Melli (Spanish footballer)

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.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Andreu and the second or maternal family name is Alvarado.

Melli
Personal information
Full name Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado
Date of birth (1984-06-06) 6 June 1984
Place of birth Barbate, Spain
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing 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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and 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.

Club career

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]

International career

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]

Personal life

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 statistics
As of 25 August 2015
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Betis 2002–03[14] La Liga 80101[lower-alpha 1]0100
2003–04[14] La Liga 4000—40
2004–05[14] La Liga 29170—361
2005–06[14] La Liga 3105[lower-alpha 2]011[lower-alpha 3]1471
2006–07[14] La Liga 27060—330
2007–08[14] La Liga 26020—280
2008–09[14] La Liga 26140—301
2009–10[14] Segunda División 26210—272
Total 17742601212155
Tenerife 2010–11[14] Segunda División 25100—251
Gent 2011–12[15] Belgian Pro League 37341—414
2012–13[15] Belgian Pro League 220324[lower-alpha 4]1293
Total 5937341707
Sheriff 2013–14[15] Divizia Naţională 233303[lower-alpha 4]0293
Ergotelis 2014–15[15] Superleague Greece 10100—101
Simurq 2014–15[15] Azerbaijan Premier League 14040—180
Neftchi Baku 2015–16[15] Azerbaijan Premier League 20002[lower-alpha 4]040
Career total 3101240321237117
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Includes appearances in Supercopa de España
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Club

Betis

Sheriff

International

Spain U16

Spain U19

Spain U20

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References
  1. "Osasuna remonta dos veces y se impone al Betis" [Osasuna come from behind twice and best Betis]. El País (in Spanish). 19 September 2004. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  2. "Melli suaviza la depresión del Betis" [Melli smoothens Betis depression]. El País (in Spanish). 23 February 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  3. Blistering Barça back in the groove; UEFA, 18 February 2006
  4. Dani delivers for Betis; UEFA, 12 June 2005
  5. "El futbolista español y el "efecto llamada"" [The Spanish footballer and the "phone call effect"]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 May 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  6. "Simurq daha bir futbolçu ilə müqavilə imzaladı" (in Azerbaijani). Simurq PFK. 9 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  7. Нефтчи подписал бывшего защитника Симурга [Neftchi signed former Simurg defender] (in Russian). Azeri Sport. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  8. "Neftçi PFK-nın məlumatı" [Neftchi PFK information] (in Azerbaijani). Neftchi Baku. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  9. "Melli signa pel Reus" [Melli signs for Reus] (in Catalan). Reus Deportiu. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  10. "España logra un trabajado triunfo" [Spain work hard for the win]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 29 April 2003. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  11. "Iniesta encarrila el triunfo" [Iniesta leads way to win]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 3 September 2004. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  12. "Five new faces for Spain". Special Broadcasting Service. 8 April 2006. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  13. Mellizos en el fútbol mundial (III) (Twins in world football (III)); Diarios de Fútbol, 23 November 2007 (in Spanish)
  14. "Melli: Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado". BDFutbol. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  15. "Melli". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  16. "España vence a Alemania y se proclama campeona de Europa Sub-19" [Spain beat Germany and are crowned Under-19 European champions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 28 July 2002. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  17. "Brasil é campeão mundial sub-20 e conquista a tríplice coroa" [Brazil are under-20 world champions and conquer the triple crown]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). 19 December 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
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