{{Short description|Spanish footballer (born 1984)}} {{family name hatnote|Andreu|Alvarado|lang=Spanish}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Melli | image = | fullname = Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|6|6|df=y}} | birth_place = Barbate, Spain | height = {{height|m=1.81}} | position = Defender | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 1988–2001 | youthclubs1 = Betis | years1 = 2001–2004 | clubs1 = Betis B | caps1 = 58 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2002 | clubs2 = → Poli Ejido (loan) | caps2 = 2 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2002–2010 | clubs3 = Betis | caps3 = 177 | goals3 = 4 | years4 = 2010–2011 | clubs4 = Tenerife | caps4 = 25 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2011–2013 | clubs5 = Gent | caps5 = 59 | goals5 = 3 | years6 = 2013–2014 | clubs6 = Sheriff | caps6 = 23 | goals6 = 3 | years7 = 2014–2015 | clubs7 = Ergotelis | caps7 = 10 | goals7 = 1 | years8 = 2015 | clubs8 = Simurq | caps8 = 14 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2015–2016 | clubs9 = Neftçi | caps9 = 26 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2016–2017 | clubs10 = Reus | caps10 = 12 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2017–2019 | clubs11 = Mirandés | caps11 = 44 | goals11 = 4 | totalcaps = 450 | totalgoals = 17 | nationalyears1 = 2000–2001 | nationalteam1 = Spain U16 | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 2001 | nationalteam2 = Spain U17 | nationalcaps2 = 4 | nationalgoals2 = 1 | nationalyears3 = 2002–2003 | nationalteam3 = Spain U19 | nationalcaps3 = 8 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2003 | nationalteam4 = Spain U20 | nationalcaps4 = 9 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | nationalyears5 = 2003–2006 | nationalteam5 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps5 = 20 | nationalgoals5 = 1 | club-update = | nationalteam-update = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's Football}} {{MedalCountry|{{fb|ESP}}}} {{MedalCompetition|UEFA European Under-16 Championship}} {{Medal|Winner|2001 England|}} }} '''Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado''', known as '''Melli''' ({{IPA|es|ˈmeʎi}}); born 6 June 1984), is a Spanish former footballer. A versatile defender, he could play as either a right-back or a centre-back.
He spent most of his professional career at Betis, for which he appeared in 215 competitive matches and won the 2005 Copa del Rey.
==Club career== ===Betis=== Born in Barbate, Province of Cádiz, Melli joined Real Betis as a 14-year-old, and made his way up through the ranks until he reached the reserves in 2001. He spent a short period on loan at Andalusia neighbours Polideportivo Ejido in the late stages of the 2001–02 season, in the Segunda División.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://as.com/masdeporte/2002/04/27/polideportivo/1019880906_850215.html|title=El bético Melli suple a Sevilla|trans-title=Betis man Melli replaces Sevilla|newspaper=Diario AS|language=Spanish|date=27 April 2002|accessdate=9 December 2022}}</ref>
Melli scored his first professional goal through a header from a Joaquín corner kick, against CA Osasuna on 18 September 2004 (3–2 away loss).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/09/19/deportes/1095544815_850215.html|title=Osasuna remonta dos veces y se impone al Betis|trans-title=Osasuna come from behind twice and best Betis|newspaper=El País|location=Madrid|first=Víctor|last=Soto|language=Spanish|date=19 September 2004|accessdate=18 October 2017}}</ref> He also appeared in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup during the 2005–06 campaign: in the latter tournament, he scored an essential goal at AZ Alkmaar, which allowed his team to progress to the next round;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2006/02/23/actualidad/1140682917_850215.html|title=Melli suaviza la depresión del Betis|trans-title=Melli smoothens Betis depression|newspaper=El País|location=Madrid|language=Spanish|date=23 February 2006|accessdate=18 October 2017}}</ref> this came just one week after he put two past his own net against FC Barcelona in a La Liga match at the Camp Nou.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news/01b2-0e6d64af1265-a47544e3703d-1000--blistering-barca-back-in-the-groove/|title=Blistering Barça back in the groove|publisher=UEFA|date=18 February 2006|accessdate=9 December 2022}}</ref>
Melli won his first medal for Betis in 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.<ref name=SC>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01aa-0ea7c2f1ec05-c09c10a9a459-1000--dani-delivers-for-betis/|title=Dani delivers for Betis|publisher=UEFA|date=11 June 2005|access-date=27 March 2015}}</ref> 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.
===Later career=== In late August 2011, after another relegation, now with CD Tenerife (in the second division) whom he joined in summer 2010 – 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 from Belgium, joining compatriot César Arzo.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/2012/05/01/futbol/futbol_internacional/espanoles_mundo/1335879290.html|title=El futbolista español y el "efecto llamada"|trans-title=The Spanish footballer and the "phone call effect"|newspaper=Marca|first1=Andrés|last1=Armero|first2=Diego|last2=Acedo|language=Spanish|date=1 May 2012|accessdate=1 September 2019}}</ref> After leaving in 2013, he represented in quick succession FC Sheriff Tiraspol, Ergotelis FC, Simurq PIK<ref>{{cite web|url=http://simurqpfk.az/az/read/1870.html|title=Simurq daha bir futbolçu ilə müqavilə imzaladı|publisher=Simurq PFK|language=Azerbaijani|date=9 January 2015|accessdate=9 January 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109233938/http://simurqpfk.az/az/read/1870.html|archivedate=9 January 2015}}</ref> and Neftçi PFK, the latter two sides competing in the Azerbaijan Premier League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://azerisport.com/football/20150620102155877.html|script-title=ru:Нефтчи подписал бывшего защитника Симурга|trans-title=Neftchi signed former Simurg defender|publisher=Azeri Sport|language=Russian|date=20 June 2015|accessdate=20 June 2015}}</ref>
Following his release from Neftçi on 20 June 2016,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neftchipfk.com/az/allnews/564/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806121134/http://neftchipfk.com/az/allnews/564/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=6 August 2016|title=Neftçi PFK-nın məlumatı|trans-title=Neftchi PFK information|publisher=Neftçi PFK|language=Azerbaijani|date=20 June 2016|accessdate=29 July 2016}}</ref> the 32-year-old Meli returned to Spain and signed a one-year contract with CF Reus Deportiu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfreusdeportiu.com/2016/07/28/melli-signa-pel-reus/|title=Melli signa pel Reus|trans-title=Melli signs for Reus|publisher=Reus Deportiu|language=Catalan|date=28 July 2016|accessdate=29 July 2016}}{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
==International career== Melli represented Spain at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels. He made his debut for the latter on 29 April 2003 when he was 18, playing 18 minutes in a 1–0 win over Australia in Lorca,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2003/04/29/mas_futbol/1051567230_850215.html|title=España logra un trabajado triunfo|trans-title=Spain work hard for the win|newspaper=Diario AS|language=Spanish|date=29 April 2003|accessdate=18 July 2016}}</ref> and scored his only goal in another friendly, a 3–1 defeat of Scotland on 2 September 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2004/09/03/pagina-46/780186/pdf.html#|title=Iniesta encarrila el triunfo|trans-title=Iniesta leads way to win|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Manuel|last=Segura|language=Spanish|date=3 September 2004|accessdate=18 July 2016}}</ref>
In the run up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, senior team manager Luis Aragonés called up Melli to a get-together, however he was ultimately not part of the squad at the finals and never earned a full cap.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2006/04/08/five-new-faces-spain|title=Five new faces for Spain|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|date=8 April 2006|accessdate=6 October 2017}}</ref>
==Personal life== Melli's nickname stemmed from the Spanish word ''mellizo'' (twin), as he himself was a twin. His brother Víctor was also a footballer, also being nicknamed ''Melli''. A goalkeeper, he never played in higher than Segunda División B during his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diariosdefutbol.com/2007/11/23/3062/|title=Mellizos en el fútbol mundial (III)|trans-title=Twins in world football (III)|publisher=Diarios de Fútbol|first=Ramón|last=Flores|language=Spanish|date=23 November 2007|accessdate=26 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911003907/http://www.diariosdefutbol.com/2007/11/23/3062/|archive-date=11 September 2016}}</ref>
==Club statistics== {{updated|25 August 2015}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="9"|Betis |2002–03<ref name="BD">{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j1579.html|title=Melli: Juan Alberto Andreu Alvarado|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref> |La Liga |8||0||1||0||1{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Cup|name=UC}}||0||10||0 |- |2003–04<ref name="BD"/> |La Liga |4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||4||0 |- |2004–05<ref name="BD"/> |La Liga |29||1||7||0||colspan="2"|—||36||1 |- |2005–06<ref name="BD"/> |La Liga |31||0||5{{efn|Includes appearances in Supercopa de España|name=SSC}}||0||11{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League|name=UECL}}||1||47||1 |- |2006–07<ref name="BD"/> |La Liga |27||0||6||0||colspan="2"|—||33||0 |- |2007–08<ref name="BD"/> |La Liga |26||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||28||0 |- |2008–09<ref name="BD"/> |La Liga |26||1||4||0||colspan="2"|—||30||1 |- |2009–10<ref name="BD"/> |Segunda División |26||2||1||0||colspan="2"|—||27||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !177!!4!!26!!0!!12!!1!!215!!5 |- |rowspan="1"|Tenerife |2010–11<ref name="BD"/> |Segunda División |25||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||25||1 |- |rowspan="3"|Gent |2011–12<ref name="SW">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/juan-alberto-andreu-alvarado/3171/|title=Melli|publisher=Soccerway|accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref> |Belgian Pro League |37||3||4||1||colspan="2"|—||41||4 |- |2012–13<ref name="SW"/> |Belgian Pro League |22||0||3||2||4{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=UEL}}||1||29||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !59!!3!!7!!3!!4!!1!!70!!7 |- |Sheriff |2013–14<ref name="SW"/> |Divizia Naţională |23||3||3||0||3{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=UEL}}||0||29||3 |- |Ergotelis |2014–15<ref name="SW"/> |Super League Greece |10||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||10||1 |- |Simurq |2014–15<ref name="SW"/> |Azerbaijan Premier League |14||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||18||0 |- |Neftçi |2015–16<ref name="SW"/> |Azerbaijan Premier League |26||0||3||0||2{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||31||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !334!!12!!43!!3!!21!!2!!3989!!17 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Betis''' *Copa del Rey: 2004–05<ref name=SC/>
'''Sheriff''' *Moldovan National Division: 2013–14
'''Spain U16''' *UEFA European Under-16 Championship: 2001
'''Spain U19''' *UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2002<ref>{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2002/07/28/mas_futbol/1027807214_850215.html|title=España vence a Alemania y se proclama campeona de Europa Sub-19|trans-title=Spain beat Germany and are crowned Under-19 European champions|newspaper=Diario AS|language=Spanish|date=28 July 2002|accessdate=6 September 2018}}</ref>
'''Spain U20''' *FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2003<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/esporte/ult92u69332.shtml|title=Brasil é campeão mundial sub-20 e conquista a tríplice coroa|trans-title=Brazil are under-20 world champions and conquer the triple crown|newspaper=Folha de S.Paulo|language=Portuguese|date=19 December 2003|accessdate=14 January 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{BDFutbol|1579}} *{{FIFA player|183848}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Melli}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:People from Barbate Category:Footballers from the Province of Cádiz Category:Spanish twins Category:Spanish men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:La Liga players Category:Segunda División players Category:Segunda División B players Category:Betis Deportivo footballers Category:Real Betis players Category:Polideportivo Ejido footballers Category:CD Tenerife players Category:CF Reus Deportiu players Category:CD Mirandés footballers Category:Belgian Pro League players Category:KAA Gent players Category:Moldovan Super Liga players Category:FC Sheriff Tiraspol players Category:Super League Greece players Category:Ergotelis F.C. players Category:Azerbaijan Premier League players Category:Simurq PIK players Category:Neftçi PFK players Category:Spain men's youth international footballers Category:Spain men's under-21 international footballers Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Moldova Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Azerbaijan Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Moldova Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Greece Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Azerbaijan Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen