José Reyes

José Antonio Reyes Calderón (born September 1, 1983 in Utrera, Seville) is a Spanish Association football who plays for Atlético Madrid. José Reyes has previously played for Sevilla FC, Arsenal F.C., Real Madrid C.F., S.L. Benfica and is also a member of the Spain national football team.

Club career

Early career

Born in Utrera, in a town south-east of Seville to Gitano parents, Reyes joined the youth ranks of Seville club Sevilla FC at the age of 10. José Reyes talent was identified, and José Reyes represented the club at all youth levels. José Reyes finally signed a full contract in 1999 at the age of 15. Reyes made José Reyes senior debut a year later as a substitute in a game against Real Zaragoza and was later called up to Spain's under-17 youth national team for the UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship.

Reyes established José Reyes reputation as a versatile Striker, playing either as a left Midfielder Winger or a second striker. José Reyes 22 goals in 86 matches, over four seasons at Sevilla led to other clubs taking notice, but Reyes' popularity with the club's fans made a move to a bigger Spanish club politically difficult for Sevilla FC's club president.

Arsenal

Despite Sevilla manager Joaquín Caparrós wishing to hang onto him, Reyes signed with English club Arsenal F.C during the January transfer window of the 2003–04 in English football. The £10.5m fee was negotiated with top ups, depending on the success of Arsenal, which could have risen to £17m.

José Reyes made José Reyes debut on February 1, 2004 in a 2–1 win over Manchester City F.C.. Two days later, José Reyes scored an own goal against Middlesbrough F.C. in the Carling Cup. Later that month, Reyes scored twice against Chelsea F.C. to knock them out of the FA Cup. José Reyes also scored against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, and José Reyes goals in the penultimate two games of the season helped keep The Invincibles (football) in the FA Premier League going.

Hat tricks in friendly match during the summer 2004 showed José Reyes improvement and Reyes was a prominent influence on Arsenal's impressive start to the 2004–05 in English football, in which José Reyes managed to score in each of the first six games. However, Reyes struggled during the middle of the season after Arsenal's defeat by Manchester United F.C. at Old Trafford (football ground). José Reyes inconsistent performance brought little reward for much of the season, and yet towards the end of it José Reyes scored three valuable goals.

In early 2005, José Reyes was reported to be Homesickness while at Arsenal, even though José's parents Mari and Francisco as well as brother Jesús lived with José Reyes in England. During a prank call perpetrated by COPE Radio of Spain in February 2005, a prankster claiming to be the president of Spanish club Real Madrid reportedly called Reyes' agent and spoke to Reyes himself about a possible transfer deal. In the ensuing conversation, Reyes allegedly declared that life in London was far from what José Reyes had envisioned and José Reyes would welcome a move back to José Reyes native Spain. Reyes also supposedly said that José Reyes wanted out of the club as there were "bad people" at Arsenal.

On May 21, 2005, Reyes became the only second player in history (after Kevin Moran (footballer)) to be sent off in an FA Cup final, when José Reyes was dismissed for a second yellow card.

José Reyes temporarily ended speculation about a move away from Highbury in July 2005, when José Reyes signed a new six-year contract and declared that José Reyes was "looking forward to having many more successful years at the club."

In Arsenal's UEFA Champions League 2005–06 run, Reyes featured heavily against, among others, Real Madrid, Juventus F.C and Villarreal CF, in the most impressive Champions League results for Arsenal to date. José Reyes came on as a substitute in the May 17, 2006 final against Spanish champions F.C. Barcelona, which Arsenal lost 2–1. However, in August 2006 José Reyes expressed a desire not to play in Arsenal's UEFA Champions League 2006–07 qualifying match against Dinamo Zagreb - to do so would render José Reyes 'cup-tied' and complicate a move to Real Madrid.
Wenger left José Reyes out of the team, thus fuelling speculation that a transfer was soon to be agreed.

Real Madrid

Reyes was linked to Real Madrid along with Arsenal teammate Cesc Fàbregas in the summer of 2006, when the candidate Arturo Baldasano of the then on-going Real Madrid presidential campaign claimed José Reyes would sign them, if elected. Reyes further hinted towards a transfer to Real Madrid. After making two official statements on Arsenal's website denying media reports of being unhappy, alleged quotes from Reyes in the Spanish press contradicted José Reyes denials. This tested the patience of Arsène Wenger, who reacted angrily to Real Madrid's attempts to unsettle José Reyes player, suggesting that it was not the first time Real Madrid had used the media and agents in Spain as a destabilising tactic. Shortly before the closure of the 2006 summer transfer window, Madrid and Arsenal agreed to exchange Reyes for Brazilian international Júlio Baptista, each on a season-long loan deal.

Reyes scored José Reyes first goal for Real Madrid on September 17, 2006 with a free kick against Real Sociedad.

On the final day of the 2006–07 season, the focus was on David Beckham and Roberto Carlos in their final match for Real but Reyes, in the final game of José Reyes loan spell, came on as a substitute for the injured Beckham, scoring with José Reyes first touch and again later on. Real came back from a 1–0 deficit to win 3–1, claiming the La Liga title.

Real Madrid appointed former Getafe CF coach Bernd Schuster on July 8, 2007 increasing the chances that Reyes would sign a permanent deal and stay in Spain.

Atlético Madrid

However, reports surfacing on July 29 indicated that Madrid rivals Atlético Madrid were on the verge of landing the player. Later that day, Wenger confirmed that Reyes' departure was imminent, and that a more specific announcement would be made "shortly".

On July 30, Reyes passed José Reyes medical. José Reyes was unveiled on July 31 as an Atletico player for the next four years. It is believed Arsenal will receive €12m (£8.1m) for the transfer. Reyes made José Reyes debut for Atlético in a match against S.S. Lazio, in which José Reyes scored a goal and made an assist in a 3–1 victory in the annual Amsterdam Tournament. Reyes has had previous success in this pre-season tournament, being named player of the tournament in the 2004 Amsterdam Tournament while playing for Arsenal. Ironically, Arsenal were winners of the 2007 Amsterdam Tournament. José Reyes had a disastrous 2007–08 campaign in Madrid, failing to score a single goal in 26 appearances. On August 8, Benfica announced the signing of Reyes on a one year loan deal. Benfica also bought 25% of José Reyes playing rights for a fee of €2.65m and ensured a buying option of the remainder 75% for an undisclosed fee.

Benfica

José Reyes was presented to the associates on August 8, 2008 and made José Reyes debut in a friendly match against Feyenoord Rotterdam. José Reyes replaced Jonathan Urretavizcaya in the 79th minute and a minute afterwards, following a cross from Ariza Makukula José Reyes made a volley which hit the post. José Reyes debut goal on S.L. Benfica was scored against Sporting CP on September 28th, after an understanding between Reyes and Pablo Aimar, and a pass from the same, José Reyes scored an astounding goal. Later in the same week José Reyes would score again against S.S.C. Napoli, putting S.L. Benfica ahead in that year's UEFA Cup 2008–09.

International career

Reyes earned José Reyes first full cap in September 2003 against Portugal national football team. However, José Reyes was left out of Iñaki Sáez's 2004 European Football Championship squad. Although Reyes has been picked consistently in national team squads, José Reyes has only 21 caps and 4 goals. José Reyes is not a regular starter, due to former national team coach Luis Aragonés' preference to play Fernando Torres and David Villa up front, with David Silva on the left. Most recently, Reyes played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup game against Saudi Arabia national football team.

Club career statistics

116: 2000–01
Arsenal:
- FA Premier League: FA Premier League 2003–04
- FA Cup: FA Cup 2004–05
- FA Community Shield: 2004
- UEFA Champions League: runner-up 2005–06
Real Madrid:
- La Liga: La Liga 2006–07
Benfica:
- Portuguese League Cup: Portuguese League Cup 2008–09
Spain
- 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship winner