Josep Moratalla

Football career

Born in Esparreguera, Barcelona, Catalonia, Moratalla signed for FC Barcelona in 1981 at nearly 23, from Deportivo de La Coruña in the third division. He played eight seasons with the national powerhouse, but only appeared 19 times in La Liga in his first four years combined, barred by José Ramón Alexanko and Migueli – for instance, when the Blaugrana won the national championship in the 1984–85 campaign, he only totalled 104 minutes in two games. He made his league debut for the club on 28 February 1982, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 home win against Sevilla FC.

Even though used rarely in his beginnings, Moratalla started in the 1982 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, a 2–1 win against Standard Liège at the Camp Nou, Additionally, he was a used substitute in the 1986 European Cup Final, lost in a penalty shootout to FC Steaua Bucureşti.

Moratalla played with Barcelona until 1988, being first-choice in his final two years and adding the Copa del Rey to his trophy cabinet in his last. He retired from football at only 32 after three seasons in the second level with another team in his native region, UE Figueres; he had a brief spell in management afterwards, with neighbouring amateurs CE Europa.

Honours