José Callejón
José María Callejón Bueno (Spanish pronunciation: [xoˈse kaʎeˈxon]; born 11 February 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Fiorentina as a forward or winger.
Callejón playing for Spain in 2017 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | José María Callejón Bueno | ||
Date of birth | 11 February 1987 | ||
Place of birth | Motril, Spain | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Forward / Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Fiorentina | ||
Number | 77 | ||
Youth career | |||
Costa Tropical | |||
2002–2006 | Real Madrid | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2007 | Real Madrid C | 4 | (0) |
2007–2008 | Real Madrid B | 41 | (21) |
2008–2011 | Espanyol | 97 | (10) |
2011–2013 | Real Madrid | 55 | (8) |
2013–2020 | Napoli | 255 | (64) |
2020– | Fiorentina | 9 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2008–2009 | Spain U21 | 4 | (1) |
2014– | Spain | 5 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 January 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2017 |
He began his career with the reserve teams of Real Madrid, but made a name for himself at Espanyol. In 2011 he returned to his previous club and, two years later, left for Napoli, where he won two Coppa Italia tournaments and the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana while appearing in 349 competitive matches (82 goals scored).
An under-21 international, Callejón made his senior debut for Spain in 2014.
Club career
Real Madrid
A product of Real Madrid youth ranks, Callejón was born in Motril, Granada, Andalusia. He made his professional debut for the reserves in May 2007,[2] and played five games in that season's Segunda División without scoring a goal.[3][4]
In the 2007–08 campaign, Callejón appeared in 37 matches and netted 21 times, finishing as team top scorer but in Segunda División B.[5][6]
Espanyol
At the end of the season, Callejón left Real Madrid (with twin brother Juanmi) and signed a four-year contract with RCD Espanyol.[7][8] He made his La Liga debut on 20 September 2008, as a late substitute in a 1–1 home draw against Getafe CF.[9]
On 15 March 2009, as Espanyol struggled immensely in the league – eventually ranking in tenth position – Callejón scored his first goal for the Catalans in a 3–3 home draw to RCD Mallorca.[10] He continued to be an undisputed starter under Mauricio Pochettino the following campaigns, operating mainly as a winger.[11]
On 15 January 2011, Callejón scored twice to help to a 2–1 away defeat of Sevilla FC.[12] He only missed one league game and netted six times for the Pericos, who finished comfortably in mid-table.[13]
Return to Real Madrid
On 23 May 2011, Callejón re-joined Real Madrid on a five-year deal effective as of 1 July, for a reported fee of €5.5 million.[14] On 16 July, he played his first match for them in a 4–1 friendly victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy, scoring the first goal of the game in the 30th minute.[15]
On 2 October 2011, Callejón netted his first official goal for Real Madrid after coming on midway through the second half of an away fixture against former club Espanyol; he scored from a Cristiano Ronaldo assist in an eventual 4–0 win but did not celebrate the goal, instead raising his arms in the air in a mark of respect for his former employer.[16]
Profiting from the fact that his team had already qualified from the UEFA Champions League group stage as leaders, Callejón was handed a rare start by manager José Mourinho on 22 November 2011, and responded by scoring a brace in a 6–2 home rout of NK Dinamo Zagreb.[17] He added another two in the last round, at AFC Ajax (3–0).[18]
As a starter, Callejón continued with his impressive scoring form: he scored once in a 6–2 away win over Sevilla on 17 December 2011,[19] and in the tie against SD Ponferradina for the season's Copa del Rey he netted three of his team's seven aggregate goals, one away and two at home.[20][21]
On 14 January 2012, Callejón scored the winner in a 2–1 defeat of Mallorca, helping the visitors come from behind with his 84th-minute long-range strike.[22] He added another the following matchday, closing the score in a 4–1 home victory against Athletic Bilbao.[23]
Napoli
On 9 July 2013, Italian club S.S.C. Napoli announced that they had reached an agreement for the transfer of Callejón for €10 million.[24][25] The four-year deal was confirmed two days later.[26]
Callejón scored in his Serie A debut on 25 August, netting the opener in a 3–0 home win over Bologna F.C. 1909,[27] and went on to find the net a further seven times in his first 20 official appearances. On 22 October, he scored his first goal in Europe for his new team, grabbing his team's first in a 2–1 victory at Olympique de Marseille in the Champions League group stage.[28]
On 3 May 2014, Callejón set up Dries Mertens for the third goal in a 3–1 win against ACF Fiorentina in the final of the Coppa Italia.[29] He scored once in the final game of the season, a 5–1 home rout of Hellas Verona F.C. on 18 May; his strike after five minutes was Napoli's 100th goal in all competitions that season, and his 20th overall.[30]
Callejón netted his first goal of 2014–15 on the opening day of the campaign, the opener in a 2–1 win over Genoa CFC.[31] His second came on 24 September, as he scored at the stroke of half-time to put his side up 3–2 against U.S. Città di Palermo in an eventual 3–3 home draw.[32] On 19 October, he scored twice in a 2–2 draw at Inter Milan, with all four of the game's goals coming in the last 11 minutes.[33]
In the Derby del Sole match against A.S. Roma on 2 November 2014, Callejón hit the post and had a shot saved off the line before eventually finding the net late on in the 2–0 victory.[34] The strike took his league goal tally to eight on the season, two more than his closest competitors, and he was included in the Serie A Team of the Week lineup.[35]
On 17 September 2015, Callejón scored twice in Napoli's first game of the UEFA Europa League group stage, a 5–0 home rout of Club Brugge KV.[36] For the same competition, away to FC Midtjylland on 22 October, he volleyed a long pass from Kalidou Koulibaly to open a 4–1 victory; UEFA dubbed the latter effort an "early contender for goal of the group stage".[37]
Callejón marked his 200th appearance for the Azzurri with his 57th goal on 9 April 2017, in a 3–0 league win against S.S. Lazio.[38] His 300th came on 28 April 2019, in the 2–0 away victory over Frosinone Calcio.[39]
In August 2020, the 33-year-old Callejón left the Stadio San Paolo after his contract expired.[40]
Fiorentina
On 5 October 2020, Callejón agreed to a deal with Fiorentina.[41]
International career
Callejón made his debut for the Spanish under-21 team on 25 March 2008 against Kazakhstan in a 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier; he entered the field in the 46th minute after replacing Bojan Krkić, and scored shortly after in a 5–0 win.[42]
On 7 November 2014, Callejón was called up to the full side for the first time, being picked by Vicente del Bosque for matches against Belarus and Germany.[43] He made his debut on the 15th against the former, coming on for Santi Cazorla in the 69th minute of the 3–0 triumph in Huelva for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying phase.[44]
Style of play
A versatile, tenacious and hard-working right-footed player, Callejón was capable of playing anywhere along the front line, and was used as a forward or a winger on either flank, in the centre as an attacking midfielder and as a supporting striker. Although he usually occupied a position in or behind the main attacking line, due to his personality and ability to provide balance to his teams by linking-up play between the forwards and midfielders, he was also capable of playing in the centre as a main striker, and was also occasionally deployed in deeper roles under Mourinho during his time at Real Madrid, as a central midfielder or even as an attacking full-back or wingback.
A quick, mobile and creative player, with good technical ability, Callejón was capable of both creating and scoring goals due to his powerful shot and excellent offensive movement off the ball, as demonstrated by his ability to lose his markers by make attacking runs in behind the defensive line and into the area from deeper or wider areas. He was also a good header of the ball, in spite of his average stature.[45][46][47][48][49][50]
Personal life
Callejón's twin brother Juanmi was also a footballer, and both were Real Madrid graduates.[51][52]
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other1 | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Real Madrid B | 2006–07 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
2007–08 | 36 | 21 | — | — | — | 36 | 21 | ||||
Total | 41 | 21 | — | — | — | 41 | 21 | ||||
Espanyol | 2008–09 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 2 | — | — | 30 | 4 | ||
2009–10 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 2 | |||
2010–11 | 37 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 6 | |||
Total | 97 | 10 | 9 | 2 | — | — | 106 | 12 | |||
Real Madrid | 2011–12 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 13 |
2012–13 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 7 | |
Total | 55 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 77 | 20 | |
Napoli | 2013–14 | 37 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 2 | — | 52 | 20 | |
2014–15 | 38 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 59 | 12 | |
2015–16 | 38 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | — | 47 | 13 | ||
2016–17 | 37 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 | — | 49 | 17 | ||
2017–18 | 38 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | — | 50 | 12 | ||
2018–19 | 34 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | — | 47 | 4 | ||
2019–20 | 33 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 45 | 4 | ||
Total | 255 | 64 | 24 | 6 | 69 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 349 | 82 | |
Fiorentina | 2020–21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | ||
Career totals | 450 | 103 | 44 | 14 | 78 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 576 | 136 |
- 1Includes Supercopa de España and Supercoppa Italiana.
Honours
Real Madrid[54]
Napoli[54]
Individual
- Segunda División B Top Scorer: 2007–08[58]
- Coppa Italia Top Scorer: 2013–14[59]
- Serie A Top Assist Provider: 2016–17[60]
References
- "Josè Maria Callejon" (in Italian). S.S.C. Napoli. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- "Castilla 2–1 Málaga" (in Spanish). Real Madrid CF. 5 May 2007. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
- Balderas, Miguel Ángel (26 November 2013). "La última plantilla que descendió con el Castilla. ¿Qué fue de ellos?" [The last squad to be relegated with Castilla. What happened to them?] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- "Player file: Callejón" (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Profesional. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
- Ramírez, Fidel (28 April 2008). "El 'pichichi', José Callejón, rescató un punto en el descuento para el filial" ['Pichichi', José Callejón, rescued one point in injury time for the reserves]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- "Stats: José María Callejón Bueno" (in Spanish). Real Madrid CF. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
- "Real Madrid and Espanyol reach an agreement for the transfer of Castilla's José Callejón". Real Madrid CF. 20 June 2008. Archived from the original on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
- "Espanyol sign Real Madrid B striker Callejón". Reuters. 18 June 2008. Archived from the original on 11 December 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
- "El Espanyol reacciona a tiempo para guardar el liderato" [Espanyol react on time to retain first place]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). 20 September 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- "3–3. El Espanyol más épico de la temporada se queda sin premio ante el Mallorca" [3–3. Most epic Espanyol of season do not have prize against Mallorca]. Público (in Spanish). 15 March 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- "Callejón: "El gol me deja más tranquilo"" [Callejón: "Goal makes me more at ease"]. Sport (in Spanish). 15 February 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- "Callejon nets brace". ESPN Soccernet. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- "El Espanyol cambia dinero por goles" [Espanyol trade money for goals]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 4 September 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- "Jose Callejon to play for Real Madrid". Real Madrid CF. 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
- "LA Galaxy 1–4 Real Madrid". Major League Soccer. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- "Higuain gives Mourinho plenty to ponder". ESPN Soccernet. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- Bryan, Paul (22 November 2011). "Perfect Madrid put six past Dinamo". UEFA. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- Brookman, Derek (7 December 2011). "Ajax shattered as Madrid complete perfect set". UEFA. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- "Real rout Sevilla". ESPN Soccernet. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- Friede, Sergio (13 December 2011). "Un chupito revitalizante" [Invigorating shot]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- Friede, Sergio (20 December 2011). "El Madrid ficha hacia octavos" [Madrid sign last-16]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- "Real survive scare to go clear". ESPN Soccernet. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- "Real Madrid spot on". ESPN Soccernet. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
- Kvesa, Chris (9 July 2013). "Real Madrid attacker Callejon set to join Napoli". Goal. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- "Callejon è a Napoli" [Callejon is in Naples] (in Italian). S.S.C Napoli. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- Fenn, Alec (11 July 2013). "Napoli snap up Callejon". Goal. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- Bozza, Gennaro (25 August 2013). "Napoli-Bologna 3–0: apre Callejon, poi la doppietta di super Hamsik" [Napoli-Bologna 3–0: Callejon starts it, then double by super Hamsik]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- Burke, Chris (22 October 2013). "Napoli make their mark in Marseille". UEFA. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- "Coppa Italia final: Rafael Benitez's Napoli beat Fiorentina 3–1". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
- "Five-star finish for Napoli". Sky Sports. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
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- Bandini, Paolo (3 November 2014). "Gonzalo Higuaín keeps rolling for Napoli in 'match of fear' against Roma". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- "Serie A 2014–15: Team Of The Week – Round 10". Forza Italian Football. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- "Sparkly Napoli flatten Club Brugge". UEFA. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- "Sparkling Napoli finishes flatten Midtjylland". UEFA. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- Campanale, Susan (10 April 2017). "Serie A Week 31: Did You Know?". Football Italia. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- "Napoli fans reject Callejon shirt". Football Italia. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- "Napoli bid farewell to Callejon". Football Italia. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- "Callejon completes Fiorentina move". ACF Fiorentina. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Spain 5–0 Kazakhstan". UEFA. 25 March 2008. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
- "Official: 23-man squad for the matches against Belarus and Germany". Royal Spanish Football Federation. 7 November 2014. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- Hunter, Graham (15 November 2014). "Much-changed Spain dominate Belarus". UEFA. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- Salvione, Pasquale (1 July 2013). "Napoli, ecco Callejon: il pupillo di Mourinho" [Napoli, this is Callejón: Mourinho's pupil]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). Archived from the original on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- Terenziani, Giovanni Battista (14 October 2013). "Iturbe, Callejon, Gervinho: le tre migliori sorprese della Serie A" [Iturbe, Callejón, Gervinho: the three best surprises in Serie A] (in Italian). Calcio Mercato. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- Pinna, Roberto (27 November 2015). "Napoli, lo strano caso Callejon: per Sarri indispensabile, inutile al fantacalcio" [Napoli, the curious case of Callejon: indispensable for Sarri, useless in fantasy football]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- Bocci, Alessandro (1 January 2017). "Da Candreva a Mertens fino a Ljajic Così gli esterni spostano gli equilibri" [From Candreva to Mertens all the way to Ljajic This is how wingers turn the tide]. Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- "Three key Partenopei men to watch out for". Juventus F.C. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- "Callejon: 'I'll play centre-forward'". Football Italia. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- Catalán, José Vicente (6 December 2007). "José y Juanmi Callejón, dos gemelos y diez goles" [José and Juanmi Callejón, two twins and ten goals]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- "Los gemelos Callejón, hermanos pero rivales en el terreno de juego" [Callejón twins, brothers but rivals on the pitch] (in Spanish). Join Futbol. 22 October 2008. Archived from the original on 28 November 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- "Medical report: Callejon". ACF Fiorentina. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "José Callejón". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- José Callejón at ESPN FC
- "José Callejón". European Football. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- "Napoli 0–0 Juventus". BBC Sport. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- Molero, Iván (21 September 2010). "Callejón debutará en el Bernabéu en su tercer 'intento'" [Callejón will make Bernabéu debut on his third 'attempt']. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- Di Maggio, Roberto; Rota, Davide (4 June 2015). "Italy – Coppa Italia Top Scorers". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- "Statistics". ESPN FC. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to José Callejón. |
- Napoli official profile (in Italian)
- José Callejón at BDFutbol
- José Callejón at TuttoCalciatori.net (in Italian)
- José Callejón at National-Football-Teams.com