Josep Moratalla

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Josep Moratalla

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|fullname = Josep Moratalla Claramunt

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|10|1|df=y}}

|birth_place = Esparreguera, Spain

|height = 1.83 m

|position = Centre-back

|youthyears1 = 1972–1977 | youthclubs1 = Barcelona

|years1 = 1977–1978 | clubs1 = Barcelona C | caps1 = | goals1 =

|years2 = 1978–1982 | clubs2 = Barcelona B | caps2 = 66 | goals2 = 2

|years3 = 1979–1980 | clubs3 = → Deportivo La Coruña (loan) | caps3 = 13 | goals3 = 0

|years4 = 1982–1988 | clubs4 = Barcelona | caps4 = 104 | goals4 = 1

|years5 = 1988–1991 | clubs5 = Figueres | caps5 = 43 | goals5 = 3

|totalcaps = 226 | totalgoals = 6

|manageryears1 = 1992–1993 | managerclubs1 = Santboià

|manageryears2 = 1993–1995 | managerclubs2 = Santboià

|manageryears3 = 1995–1997 | managerclubs3 = Europa

|manageryears4 = 2000–2001 | managerclubs4 = Premià

|manageryears5 = 2001–2003 | managerclubs5 = Girona

|manageryears6 = 2004–2006 | managerclubs6 = Europa

}}

Josep Moratalla Claramunt (born 1 October 1958) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a central defender, and a manager.

Playing career

Born in Esparreguera, Barcelona, Catalonia, Moratalla signed for FC Barcelona in 1972 at the age of 13. He played seven seasons with the national powerhouse (also being loaned to Deportivo de La Coruña in the Segunda División as he was due to perform his compulsory military service in Galicia),{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1979/11/16/pagina-13/1053590/pdf.html|title=Moratalla, al Coruña|trans-title=Moratalla, to Coruña|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=16 November 1979|access-date=6 September 2018}} but only appeared a total of 19 times in La Liga in his first four years, barred by José Ramón Alexanko and Migueli{{cite news|url=https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/moratalla-clos-estella-ramos-recuerdan-clasico-barquisimeto-6166605|title=Moratalla, Clos, Estella y Ramos recuerdan el clásico de Barquisimeto|trans-title=Moratalla, Clos, Estella and Ramos remember the classic of Barquisimeto|newspaper=Sport|first=David|last=Salinas|language=es|date=27 July 2017|access-date=4 September 2018}}– for instance, when the Blaugrana won the national championship in the 1984–85 campaign, he only totalled 104 minutes in two matches;{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1985/04/09/pagina-5/1120952/pdf.html|title=La zaga que se opondrá al Bilbao, un completo acertijo|trans-title=Defense that will play Bilbao, a major riddle|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=9 April 1985|access-date=24 April 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1986/09/04/pagina-7/1147352/pdf.html|title=Moratalla: "Se decidió que Schuster no asistiese a las reuniones de las primas"|trans-title=Moratalla: "It was decided that Schuster would not attend the meetings regarding bonuses"|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=4 September 1986|access-date=24 April 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.martiperarnau.com/firma/barca-113-anos-y-113-alineaciones/|title=Barça: 113 años y 113 alineaciones|trans-title=Barça: 113 years and 113 lineups|publisher=Perarnau Magazine|first=Ángel|last=Iturriaga|language=es|date=1 December 2012|access-date=24 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424031041/http://www.martiperarnau.com/firma/barca-113-anos-y-113-alineaciones/|archive-date=24 April 2014}} he made his league debut for the club on 28 February 1982, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 home win against Sevilla FC.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1982/03/01/pagina-3/1065379/pdf.html|title=2–0: Victoria merecida, pero no fácil sobre el Sevilla|trans-title=2–0: Deserved but not easy win over Sevilla|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=1 March 1982|access-date=24 April 2014}}

Even though used rarely in his beginnings, Moratalla started in the 1982 European Cup Winners' Cup final, a 2–1 victory over Standard Liège at the Camp Nou,{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season=1981/intro.html|title=1981/82: Home sweet home for Barcelona|publisher=UEFA|date=1 June 1982|access-date=24 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20060917061409/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season=1981/intro.html|archive-date=17 September 2006}} Additionally, he was brought from the bench in the 1986 European Cup final, lost in a penalty shootout to FC Steaua București.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7352959.stm|title=When Bryan Robson tamed Barca|publisher=BBC Sport|first1=Jonathan|last1=Stevenson|first2=Chris|last2=Bevan|date=22 April 2008|access-date=22 April 2008}}

Moratalla played with Barcelona until 1988, being first choice in his final two years and adding the Copa del Rey to his trophy cabinet in his last. He retired from football aged 32 after three seasons in the second tier with another team in his native region, UE Figueres.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.sevilla.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/sevilla/abc.sevilla/1989/05/22/060.html|title=3–1: El Figueres mantiene sus aspiraciones de ascenso|trans-title=3–1: Figueres' possibilities of promotion intact|newspaper=ABC|language=es|date=22 May 1989|access-date=24 April 2014}}

Coaching career

Moratalla started working as a manager in 1992, and all of his clubs hailed from his region of birth and competed in the lower leagues. His first job was at FC Santboià,{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1992/07/18/pagina-43/1262016/pdf.html|title=Después de un año en blanco, vuelve Avellanet|trans-title=After blank year, Avellanet returns|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=18 July 1992|access-date=6 September 2018}} followed by CE Europa where he would have two separate spells.{{cite news|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/lemos/2005/02/02/guardameta-monfortino-manuel-parada-jugara-europa/0003_3427366.htm|title=El guardameta monfortino Manuel Parada jugará en el Europa|trans-title=Monforte-born goalkeeper Manuel Parada will play in Europa|newspaper=La Voz de Galicia|first=Luis|last=Conde|language=es|date=2 February 2005|access-date=6 September 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.btv.cat/btvnoticies/2014/01/28/fa-10-anys-moratalla-pensava-que-salvaria-leuropa-del-descens-a-1%c2%aa-catalana/|title=Fa 10 anys… Moratalla pensava que salvaria l'Europa del descens a Primera Catalana|trans-title=10 years ago… Moratalla thought he would save Europa from relegating to Primera Catalana|publisher=Barcelona Televisió|language=ca|date=28 January 2014|access-date=24 April 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ceeuropa.cat/el-club/historia/tots-els-entrenadors|title=Tots els entrenadors|trans-title=All the managers|publisher=CE Europa|language=ca|access-date=6 September 2018}}

Moratalla's only experience in the Segunda División B came during 2000–01 with CE Premià, where he ultimately did not possess the necessary requirements to coach at that level after failing his exam.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2000/12/29/pagina-23/668469/pdf.html|title=El Premià té molts problemes i partit benèfic de 'l'Hospi'|trans-title=Premià have many problems and 'Hospi' charity match|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=ca|date=29 December 2000|access-date=6 September 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2001/01/07/pagina-31/425979/pdf.html|title=Moratalla quiere salir del pozo ante un temeroso Gandía|trans-title=Moratalla wants to leave pit against fearful Gandía|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=7 January 2001|access-date=6 September 2018}} The team eventually ranked in last position, and he went on to be in charge of Girona FC from Tercera División for two years.{{cite news|url=http://www.elpuntavui.cat/article/96912.html|title=L'hora de volar tot sol per a Narcís Julià|trans-title=Time for Narcís Julià to fly on his own|newspaper=El Punt|language=ca|date=27 October 2009|access-date=6 September 2018}}

Additionally, Moratalla acted as sporting president of Barcelona's Agrupació Barça Jugadors, who held several activities and events involving past players of the organization.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.cat/club/noticies/2016-2017/l-agrupacio-barca-jugadors-celebra-comiat-temporada-camp-nou|title=L'agrupació Barça Jugadors celebra el comiat de temporada al Camp Nou|trans-title=The Barça Players Association celebrates season closer at the Camp Nou|publisher=FC Barcelona|language=ca|date=23 June 2017|access-date=6 September 2018}}

Honours

Barcelona

La Liga: 1984–85{{cite web|url=http://www.jugadorsfcbarcelona.cat/database/index.php?option=com_hotproperty&task=view&id=56&Itemid=27|title=Moratalla Claramunt, Josep|publisher=Agrupació Barça Jugadors|language=ca|access-date=5 September 2018}}
Copa del Rey: 1982–83, 1987–88; runner-up: 1983–84, 1985–86
Copa de la Liga: 1986
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1981–82
Supercopa de España runner-up: 1985{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spansupcuphist.html|title=Spain – List of Super Cup Finals|publisher=RSSSF|first1=José Vicente|last1=Tejedor Carnicero|first2=Raúl|last2=Torre|first3=Carles|last3=Lozano Ferrer|access-date=4 September 2018}}
European Cup runner-up: 1985–86{{cite news|url=https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/schuster-desvela-famosa-espanta-final-sevilla-6308290|title=Schuster desvela su famosa 'espantá' en la final de Sevilla|trans-title=Schuster speaks of his famous 'escape' in the Seville final|newspaper=Sport|language=es|date=25 September 2017|access-date=4 September 2018}}