Melli (Spanish footballer)

Melli

Personal information
Full name	Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado
Date of birth	(1984-06-06) 6 June 1984
Place of birth	Barbate, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Neftchi Baku
Number	5
Youth career
1988–2001	Betis
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2004	Betis B	58	(1)
2002	→ Poli Ejido (loan)	2	(0)
2002–2010	Betis	177	(4)
2010–2011	Tenerife	25	(1)
2011–2013	Gent	59	(3)
2013–2014	Sheriff	23	(3)
2014–2015	Ergotelis	10	(1)
2015	Simurq	14	(0)
2015–	Neftchi Baku	15	(0)
International career
2000–2001	Spain U16	6	(1)
2001	Spain U17	4	(1)
2002–2003	Spain U19	8	(0)
2003	Spain U20	9	(0)
2003–2006	Spain U21	20	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 December 2015

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Andreu and the second or maternal family name is Alvarado.

Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmeʎi]; born 6 June 1984), known as Melli, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Azerbaijani club Neftchi PFK. A versatile defender, he can appear as either a right back or a central defender.

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 into the next round – this came just one week after having scored two unfortunate 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.

International career

Melli represented the Spanish national team at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.

Personal life

Melli's nickname stems from the Spanish word mellizo (twin), as he himself is a twin. His brother Víctor is also a footballer, also being nicknamed Melli. A goalkeeper, he never played in higher than division three during his career.

Club statistics

As of 25 August 2015

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Betis	2002–03	La Liga	8	0	1	0	1	0	10	0
	2003–04	La Liga	4	0	0	0	—		4	0
	2004–05	La Liga	29	1	7	0	—		36	1
	2005–06	La Liga	31	0	5	0	11	1	47	1
	2006–07	La Liga	27	0	6	0	—		33	0
	2007–08	La Liga	26	0	2	0	—		28	0
	2008–09	La Liga	26	1	4	0	—		30	1
	2009–10	Segunda División	26	2	1	0	—		27	2
	Total		177	4	26	0	12	1	215	5
Tenerife	2010–11	Segunda División	25	1	0	0	—		25	1
Gent	2011–12	Belgian Pro League	37	3	4	1	—		41	4
	2012–13	Belgian Pro League	22	0	3	2	4	1	29	3
	Total		59	3	7	3	4	1	70	7
Sheriff	2013–14	Divizia Naţională	23	3	3	0	3	0	29	3
Ergotelis	2014–15	Superleague Greece	10	1	0	0	—		10	1
Simurq	2014–15	Azerbaijan Premier League	14	0	4	0	—		18	0
Neftchi Baku	2015–16	Azerbaijan Premier League	2	0	0	0	2	0	4	0
Career total			310	12	40	3	21	2	371	17

Honours

Club

Betis

• Copa del Rey: 2004–05

Sheriff

• Moldovan National Division: 2013–14

Country

Spain U16

• UEFA European Under-16 Championship: 2001

Spain U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2002

Spain U20

• FIFA U-20 World Cup: Runner-up 2003

External links

• Melli profile at BDFutbol
• Melli – FIFA competition record