Juan Velasco (footballer)

Spanish retired footballer

Juan Velasco Damas (born 17 May 1977) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right back, and is a manager. He played for seven clubs during his professional career, appearing in 213 matches in La Liga and scoring one goal. He also competed abroad in England and Greece. Velasco represented Spain at Euro 2000.

Born in Dos Hermanas, Province of Seville, Velasco started representing professionally local giants Sevilla FC, appearing in 13 La Liga matches in the 1996–97 season, which ended in relegation. His league debut occurred on 5 March 1997 in a 0–2 away loss against Rayo Vallecano, and in the following two years he amassed nearly 72 official appearances, contributing prominently in the second as the Andalusians returned to the top level. After helping Sevilla promote, Velasco joined Celta de Vigo, experiencing his most successful period: in the 2002–03 campaign he played 31 games to help the Galicians qualify for the first time ever to the UEFA Champions League. In the following season, however, he saw his team suffer relegation. Velasco played the following three years with Atlético Madrid (two) and RCD Espanyol, averaging 22 contests per season. On 18 February 2008, after spending the first months of the new campaign without a club, he signed a three month contract with Football League Championship side Norwich City, following a successful trial; at the end of the season he left for Panthrakikos FC, freshly promoted to the Superleague Greece. After one and a half seasons of relative playing time, Velasco moved teams in January 2010 but stayed in the country, signing with Athlitiki Enosi Larissa FC. He retired in June of the following year at the age of 34, and in 2013 returned to football, being appointed manager at Xerez CD B. On 13 October 2016, Velasco signed as head coach of Extremadura UD.

Velasco was capped five times by Spain, his debut coming on 26 January 2000 in a 3–0 friendly win over Poland (Cartagena). Selected for UEFA Euro 2000, he did not leave the bench.