José Luis Caminero

Football player infobox
playername = José Luis Caminero


fullname = José Luis Pérez Caminero
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1967|11|8
cityofbirth = Madrid
countryofbirth = Spain
height = height| m = 1.87
weight = 85 kg
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1986-1989
youthclubs = Real Madrid Castilla
years = 1989-1993
1993-1998
1998-2004
clubs = Real Valladolid
Atlético Madrid
Real Valladolid
caps(goals) = 134 (3)
149 (40)
155 (15)
nationalyears = 1993-1996
nationalteam = flagicon|ESP Spain
nationalcaps(goals) = 21 (8)
pcupdate = July 30, 2004
ntupdate = July 30, 2004

José Luis Pérez Caminero (born November 8, 1967 in Madrid) is a former Spanish football midfielder.

Arguably one of the best Spanish footballers of the 1990s, Caminero was able to play in any midfield position, in the middle or in the wings. He possessed a vast array of skills: dribble, shot and physique.

Club career

After unsuccessfully emerging through the ranks of Real Madrid, Caminero joined Real Valladolid for 1989-90, helping the side barely avoid relegation. He netted his first top flight goal in the following season, in a December 16, 1990 3-1 home win over Valencia CF.

The peak of Caminero's career took place from 1994-95, when he moved to Atlético de Madrid. He was a key member of the Atlético squad that won an historical "double" in 1995-96. Accordingly, after the season, he was given the Spanish Footballer of the Year award by both the Madrid newspaper "El País" and the prestigious football magazine "Don Balón". He remains to be the only Atlético player ever who has won both awards during one season.

After four seasons at Atlético, Caminero re-joined Valladolid, where he ended his active playing career in 2004, after the team's relegation. In his final years, he further enhanced his versatility by playing in the sweeper position.

After his retirement, Caminero was installed as the team's sports director. He left the position citing personal reasons after 2007-08.

International career

Caminero made his national team debut on September 8, 1993, in a 2-0 friendly win against Chile.

Later, he represented Spain at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, where he was the nation's leading scorer at 3 (netting twice against Bolivia in a 3-1 win) and also in Euro 96 in England, where he scored a late equalizer against France. Overall, he scored eight goals in 21 caps.

Other ventures

Caminero's football genius also made it to the silver screen. Spanish movie director Pedro Almodóvar included his dribbling against FC Barcelona's defender Miguel Ángel Nadal in his 1997 film "Live Flesh" ("Carne trémula").

Honours

Club

*flagicon|ESP Atlético Madrid
**Spanish League: 1995-96
**Spanish Cup: 1996

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=5521 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon
* [http://futbol.sportec.es/seleccion/ficha_jugador.asp?j=97&n=caminero/jose/luis/perez/caminero National team data] es icon