Juan Esnáider

Juan Eduardo Esnáider Belén (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwan ezˈnajðeɾ]; born 5 March 1973) is an Argentine former footballer who played as a striker, and is a current manager.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Esnáider and the second or maternal family name is Belén.

Juan Esnáider
Personal information
Full name Juan Eduardo Esnáider Belén
Date of birth (1973-03-05) 5 March 1973
Place of birth Mar del Plata, Argentina
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Ferro Carril Oeste
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1991 Ferro Carril Oeste 6 (0)
1991–1993 Real Madrid B 44 (18)
1991–1993 Real Madrid 10 (1)
1993–1995 Zaragoza 61 (29)
1995–1996 Real Madrid 20 (1)
1996–1997 Atlético Madrid 35 (16)
1997–1998 Espanyol 37 (15)
1999–2001 Juventus 16 (0)
2000–2001 → Zaragoza (loan) 17 (11)
2001 Porto 3 (0)
2002 Cadetes San Martín
2002 River Plate 9 (0)
2003 Ajaccio 4 (0)
2003–2004 Murcia 17 (1)
2005 Newell's Old Boys 10 (1)
Total 261 (83)
National team
1991 Argentina U20 7 (7)
1995–1997 Argentina 3 (3)
Teams managed
2009–2010 Getafe (assistant)
2011–2012 Zaragoza B
2013 Córdoba
2016 Getafe
2017–2019 JEF United Chiba
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Having spent most of his career in Spain, he was known as a powerful player with an excellent aerial game. He started at Real Madrid in that country, having little impact with its first team and going on to represent another four clubs (mostly Real Zaragoza), amassing La Liga totals of 197 matches and 74 goals. Other than in his own country, he also competed professionally in Italy (Juventus), Portugal and France.

In 2011, Esnáider started working as a coach.

Club career

Born in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Esnáider began his footballing career with Ferro Carril Oeste, and made his professional debut against Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield on 2 September 1990. After only six games, he was bought by Real Madrid,[1] and still managed two first-team appearances during the 1990–91 season, also going on to score nearly 20 goals for the reserves in Segunda División.[2]

However, Esnáider never really settled in the main squad, and moved on loan to Real Zaragoza for 1993–94 (with the latter having the option to buy at the end of the campaign). He quickly developed into one of European football's most in-form strikers and, already property of the Aragonese side, helped them to the 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, scoring in the final against Arsenal[3][4] and being the tournament's second-best scorer behind Ian Wright (he also added 16 in La Liga).[5]

Real Madrid paid Zaragoza more than double they had received in July 1995,[6] but Esnáider only netted once during another disappointing season.[2] Signed by Atlético Madrid for 1996–97 – immediately after an historic double – he again displayed his best football, with 21 goals across all competitions.[7]

Esnáider joined Barcelona-based RCD Espanyol after being released by Atlético, and produced another good individual season with 13 successful strikes in the league. In January 1999, he was signed by Juventus F.C. for an estimated fee of £4,5 million, as an intended replacement for Alessandro Del Piero who had just been sidelined with a serious knee injury,[8] but was unable to settle at the Turin-based team.[9] In late December 2000 he returned to Zaragoza and,[10] with 11 goals in just 17 matches, helped the side avoid relegation (that included two on 14 April 2001 in a 4–4 tie at FC Barcelona),[11][2] adding his second Copa del Rey in the process.[12]

Subsequently, Esnáider's career remained low-profile, with spells at FC Porto (arriving the season after countryman Juan Antonio Pizzi, who also left unsettled after a few months),[13] Cadetes de San Martín, Club Atlético River Plate,[14] AC Ajaccio[15] and Real Murcia, before retiring at Newell's Old Boys in Argentina. He obtained his coaching degree in 2008 and, in April of the following year, became Getafe CF's assistant to former Real Madrid teammate Míchel, who was replacing Víctor Muñoz after a string of bad results; he occupied the position until December 2010.[16]

On 8 April 2013, after one full season in Segunda División B with Zaragoza's B team,[17] Esnáider was appointed at Córdoba CF until June after the sacking of Rafael Berges.[18] He won only two of nine games during his spell, as the team went on rank 14th in the second level.[19]

Esnáider returned to Getafe on 12 April 2016 following the dismissal of Fran Escribá, but now as head coach.[20] His first match in the Spanish top flight – as a manager – took place four days later, in a 1–5 home loss to former club Real Madrid.[21]

International career

Esnáider represented Argentina on three occasions, his debut coming in 1995.[22] Previously, he appeared with the under-20s at the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship held in Portugal.[23]

Temperament

During his first spell at Zaragoza and while at Atlético Madrid, Esnáider was considered by many as one of the most promising strikers in European football. However, this was often overshadowed by his misconduct and foul play in many matches:

After missing a penalty kick in Atlético's match against AFC Ajax, in the 1996–97 edition of the UEFA Champions League, he made a ferocious two-footed tackle at Richard Witschge, but was lucky to receive only a yellow card. Minutes later, he was enraged when he was substituted by coach Radomir Antić, shouting out profanities;[24][25][26] the next day, he was transferlisted by illusive chairman Jesús Gil;

In 2000–01's dying stages, as Zaragoza fought to retain their top-level status, Esnáider brutally assaulted a RC Celta de Vigo player with his elbow (with the consequent dismissal), allegedly after being told by the club he would be deemed surplus to requirements for the following season. The player denied, however, this as the main reason for the incident;[24]

At the 1991 World Youth Championships, Esnáider was sent off for headbutting referee Guy Goethals and calling him a "son of a whore". He was banned from international football for a year, and Argentina were disqualified from the following edition of the tournament.[27][28]

Personal life

Esnáider's son, also named Juan, was also a footballer a forward. He too represented Zaragoza.[29]

On Christmas Day 2012, Esnáider lost a 17-year-old son to illness.[30] His surname was a Spanish spelling of the German Schneider, which meant "tailor", and he was of Volga German and Spanish descent.[24]

Managerial statistics
As of match played 17 March 2019
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Zaragoza B[31] 1 July 2011 30 June 2012 40 13 11 16 50 60 −10 032.50
Córdoba[32] 8 April 2013 11 June 2013 9 2 1 6 12 14 −2 022.22
Getafe[33] 12 April 2016 26 September 2016 14 3 5 6 13 22 −9 021.43
JEF United Chiba[34] 26 February 2017 17 March 2019 89 37 16 36 148 144 +4 041.57
Career total 152 55 33 64 223 240 −17 036.18

Honours

Club

Real Madrid

Zaragoza

Juventus

River Plate

References
  1. Galaz, Mábel (23 April 1991). "Esnaider fue presentado como jugador del Madrid" [Esnaider was presented as Madrid player]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  2. López Bolea, Mariano (1 April 2015). "Yo jugué en el Real Zaragoza: Esnáider" [I played for Real Zaragoza: Esnáider] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  3. "1994/95: Nayim's bolt from the blue sinks Arsenal". UEFA. 1 June 1995. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  4. "¿Qué fue de 'los héroes de París'?" [What happened to the 'heroes of Paris'?]. Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 4 May 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  5. Sámano, José (20 June 1995). "El Madrid ultima el regreso de Esnáider" [Madrid preparing Esnáider's return]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  6. Carbajosa, Carlos E. (22 July 1995). "Esnaider enamora a Mendoza" [Mendoza in love with Esnaider]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  7. Avellana Buñuel, Gonzalo (1 May 2020). "El Gardel de La Romareda" [La Romareda's Gardel] (in Spanish). Diario UF. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  8. Metcalf, Rupert (19 January 1999). "Bari coach calls for Platt ban as Henry joins Juve". The Independent. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  9. Spinella, Vanni (9 January 2018). ""Affaracci" di gennaio: Esnaider, il vice Del Piero che non faceva gol" [January "stuff": Esnaider, Del Piero's replacement who did not score] (in Italian). Sky Sport. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  10. "Financial Statements as at 30 June 2001" (PDF). Juventus F.C. 4 September 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 November 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  11. Astruells, Andrés (15 April 2001). "Abonados al milagro" [Living on the edge]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  12. Ortego, Enrique (1 July 2001). "Zaragoza, no hay quinta Copa mala" [Zaragoza, no such thing as a bad fifth Cup]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  13. "FC Porto rescinde com Osvaldo" [FC Porto rescind with Osvaldo] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  14. "Esnáider returns to Argentina". UEFA. 16 January 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  15. "Ajaccio snare Esnáider". UEFA. 28 January 2003. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  16. "Míchel confirma la salida de Esnáider del Getafe" [Míchel confirms Esnáider departure from Getafe]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 December 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  17. Ramírez, A. (21 May 2012). "Juan Esnáider no continuará en el Real Zaragoza" [Juan Esnáider will not continue with Real Zaragoza]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  18. "Esnáider, nuevo entrenador del Córdoba" [Esnáider, new manager of Córdoba]. Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 9 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  19. León, José Carlos (29 May 2013). "Esnáider, números de revulsivo imperfecto" [Esnáider, figures of an imperfect catalyst]. El Día de Córdoba (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  20. "Esnáider, nuevo entrenador del Getafe" [Esnáider, new manager of Getafe]. ABC (in Spanish). 12 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  21. "Esnáider: "Más allá del resultado, he visto cosas positivas en el equipo"" [Esnáider: "The result notwithstanding, I have seen positive things in the team"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 16 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  22. Vandenberghe, Luc. "Argentina National Team Players 1964–1998". RSSSF. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
  23. Juan Esnáider – FIFA competition record
  24. Casado, Edu (6 September 2008). "Qué fue de...Esnáider" [What happened to...Esnáider]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  25. "Esnaider se encara con su entrenador" [Esnaider gets in face of coach]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 20 March 1997. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  26. "Esnáider tantrum". YouTube. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
  27. Hughes, Rob (3 July 1991). "From little stars, major sins". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  28. Jackson, Jamie (2 July 2006). "Pekerman ethos blown up in a fit of emotion". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  29. Gaudioso, Sonia (8 March 2014). "Herrera cita al hijo de Esnáider para el partido ante el Mallorca" [Herrera calls Esnáider's son for game against Mallorca]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  30. "Fallece el hijo de Juan Eduardo Esnáider por una enfermedad" [Juan Eduardo Esnáider's son dies from illness]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 25 December 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  31. "Segunda División B (Grupo 3) 2011–12" [Segunda División B (Group 3) 2011–12] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
    "Fase de permanencia en Segunda División B 2011–12" [Promotion/relegation play-off in Segunda División B 2011–12] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  32. "Esnáider: Juan Eduardo Esnáider Belén". BDFutbol. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  33. "Getafe results". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  34. "Clubs & Players – JEF UNITED CHIBA". J. League. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  35. "Rennes 2–2 Juventus (Aggregate: 2–4)". UEFA. 24 August 1999. Archived from the original on 14 July 2004. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
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