Place of birth Barbate, Spain Role Spanish footballer Playing position Height 1.81 m Name Juan Alvarado | Number 5 Weight 75 kg 1988–2001 Betis Current team Neftchi PFK | |
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Full name Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado Date of birth (1984-06-06) 6 June 1984 (age 31) Siblings Victor Manuel Andreu Alvarado Similar People Arzu, Fernando Vega, Capi, Xisco | ||
Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado ([ˈmeʎi]; born 6 June 1984), known as Melli, is a Spanish footballer. A versatile defender, he can appear as either a right back or a central defender.
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He spent most of his professional career at Betis, for which he appeared in 215 official games and won one Copa del Rey.
Club career
Born in Barbate, Cádiz, Melli joined Real Betis as a 14-year-old, and made his way up through the ranks until he reached the reserve team in 2001. He served a small loan stint at Andalusia neighbours Polideportivo Ejido in the late stages of the 2001–02 season, with two appearances in the second division.
Melli scored his first career goal through a header from a Joaquín corner kick, against CA Osasuna on 18 September 2004 (2–3 away loss). He also appeared in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup during the 2005–06 campaign: in the latter, he netted an essential goal at AZ Alkmaar, which allowed Betis to progress to the next round – this came just one week after having scored two own goals against FC Barcelona in a La Liga match at the Camp Nou.
Melli won his first medal for Betis during the 2005 final of the Copa del Rey against Osasuna at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, on 11 June 2005, playing the full 90 minutes plus extra time in an eventual 2–1 win. He continued to be a defensive presence in the following seasons for the Verdiblancos, playing an average of 25 league games and suffering relegation in 2008–09.
In late August 2011, after another relegation, now with CD Tenerife (in the second level) whom he joined in the 2010 summer – a second consecutive for the Canary Islands club – Melli moved abroad for the first time and signed a two-year contract for K.A.A. Gent in Belgium, joining compatriot César Arzo. After leaving in the 2013 summer he represented, in quick succession, FC Sheriff Tiraspol, Ergotelis FC, Simurq PIK and Neftchi PFK, the latter two sides competing in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
Following his release from Neftchi on 20 June 2016, 32-year-old Meli returned to Spain and signed a one-year contract with CF Reus Deportiu.
International career
Melli represented the Spanish national team at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels. He made his debut for the latter on 29 April 2003 when he was 18, playing 18 minutes in a 1–0 win over Australia in Lorca, and scored his only goal in another friendly, a 3–1 defeat of Scotland on 2 September 2004.
Personal life
Melli's nickname stems from the Spanish word mellizo (twin), as he himself is a twin. His brother Víctor was also a footballer, also being nicknamed Melli. A goalkeeper, he never played in higher than division three during his career.