Juan Jesús Calatayud Sánchez (Antequera, 1979), following the departure of Paco Ruiz to China, has taken his place within the organisational structure of Blue and White grassroots football. Primarily focused on the Juvenil ‘A’, together with his teammates in the unforgettable Málaga B that competed in the Second Division, Nacho and Juanma; and later with the ‘rise’ of Dani Lima to the first team, he trains the goalkeepers in Atlético Malagueño within the coaching team headed up by Zeus Carmona.
How are you finding the current situation and tell us about your return to the Club?
In the mornings we’re training with the reserve team, although separate you see yourself with teammates, the coaches and the players, which is good for everyone. Not just because they’re in training, but because we can all see each other which is great for morale within Malagueño.
My return caught me a little by surprise. I’d always thought I’d like to be where I consider my home, where I grew as a footballer and a person. When Paco Ruiz, who was goalkeeping coordinator and my friend, told me there was a possibility of going to China, leaving his position vacant, the Club was in agreement for me to return and work with the goalkeepers. I didn’t even have to think about it, and I’m grateful to the Club for their faith in me.
There are many reserve team players in the first team, among them are Kellyan and Gonzalo. The homegrown players are moving up…
A lot of the time money isn’t the most important thing, it’s about having a good work group bringing good players to the reserve team. At the moment, with more requirements for the first team, they’ll have more possibilities. The same thing always happens, it did during my time when I moved up with Juanito and Juan Rodríguez. It was a time when the Club wasn’t very financially buoyant, and we moved up. Many players will become footballers because of that, and they will get their chance. Málaga needs to count on that too, to have players who, regardless of the money issue, can be utilised on the team.
Both Gonzalo and Kellyan are two superb goalkeepers. They are competing. The relationship between them is very good and above all, the most important thing is that they’re training every day with the first team, and when they move down to the reserve team it shows, particularly in terms of their mental capacity in matches. It’s also good for the young players to see how a player who has moved up to the first team behaves. As well as their footballing quality, their human quality is also important, how they help when they’re with the reserve team, with the same attitude.
Málaga B, Málaga CF, Getafe, Racing, Hércules, Mallorca… and then Hungary and India. What a surprise!
When I finished in Mallorca, thanks to Paco (Ruiz), the possibility arose to go to Videoton. A club in Hungary that looked really good. The two years were great, the first year we were leaders for a long time and made the final of the League Cup; and the second year we made the Cup final in Hungary and were League champions. In regard to the experience in India, I spoke to Josemi and he said he had been there the year before and it was great, so I decided to go.
Many of your former teammates are part of the entity’s organisational sporting structure…
We are players who debuted in the First Division with Málaga, but that specific generation grew not just as footballers but as people. We met as young boys and most of us left as men. We know the club and the idiosyncrasies. I see the affection that the people of the club give to those who used to be here but spent many years away due to varying circumstances. Now we’re back you can see the people within the club are truly happy we’ve returned.
You have returned to your roots and, in addition, are undertaking projects. Tell us about it.
I was always clear that, if circumstances allowed, I would live in Antequera. I got the house in 2004 and would come here for about a month every year, but I always kept the house and my idea was to stay here.
Whatever has been asked of me, particularly being in Málaga, going to places with children, hospitals, visits, activities…I’ve always tried to help. I set up a company with my wife, involving a product we discovered in Hungary, a nasal aspirator that’s great for kids (the company is called ‘Pocos Mocos’). I’m very pleased with this project.
Lastly, what is your opinion of the current situation we’re experiencing?
In Spain, everyone is supporting one another and doing everything they can. The security forces, army, health workers, lorry drivers, pharmacists, supermarket staff…They are putting themselves in danger for the wellbeing of everyone else. That is important. We cannot forget what has happened to us. Everything that people have done at the time, we must thank them for, and be aware that as a society, this will help us to grow a great deal. I think people are showing what they’re made of. All together, we are much stronger.
Photograph: Fernando González
