a backup at the World Cup Finals in 1966.  His son is Pepe Reina.

GK: Pepe Reina 
Pepe Reina first became a star at Villarreal when he helped the club to reach the Champions' league for the first time in history.  A year later, he joined Liverpool FC. At Liverpool FC, he won three Premier League Golden Glove. He was a part of Spain at World Cup 2010, Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, but served as a backup to Iker Casillas.  His father is Miguel Reina who also played as a goalkeeper.
Pepe Reina
GK: Guillermo Eizaguirre 
Born in Seville and played his entire career with Sevilla FC. He made his debut with the club before he turned 16. He represented Spain 3 times from 1935 to 1936. His chance with the team was limited because he was playing at the same time as Ricardo Zamora.  He was injured before the World Cup Finals in 1934, where he was ruled of consideration. 

RB: Juan José 
Nicknamed Sandokan due to striking similarities with the fictional character, he was mainly associated with Cádiz where he played from 1977 to 1982, but also played three years for Real Madrid, appearing in 233 La Liga games in exactly ten seasons.  He played four times for Spain, all coming in matches for the UEFA Euro 1984 qualifiers. He was the first Cádiz player to ever be called by the national team.

CB/RB: Sergio Ramos 
Sergio Ramos is a part of the all-conquering Spanish team that won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships in 2008 and 2012.  He is the youngest player ever to receive his 100th caps. He joined Real Madrid as a teenager from Sevilla. He scored the tying goal as Real Madrid won their 10th European Cup in 2014.  He also won his second Champions' League title by scoring a goal in the 2016 Final. In 2018, he won his fourth Champions League Cup with Real Madrid.

CB:  Fernando Hierro 
Fernando Hierro is considered to be Spain's greatest defenders.  At one point, he was Spain's all-time leading scorer even through he played as a defensive player.  He was capped 90 times for Spain, whilst appearing in four World Cups: 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 and two European Championships: 1996 and 2000. For Real Madrid, he won three Champions' League titles and 5 La Liga titles.  He also played for Real Valladolid, Bolton Wanderers and Al-Rayyan SC.
Fernando Hierro
CB: Carlos Marchena 
Carlos Marchena played for Benfica, Sevilla, Valencia, Villareal and Deportivo La Coruna. His peak came with Valencia, where he won the Double in 2002-2003 season.  For the national team, he had 69 caps. He was the starter at European Championship in 2008 where Spain won its first major trophy since 1964. He also played at Euro 2004 and two World Cup Finals.

CB: Nando
During a 15-year professional career he appeared in 306 La Liga games, having represented four clubs, most notably Barcelona and Real Madrid.  He was known for being a member of Johan Cruyff's Barcelona Dream team that won the 1992 European Cup.  He also played for Sevilla and Espanyol.  Nando earned eight caps for Spain between 1990 and 1992.

CB: Gallego
During his club career, Gallego played for Sevilla FC  from 1961 to 1965, and from 1975 to 1980.  In between his two stints with Sevilla, he played for FC Barcelona between 1965 and 1975. With Barcelona, he won two Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: 1966 and 1971. Gallego earned 36 caps for Spain.  He was a part of the team that won 1964 European Nations' Cup on home soil. He also played in the 1966 World Cup Finals in England.

LB/LW:  Rafael Gordillo 
Rafael Gordillo was known as the greatest left wingback in Spanish history.  He played at the same time as Camacho for both club and country.  Both players started on the left side.  Camacho supported him defensively.  He was a legend at both Real Betis and Real Madrid. He was voted the Best Player in Spain for 1979-1980 season.  He played with the great Real Madrid side of the 1980's, winning an UEFA Cup.
Rafael Gordillo
LB: Manolo Jiménez 
Manolo Jiménez played his entire career with Sevilla FC.  He played over 400 games.  He retired in June 1998 at the age of 34, after one year with neighbours Real Jaén in the second division.  He had a total of 15 caps for Spain.  He represented Spain at the World Cup Finals in 1990, playing two matches in the Finals.

CM: Enrique Lora Millan 
Enrique Lora Millan played 11 seasons with Sevilla, debuting in 1966 and retiring in 1978.  He was at one point the team's captain.  He played a single season with Recreativo de Huelva. He was capped 14 times for Spain, including while he was playing in the second division.  He scored a single goal for Spain.

CM: Juan Santisteban
Juan Santisteban joined the youth team of Real Madrid from Real Betis.  He won four European Cups with Real Madrid: European Cup: 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60.  He was known for his midfield partnership with José María Zárraga.  In 1965, he joined Real Betis.  He later played in the United States.  With Spain, he earned 7 caps between 1957 and 1959.

CM: Francisco López Alfaro 
Better known as Francisco, he first played with his hometown club Sevilla FC for 9 seasons between 1981 and 1990, and another 6 seasons with Espanyol between 1990 and 1997.  Espanyol went down to the second division for a single season during his time there. For Spain, he had 20 caps between 1982 and 1986. He went to the European Championship in 1984 and the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico for Spain. He scored his only international goal against Greece in September, 1986.

RW: Joaquin 
During his career, Joaquin was mainly associated with Real Betis and Valencia, appearing in 425 La Liga games over the course of 13 seasons and scoring 53 goals. In the competition he also represented Málaga, between 2011 and 2013 signing with Fiorentina from Italy in 2013.  He received 51 senior caps.  He was a key player at World Cup Finals in 2002.  He also went to Euro 2004 and the World Cup Finals in 2006.
Joaquin 
RW: Jesus Navas 
Jesus Navas played from 2003 to 2013 for his mother club, Sevilla FC. He won two UEFA Cup.  In 2013, he moved to Manchester City.  He returned to Seville in 2017. He earned 35 caps for Spain at the time of writing.  He was used as a sub during the World Cup Finals in 2010 and the European Champions in 2012, where Spain won both tournaments. Early in his career, he suffered from homesickness that limited his career playing outside of his hometown.

LW: Jose Antonio Reyes 
Jose Antonio Reyes graduated from Sevilla's academy, where he made his professional debut in 2000.  He also played for Arsenal, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Espanyol and Cordoba.  He won two UEFA Europa Cup with Atletico Madrid.  He returned to Sevilla in 2012 and won three straight Europa Cup with them between 2013 and 2016.  Reyes earned 21 caps for Spain between 2003 and 2006, and represented the nation at the 2006 World Cup Finals.
Jose Antonio Reyes
LW/RW: Enrique Collar 
Born in 1934, Enrique Collar spent most of his career with Atletico Madrid from 1952 to 1969.  He played a single season with Valencia before he retired from playing.  He was a part of the great Atletico Madrid side that won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1962.  He earned 16 caps, scoring 4 goals for Spain.  He also went to the World Cup Finals in 1962 as Spain's captain, but only made a single appearance at the Finals.

AM/CM: Isco  
Isco began his career at Valencia, playing mainly in its reserve team, before joining Málaga in 2011. His performances at Malaga earned him the Golden Boy award in 2012, and a €30 million move to Real Madrid in June 2013, with whom he won four UEFA Champions League titles. Isco represented Spain at various youth levels, including at the 2012 Olympics, and made his senior international debut in 2013, later taking part at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

ST: Kiko 
Kiko's career began with local Cádiz CF.  He played for Atletico Madrid between 1993 and 2001. Atlético was relegated in 2000, but Kiko stayed with the club.  He spent a short time with Extremadura before retiring. Kiko was capped 26 times for Spain, and scored four goals.  He took part in UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 World Cup.   He won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics, where he scored a last-minute winner against Poland in the final. 
Kiko
ST: Spencer 
Born in Seville, Andalusia, Spencer spent the vast majority of his career at Sevilla FC, whom he joined in 1913 at the age of 15. To mislead his father, who wanted him to stop playing football to concentrate on studies, he played under that moniker. Spencer also represented Real Oviedo. In 1923, Spencer received his only cap for Spain, a 3–0 win over neighbours Portugal.  He was the first Andalusian to play for Spain.

ST: Diego Tristan 
Diego Tristan made his name with Mallorca.  He would have joined Real Madrid in 2000, but his deal fell. He is best known for his Deportivo de La Coruña spell, where he spent six years, but an injury in 2002 gradually affected his career.  He played for many clubs at the end of his career. He was capped 15 times. He was a member of the 2002 World Cup team.

ST: Juanito  
Juanito started with Atletico Madrid, but he never played for the senior team. Instead, he played for Burgos, where he won Don Balón Award – Best Spanish Player for the season 1976–77.  from 1977 to 1987, he played for Real Madrid, winning five league titles, two Spanish Cups and two UEFA Cups. Juanito was capped 34 times.  He represented Spain at the 1978 and 1982 World Cups, and at Euro 1980.  He died in a road accident at the age of 37.
Juanito
Honorable Mention
Juan Carlos Castilla, Dani Güiza, Manuel Bueno, Adrian, Sergio Rico, Jose Callejón, Ricardo Serna, Adolfo Aldana, Rafael Paz, Carlos Muñoz, Esteban Vigo, Miguel Pardeza, Samu, Cristóbal, Alberto Moreno, Antonio Benítez, Toni, Juan López Hita, Diego Capel, Quino Sierra, Antonio Puerta, Nolito, Andrés Mateo,  Enrique Montero. 

Squad Explanation
-- So far there were over 75 Andalusian players who have been capped by Spain (February, 2020).  Spencer was the first Andalusian to play for Spain. Francisco Antúnez was the first Andalusian to play in a World Cup Finals. I honored them with spots on this all-time team.  
-- Fernando Hierro, Sergio Ramos and Rafael Gordillo were the obvious choices. They were members of my Spain All-Time team.  Coincidently, they were legends with Real Madrid.
-- Pepe Reina, Carlos Marchena, Sergio Ramos and Jesus Navas won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 while Dani Güiza was a part of the team that won the 2008 European Championship.
-- For Spanish national team, Sergio Ramos is the all-time Andalusian cap leader.  Enrique Collar is the first Andalusian player to score for them.  Fernando Hierro is the region's highest scorer.  
-- Both of my all time teams for Basque and Catalonia included players who played for non-Spanish national team.  I did not come across any overseas Andalusian player with that background, but I am sure that there are players who could trace their ancestry to the region.  So I am keeping this team all-Spanish international player for now.
-- I did try to select players who have contributed to clubs located in the region, but it was not my main criteria.  Nevertheless, Joaquín, Jose Antonio Reyes, Jesus Navas and Rafael Gordillo were club legends at their own club in the region respectively.  Enrique Lora's career with Sevilla was also a factor for his selection.  Juan José was the first Cádiz player to ever be called by the national team.
-- Jose Antonio Reyes, Sergio Ramos, Jesus Navas and Antonio Puerta grew up together playing on Sevilla's academy at the same time.  Both Ramos and Navas honored Antonio Puerta who died in 2007 by wearing T-shirts bearing Puerta's tribute when they won the World Cup 2010.  Jose Antonio Reyes died in 2019 at the age of 35.  
-- Pepe Reina was born in Madrid, but he is an Andalusian.  He served as Iker Casillas' backup during Spain's glorious period between 2008 and 2012.  His father Miguel Reina was also selected onto this team.  He had a lengthy career as a starter with both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Then, I took Guillermo Eizaguirre, who was a legend with Sevilla.  The other keepers considered were Juan Carlos Castilla, Adrian and Sergio Rico.
-- The leftback position has many talented players.  Rafael Gordillo was the obvious choice for one of the leftbacks.  He was born in Extremadura, but he is an Andalusian.  He is also on my Extremadura All-time Best XI team. He was considered Real Betis' greatest player.  Alberto Moreno was well-known because he played with Liverpool.  I also looked into Antonio Benítez and Toni.  I also came across Juan López Hita, but I do not know much about him.  Antonio Puerta also came from this region, but he left us too early.  In the end, I was deciding between Manuel Jiménez and Enrique Romero.  Both played in a World Cup Finals. In the end, I took Manuel Jimenez because he played for Sevilla, a local club.
-- The rightback position was weaker. I took Juan José over Cristóbal because Juan José played for an Andalusian club. Because I had Sergio Ramos on the team who played as a rightback in the beginning of his career, I decided not to take a backup rightback. Instead, I took another central defender.  Nando was a part of Johan Cruyff's Barcelona Dream team.  Sergio Ramos then would serve as an emergency rightback.  He won a World Cup while playing as a rightback.
-- Fernando Hierro, Sergio Ramos, Carlos Marchena and Gallego were obvious choices for centerbacks.  As mentioned above, I took Nando.  Juanito of Real Betis and Ricardo Serna were left off.   Nando played with Ricardo Serna at both Barcelona and Sevilla.
-- Sergio Ramos is Spain's most capped player.  He is also one of the world's most capped players.
Sergio Ramos
-- On midfield, I did not have much choices. Juan Santisteban played with Alfredo Di Stefano's Real Madrid.  He won 4 European Cups.  Isco also won 4 Champions' League with Real Madrid.
-- Fernando Hierro was also a central midfielder.  He also won three Champions' League titles.  At one point, he was Spain all-time leading scorer.  
-- Joaquin and Jesus Navas were undisputed selections on the right wing.  Then, I have Jose Antonio Reyes and Enrique Collar on the left wing.  So I left off Diego Capel.  I also have Rafael Gordillo who played on the left wing in front of Camacho while he played with Real Madrid.
-- Miguel Pardeza was part of Real Madrid's generation of footballers known as La Quinta del Buitre, but spent the better part of his career at Real Zaragoza.  I only put him on honorable mention.
-- Juanito was a legend with Real Madrid.  He was one of the most beloved players ever to play there.  He was known to score important goals. Enrique Collar was one of Atletico Madrid's greatest players. The two were obvious choices for the forward position.  Then, I took Diego Tristán who was an all-time with Deportivo La Coruna.
-- I honored Spencer for being the first Andalusian to play for Spain a spot on this all-time team.
-- Between Nilto, Dani Guiza and Kiko, I chose one of them for the last forward position.  Kiko won an Olympic gold medal in 1992, which was then a big matter in Spain because Barcelona was the host.   I left off Dani Güiza and Nolito. Dani Güiza got name recognition because of his substitute role on the Euro 2010 winning team. Nolito was more of a wing forward in which I have a number of wingers/wing forward on my team.  Kiko also spent a long team as a star of Atletico Madrid while the other two players moved around different clubs throughout their careers. 
-- Ansu Fati was born in Guinea-Bissau, and spent his childhood in Andalusia.  He considered himself a "Sevillian".  At the time of writing.  He has not earned a spot on the team. So I do not have to decide on this eligibility.

Formation
Six players spent time with Real Madrid.

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