Juan Carlos Ablanedo Iglesias (Spanish pronunciation: [xwaŋ ˈkaɾlos aβlaˈneðo];[a] born 2 September 1963) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Due to his above-average reflexes, he was nicknamed El gato (cat), and represented local club Sporting de Gijón for almost 20 years as a professional.[1][2]
Ablanedo was born in Mieres, Asturias. He played solely for Sporting de Gijón after being a product of the club's famed youth system, Mareo, and received his first-team debut on 2 January 1983, as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 home win against RCD Español after José Aurelio Rivero was sent off.[3]
After two further games the following season, Ablanedo became the Asturian side's undisputed starter, totalling 399 in La Liga.[4] In the 1986–87 campaign, as Sporting finished fourth, he appeared in 42 matches (out of 44, as the league had a second stage).
Ablanedo retired from football after 1998–99, with Sporting now in the Segunda División.[5] He also had some serious injuries during his career, making only two appearances in his last season and none whatsoever in 1991–92.[6][7][8] He was awarded the Ricardo Zamora Trophy three times.[1][9]
Ablanedo earned four caps for Spain, the first coming on 24 September 1986 in a 3–1 friendly victory over Greece in Gijón.[10] He was a backup at both the 1986[11] and 1990 FIFA World Cups.[12]
Previously, Ablanedo helped the nation's under-21s to conquer the 1986 European Championship.[13]
Ablanedo's older brother, José Luis, was also a footballer. A defender, he too played several top-tier seasons with Sporting, and they were hence known as Ablanedo I and Ablanedo II.[14]
Spain U21
Individual
Spain squads | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
wikipedians
This is the start of the #wikipedians chat. #wikipedians — chat for Wikipedians about leveraging the hub to improve its root Wikipedia article.
