Juan Merino

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Juan Merino

| image = Merino v2011.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Merino in 2008

| fullname = Juan Merino Ruiz{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/envivos/fichas/1/021/4373.html|title=Juan MERINO Ruiz|newspaper=El Mundo|language=es|access-date=27 September 2022}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|8|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = La Línea, Spain

| height = {{height|m=1.76}}

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Betis

| years1 = 1989–1990 | clubs1 = Betis B | caps1 = 11 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1990–2002 | clubs2 = Betis | caps2 = 315 | goals2 = 3

| years3 = 2002–2007 | clubs3 = Recreativo | caps3 = 137 | goals3 = 1

| totalcaps = 463 | totalgoals = 4

| nationalyears1 = 1991 | nationalteam1 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1991–1992 | nationalteam2 = Spain U23 | nationalcaps2 = 6 | nationalgoals2 = 1

| manageryears1 = 2010–2011 | managerclubs1 = Recreativo (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2011 | managerclubs2 = Xerez

| manageryears3 = 2014–2016 | managerclubs3 = Betis B

| manageryears4 = 2014 | managerclubs4 = Betis (caretaker)

| manageryears5 = 2016 | managerclubs5 = Betis

| manageryears6 = 2016–2017 | managerclubs6 = Gimnàstic

| manageryears7 = 2017 | managerclubs7 = Córdoba

| manageryears8 = 2019 | managerclubs8 = UCAM Murcia

}}

Juan Merino Ruiz (born 24 August 1970) is a Spanish retired footballer who played mainly as a central defender, currently a manager.

He played solely in Andalusia in a 17-year professional career, with Betis and Recreativo, appearing in more than 200 matches in both La Liga and the Segunda División.

Subsequently, Merino worked as a manager, including jobs at his former clubs.

Playing career

Born in La Línea de la Concepción, Province of Cádiz, Merino joined Real Betis's first team in 1990, becoming their captain in later years.{{cite news|url=https://www.estadiodeportivo.com/joaquin-adorna/2016/03/12/merino-capitan-merino-entrenador/65438.html|title=Del Merino-capitán al Merino-entrenador|trans-title=From Merino-captain to Merino-manager|newspaper=Estadio Deportivo|first=Joaquín|last=Adorna|language=es|date=12 March 2016|access-date=27 September 2022}} Out of his 12 years at the club eight were in La Liga, and he appeared in 203 games in that division, scoring two goals; in the 1996–97 season, he contributed 36 matches to help to a fourth-place finish.

In 2002–03, staying in Andalusia, Merino signed a two-year contract with Recreativo de Huelva.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2002/06/07/mas_futbol/1023400841_850215.html|title=El Recreativo ficha y presenta al ex bético Merino|trans-title=Recreativo sign and present former Betis man Merino|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=7 June 2002|access-date=27 September 2022}} In his first season the side was relegated, regaining top-flight status in 2006 as champions.{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2006/06/18/futbol/1150655589.html|title=El Recreativo se proclama campeón en Segunda|trans-title=Recreativo crowned champions in Segunda|newspaper=El Mundo|language=es|date=18 June 2006|access-date=27 September 2022}} After featuring in 23 games in the 2006–07 campaign he retired from football, with 522 professional appearances to his credit.{{cite news|url=https://sevilla.abc.es/alfinaldelapalmera/noticias-betis/sevi-juan-merino-el-eterno-capit-cuelga-las-botas-200706141721_noticia.html|title=Juan Merino, el 'eterno capitán', cuelga las botas|trans-title=Juan Merino, the 'eternal captain', hangs up boots|newspaper=ABC|language=es|date=14 June 2007|access-date=27 September 2022}}

Coaching career

Immediately after retiring, Merino rejoined Betis as director of football.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/sevilla/abc.sevilla/2007/07/03/091.html|title=Merino ya ejerce en la renovada secretaría técnica|trans-title=Merino already at work in the renewed technical staff|newspaper=ABC|language=es|date=3 July 2007|access-date=10 January 2019}} He was named assistant coach in 2009, going on to work with two different managers.{{cite web|url=http://www.realbetisbalompie.es/noticias/comunicados.html?id=5625|title=José María Nogués se hace cargo del primer equipo|trans-title=José María Nogués charged with first team|publisher=Real Betis|language=es|date=6 April 2009|access-date=27 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410145718/http://www.realbetisbalompie.es/noticias/comunicados.html?id=5625|archive-date=10 April 2009}}{{cite news|url=https://www.elcorreo.com/videos/vizcaya/actualidad-vizcaya/731660275001-antonio-tapia-firma-como-nuevo-entrenador-verdiblanco.html|title=Antonio Tapia firma como nuevo entrenador verdiblanco|trans-title=Antonio Tapia signs as new green-and-white manager|newspaper=El Correo|language=es|date=13 June 2009|access-date=27 September 2022}}

In the 2010–11 season, Merino cut ties with Betis and returned to Recre as assistant to Pablo Alfaro – a former Sevilla FC defender – with the club in the Segunda División. The latter was fired in mid-October after only eight games (four draws and four losses), and the former stayed on as second in command to Carlos Ríos.{{cite web|url=https://www.europasur.es/deportes/Rios-Merino-estrenan-frente-Recre_0_417258548.html|title=Ríos y Merino se estrenan al frente del Recre|trans-title=Ríos and Merino make debut at the helm of Recre|publisher=Europa Sur|language=es|date=23 October 2010|access-date=21 October 2019}}

Merino was named manager of Xerez CD on 14 June 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/deportes/futbol-00162/noticia-futbol-xerez-ficha-juan-merino-entrenador-proxima-temporada-20110614191513.html|title=Fútbol.– El Xerez ficha a Juan Merino como entrenador para la próxima temporada|trans-title=Football.– Xerez sign Juan Merino as manager for the next season|publisher=Europa Press|language=es|date=14 June 2011|access-date=27 September 2022}} He was sacked on 4 December, due to poor results.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2011/12/04/mas_futbol/1322953239_850215.html|title=El Xerez destituye a su entrenador Juan Merino|trans-title=Xerez dismiss their manager Juan Merino|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=4 December 2011|access-date=27 September 2022}}

On 25 June 2014, after nearly three years without a club, Merino was appointed at the helm of Betis B.{{cite web|url=http://www.realbetisbalompie.es/es/noticias/heliopolis/2709/juan-merino-sera-el-entrenador-del-betis-b|title=Juan Merino será el entrenador del Betis B|trans-title=Juan Merino will be the manager of Betis B|publisher=Real Betis|language=es|date=28 June 2014|access-date=29 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703020429/http://www.realbetisbalompie.es/es/noticias/heliopolis/2709/juan-merino-sera-el-entrenador-del-betis-b|archive-date=3 July 2014}} On 25 November, after Julio Velázquez's dismissal from the first team, he was named interim manager;{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20141125/betis/el-betis-se-carga-a-julio-velazquez_54420728155.html|title=El Betis se carga a Julio Velázquez|trans-title=Betis oust Julio Velázquez|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=25 November 2014|access-date=29 December 2016}} he remained in charge for four league matches, achieving as many wins before being replaced by Pepe Mel and returning to his previous duties.{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2014/12/21/segunda/1419157806_360147.html|title=Merino se despide inmaculado|trans-title=Merino leaves untouched|newspaper=Diario AS|first=José A.|last=Espina|language=es|date=21 December 2014|access-date=29 December 2016}}

On 11 January 2016, Merino was again appointed caretaker manager at Betis, following Mel's sacking.{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/futbol/repite-historia-juan-merino-otra-vez-sustituto-provisional-4805823|title=Se repite la historia: Juan Merino, otra vez sustituto provisional|trans-title=History repeats itself: Juan Merino, again interim|newspaper=Sport|language=es|date=11 January 2016|access-date=29 December 2016}} On 3 February, he was chosen to remain in the position until the end of the season.{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/betis/20160203/301872967515/juan-merino-sera-el-entrenador-hasta-final-de-temporada.html|title=Juan Merino será el entrenador hasta final de temporada|trans-title=Juan Merino will be the manager until the end of the season|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Jordi|last=Santamaría|language=es|date=3 February 2016|access-date=29 December 2016}}

On 25 May 2016, after the arrival of new boss Gus Poyet, Merino left Betis.{{cite web|url=http://huelva24.com/not/85457/juan-merino-deja-el-betis-y-paco-herrera-fichara-por-el-valladolid/|title=Juan Merino deja el Betis y Paco Herrera fichará por el Valladolid|trans-title=Juan Merino leaves Betis and Paco Herrera will sign for Valladolid|publisher=Huelva 24|language=es|date=25 May 2016|access-date=29 December 2016}} On 28 December, he took over at second-tier club Gimnàstic de Tarragona in the place of Vicente Moreno,{{cite web|url=http://www.gimnasticdetarragona.cat/juan-merino-nou-entrenador-grana/|title=Juan Merino, nou entrenador grana|trans-title=Juan Merino, new grana manager|publisher=Gimnàstic Tarragona|language=ca|date=28 December 2016|access-date=29 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230090431/http://www.gimnasticdetarragona.cat/juan-merino-nou-entrenador-grana/|archive-date=30 December 2016}} but was himself relieved of his duties the following 20 May as the team was still in the relegation zone.{{cite web|url=http://www.gimnasticdetarragona.cat/merino-deixa-de-ser-lentrenador-del-nastic/|title=Merino deixa de ser l'entrenador del Nàstic|trans-title=Merino is no longer Nàstic manager|publisher=Gimnàstic Tarragona|language=ca|date=20 May 2017|access-date=20 May 2017}}

On 18 October 2017, Merino replaced the dismissed Luis Carrión at the helm of Córdoba CF, still in the second division.{{cite web|url=http://www.cordobacf.com/noticia/comunicado-oficial-juan-merino-nuevo-entrenador-1|title=Comunicado oficial: Juan Merino, nuevo entrenador|trans-title=Official statement: Juan Merino, new manager|publisher=Córdoba CF|language=es|date=18 October 2017|access-date=28 October 2017}} He was fired on 7 December after winning none and drawing three of his seven fixtures.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/cordoba/2017/12/04/5a25957946163f7b248b45c5.html|title=Merino, destituido como técnico del Córdoba|trans-title=Merino, dismissed as manager of Córdoba|newspaper=Marca|first=Rafa|last=Fernández|language=es|date=4 December 2017|access-date=16 August 2019}}

Merino returned to management on 29 April 2019, taking over from Pedro Munitis at UCAM Murcia CF and tasked with taking the team to play-offs of Segunda División B in their final three games.{{cite web|url=https://www.eldesmarque.com/sevilla/real-betis/1153296-juan-merino-nuevo-entrenador-ucam-murcia|title=Juan Merino, nuevo entrenador del UCAM Murcia|trans-title=Juan Merino, new manager of UCAM Murcia|publisher=El Desmarque|language=es|date=29 April 2019|access-date=27 September 2022}}

Managerial statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Nat !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="8"\|Record !rowspan=2\|{{abbr\|Ref\|Reference}}
{{Tooltip\|G\|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip\|GD\|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}}
align="left" \|Xerez \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} \|align=left\|14 June 2011 \|align=left\|5 December 2011 {{WDL\|17\|4\|5\|8\|for=15\|against=21\|diff=yes}} \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?temp=2011-12\|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz\|publisher=BDFutbol\|access-date=1 March 2017}}
align="left" \|Betis B \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} \|align=left\|25 June 2014 \|align=left\|11 January 2016 {{WDL\|54\|18\|10\|26\|for=57\|against=68\|diff=yes}} \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?cat=-&temp=2014-15&equip=137&rival=-\|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz\|publisher=BDFutbol\|access-date=1 March 2017}} {{cite web\|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?cat=-&temp=2015-16&equip=137&rival=-\|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz\|publisher=BDFutbol\|access-date=1 March 2017}}
align="left" \|Betis (caretaker) \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} \|align=left\|25 November 2014 \|align=left\|23 December 2014 {{WDL\|6\|4\|0\|2\|for=10\|against=6\|diff=yes}} \|{{cite web\|url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?cat=-&temp=2014-15&equip=8&rival=-\|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz\|publisher=BDFutbol\|access-date=1 March 2017}}
align="left" \|Betis \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} \|align=left\|11 January 2016 \|align=left\|25 May 2016 {{WDL\|20\|6\|7\|7\|for=21\|against=28\|diff=yes}} \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?cat=-&temp=2015-16&equip=8&rival=-\|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz\|publisher=BDFutbol\|access-date=1 March 2017}}
align="left" \|Gimnàstic \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} \|align=left\|28 December 2016 \|align=left\|20 May 2017 {{WDL\|20\|6\|9\|5\|for=25\|against=23\|diff=yes}} \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?temp=2016-17\|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz\|publisher=BDFutbol\|access-date=1 March 2017}}
align="left"\|Córdoba \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} \|align=left\|18 October 2017 \|align=left\|4 December 2017 {{WDL\|7\|0\|3\|4\|for=5\|against=11\|diff=yes}} \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?temp=2017-18\|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz\|publisher=BDFutbol\|access-date=18 October 2017}}
align="left" \|UCAM Murcia \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} \|align=left\|29 April 2019 \|align=left\|11 June 2019 {{WDL\|3\|2\|0\|1\|for=4\|against=4\|diff=yes}} \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?temp=2018-19\|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz\|publisher=BDFutbol\|access-date=29 April 2019}}
colspan=4 \| Career total {{WDLtot\|127\|40\|34\|53\|for=137\|against=161\|diff=yes}} !—

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|Nat

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="8"|Record

!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

align="left" |Xerez

|{{flagicon|ESP}}

|align=left|14 June 2011

|align=left|5 December 2011

|{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?temp=2011-12|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz|publisher=BDFutbol|access-date=1 March 2017}}

align="left" |Betis B

|{{flagicon|ESP}}

|align=left|25 June 2014

|align=left|11 January 2016

|{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?cat=-&temp=2014-15&equip=137&rival=-|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz|publisher=BDFutbol|access-date=1 March 2017}}
{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?cat=-&temp=2015-16&equip=137&rival=-|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz|publisher=BDFutbol|access-date=1 March 2017}}

align="left" |Betis (caretaker)

|{{flagicon|ESP}}

|align=left|25 November 2014

|align=left|23 December 2014

|{{cite web|url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?cat=-&temp=2014-15&equip=8&rival=-|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz|publisher=BDFutbol|access-date=1 March 2017}}

align="left" |Betis

|{{flagicon|ESP}}

|align=left|11 January 2016

|align=left|25 May 2016

|{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?cat=-&temp=2015-16&equip=8&rival=-|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz|publisher=BDFutbol|access-date=1 March 2017}}

align="left" |Gimnàstic

|{{flagicon|ESP}}

|align=left|28 December 2016

|align=left|20 May 2017

|{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?temp=2016-17|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz|publisher=BDFutbol|access-date=1 March 2017}}

align="left"|Córdoba

|{{flagicon|ESP}}

|align=left|18 October 2017

|align=left|4 December 2017

|{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l1588.html?temp=2017-18|title=Merino: Juan Merino Ruiz|publisher=BDFutbol|access-date=18 October 2017}}

align="left" |UCAM Murcia

|{{flagicon|ESP}}