Juanpi


Juan Pablo Añor Acosta, commonly known as Juanpi, is a Venezuelan footballer who plays for Spanish club Málaga CF as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Born in Caracas, Juanpi joined Málaga CF's youth system in 2009, aged 15, from hometown's Caracas FC. He spent several seasons in the Juvenil squad, and was promoted to the reserves in the 2013–14 campaign, appearing regularly in Tercera División.
Juanpi made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 29 August 2014, replacing Luis Alberto in the 75th minute of a 0–3 loss at Valencia CF. On 19 December he signed a new contract until 2018, and scored his first professional goal on 6 January of the following year, netting the first in a 2−0 Copa del Rey home win against Levante UD.
Juanpi scored his first league goal on 23 January 2016, netting the equalizer in a 1–2 home loss against FC Barcelona. Seven days later he added another, netting the first in a 2–1 win at SD Eibar, and scored four goals during the campaign.
Juanpi switched from 28 to 10 shirt ahead of the 2016–17 campaign, and scored the Andalusians' first goal of the competition, in a 1–1 home draw against CA Osasuna.
On 31 January 2019, Juanpi was loaned to SD Huesca in the top tier, until June.

International career

After appearing with the under-17 team at the 2011 South American Under-17 Championship, Juanpi was also a part of the squad selected for the 2013 South American Youth Championship, hosted in Argentina. On 29 January 2013 he was also called up to the main squad.
Juanpi made his full international debut on 14 November 2014, replacing Frank Feltscher in the 58th minute of a 0–5 loss against Chile at the Estadio CAP in Talcahuano. He played one game for the Vinotinto at the Copa América Centenario in the United States, as a substitute in the 4–1 quarter-final loss to Argentina, and on 6 September 2016 he scored his first international goal to open a 2–2 home draw with the same opponent in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Juanpi was also called up for the 2019 Copa América in Brazil. He played one match, a 3–1 win over Bolivia in Belo Horizonte that advanced the team to the quarter-finals.

Personal life

Juanpi's father Bernardo Añor, was also a footballer. His older brother, also named Bernardo, is also a footballer, currently playing for Caracas FC; he too was groomed in Caracas. He is also the cousin of Diego Lombardi, former football player who was supposed to be a star but an unfortunate injury ended his promising career.

Career statistics

Club

International goals