Juanmi Gelabert


Juan Miguel Gelabert Margüello, commonly known as Juanmi, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender or a left back.

Football career

Born in Capdepera, Majorca, Balearic Islands, Juanmi played five of his first seven years as a senior in the third division, his only season in the second level being 1997–98 with Elche CF. In the following campaign he signed for Valencian neighbours Hércules CF – in the same category – and met the same fate.
In 2000–01, Juanmi returned to division two with Recreativo de Huelva. His solid performances attracted the attention of another Andalusian club, Sevilla CF, which had promoted to La Liga in precisely that season, but he was used sparingly during his spell with his new team, only playing in five games in his second year.
Juanmi played his final four seasons as a professional in the second tier, with Córdoba CF and Sporting de Gijón. In 2007, after having been hit by a ball in his left eye in a match against Cádiz CF, he was forced to retired from football, at the age of 34. He immediately began working towards obtaining his coaching license and as a director of football, adding some appearances as a sports commentator.
In the 2011–12 season, Juanmi returned to Hércules as head of the youth ranks.