José Ignacio Sáenz

José Ignacio Sáenz Marín (born 28 September 1973), known as José Ignacio, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

Born in Logroño, La Rioja, José Ignacio made his professional debuts for hometown's CD Logroñés. Upon its La Liga relegation at the end of the 1994–95 season he joined Valencia CF, helping with 27 matches to a final runner-up place in his first year.

In the 1997 summer, José Ignacio moved to Real Zaragoza, where he would play five seasons. In the 2000–01 campaign he scored a career-best six goals, including one in a 14 April 2001 thriller at FC Barcelona that finished 4–4 as the Aragonese went on to barely avoid relegation (17th, adding that season's Copa del Rey2000–01,), which would eventually befall the next year.

José Ignacio joined Celta de Vigo for 2002–03, appearing in 33 league contests as the Galician team achieved a UEFA Champions League berth. However, it would also be relegated the following season.

Upon retiring in 2006 at nearly 33, one year after playing only 11 games as Celta returned to the top level, he rejoined his first club Logroñés as a technical director. In 11 top flight seasons (out of the 12 he played), he amassed totals of 317 matches and 17 goals.

International career

José Ignacio received two caps for Spain during 2001: the first came in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein on 5 September, and he also appeared in a friendly in Huelva with Mexico, two months later.

Previously, José Ignacio represented the nation at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Honours

Club

Zaragoza

• Copa del Rey: 2000–01

Country

Spain U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: Runner-up 1996

• Italia ya ganó un Europeo a España en el 1996 (Italy has already won European Championships against Spain in 1996); Orgullo Bianconero, 18 June 2013 (Spanish)