Place of birth Madrid, Spain Name Jose Calvo Position Defender Years Team Weight 78 kg | 1993–1994 Real Madrid Height 1.85 m Playing position Role Footballer | |
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Full name Jose Antonio Garcia Calvo Date of birth (1975-04-01) 1 April 1975 (age 40) | ||
José Antonio García Calvo (born 1 April 1975) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.
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During his professional career he represented both Madrid clubs, Real and Atlético (but was mainly associated with Valladolid), appearing in 355 La Liga games over the course of 15 seasons and scoring 12 goals.
Club career
A product of Real Madrid's youth system, Madrid-born García Calvo appeared in six games for the first team as it won the La Liga championship in the 1996–97 season, eventually totalling only 16 during his spell. His first match came on 2 March 1996, in a 5–0 home win against UD Salamanca (Fernando Sanz, another centre-back from the youth ranks, also played his first top flight match that day); subsequently, he signed with Real Valladolid where he was a main squad regular for four years, scoring his first professional goal in his first year.
Calvo then added five years in another club from the capital, Atlético Madrid, being instrumental in the Colchoneros' 2002 promotion from the second division with 35 games played and 11 bookings.
Unable to settle at Atlético in his final two years, García Calvo returned to Valladolid in the 2006 summer, helping to a return to the top flight after a three-year absence. He was an undisputed starter throughout the following season, netting in a 2–2 home draw against Deportivo de La Coruña on 2 September 2007 as the Castile-La Mancha side went on to finally retain its status.
Following recurrent foot problems that ailed him throughout 2008–09, Calvo announced his retirement from the game at 34. Immediately afterwards, he was appointed his last club's director of football.
International career
García Calvo earned three caps for the Spanish national team, the first coming on 21 August 2002 against Hungary during a Ferenc Puskás testimonial match (1–1 draw).
Previously, he was picked for the under-21 side that won the 1998 UEFA European Championship.