Hyderabad FC are delighted to announce the signing of defender Juan Antonio Gonzalez on one-year contract, the club announced on Monday. The experienced defender, who is fondly known as Juanan joins Hyderabad FC after spending five years with Bengaluru FC in the Hero Indian Super League.
“I am delighted to have signed for Hyderabad FC. I saw how the team put on a strong show last season in the [Hero] ISL. I spoke to Manuel and other players about the team, and I think we have a strong side this season to get to the semis,” said Juanan after putting pen to paper.
“Manuel is very good, as a coach and as a person. Everyone has seen the work he has put in with the team last season. His idea is very clear, and he wants his team to play with the ball in every situation. The team has always put up a fight at all times and everyone could see that,” he added.
Juanan is 1.92 m tall and makes great use of his height while defending. Meanwhile, the 34-year-old started his career with Spain’s club Deportivo La Coruna and also had a stint with Real Madrid Castilla. He moved to Germany and played in Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf. Subsequently, he made a move to India back in 2016 and joined the Blues.
Juanan has all the experience under his belt and he has won titles like Federation Cup (2017), Hero Super Cup (2018) and the Hero Indian Super League (2018-19) while playing for Bengaluru FC.
The Spaniard has played 71 Hero ISL matches in which he has scored five goals.
“Of course, I have spent a lot of time playing in India, and I hope I can help the younger players in the squad. As a defender, I like to always communicate with my teammates from the back. We have a right balance of youth and experience in our squad and I believe that not just me, but the other senior overseas and Indian players will help the youngsters develop and become a stronger unit,” added the Spaniard
Hyderabad FC has good experience in their team and have players who have played in the tournament consistently. The team’s head coach Manuel Marquez feels it will be crucial for the club’s success.
“From what I have seen in the [Hero] ISL last season, it is very important to sign players who know about the league and its distinctive features. All our foreigners have experience from last season and we’ll need them as we look to manage every situation during the next season,” said Marquez.
