Post by dingodile5 on Apr 17, 2012 9:09:19 GMT 8
J.L. Guirado's facts
The Gentle Giant: The Juan & Only Juan Luis Guirado
by Miji Gonzales 2012-04-16 12:12:05
Fleet-footed and strong as an ox, Juan Luis Guirado of the Philippine National Football Team and Global FC may be a threat on the pitch, but off the pitch, his genteel manners and fluent English have a way of making anyone feel at ease. At heart, he is a genuine professional who is focused on improving his game. There's more to Juani than being Angel's brother, and even more reasons why everybody wants to be his amigo.
Juan of Us
Born on August 27, 1979, in Málaga, Spain, Juan Luis Aldeguer Guirado is the eldest of the brood of three. Yes, apart from Angel, they have their sister Cristina in between, who was once a goalkeeper. I regret to inform the Malditas (Philippine Women’s National Football Team) that she doesn’t play anymore. No doubt it would’ve been amazing to see all three Guirados playing for the national teams, but let’s digress!
With both Juan and Luis being common names for Filipinos and Spaniards, it might be worth mentioning that he was actually named after his Spanish father and grandfather. Family and close friends call him “Juani” for short and occasionally you might hear his cousin Rafa screaming “Juanito,” ironically, as a term of endearment which fans have grown accustomed to. This big guy will always say “Hello!” or “¡Hola!” without hesitation. You will never see him complaining or frowning. When you’re down, he might even lift you up—literally. We won’t be surprised if you become amigos nuevos (”new friends”) right after you first meet.
Juander Kid
One might be surprised to find out what inspired Juani to pursue football in the first place. It all started because of an animated series, believe it or not: Oliver y Benji. For the anime enthusiasts out there, Oliver y Benji is the Spanish title of the popular Japanese football manga Captain Tsubasa. Interestingly, it’s the same series that inspired Alessandro del Piero and Fernando Torres to become footballers.
We returned from the nearest Comic Alley empty-handed. “We don’t have it anymore. Sorry, sir!” replied a friendly store employee. No surprise there. The anime ran from 1983–1986, although there were reruns on Animax not so long ago. If the store owner ever finds out that Capitán Tsubasa inspired Juani to become a footballer, I’m sure they’ll take a second look at what they’ve got listed in inventory. Note to fans: Now you know what to get Juani!
Juani started playing football in school when he was eight years old, and like Capitán Tsubasa, he fell in love with the sport and had dreams of playing at the World Cup. It’s like his future had mapped itself out after watching the show. “All my life is football,” he says. Where’s Angel, you may ask? Well, Angel was always with Juani during training. Or, instead of babysitting Angel, Juani must have disguised it as training.
Most Juanted
Although Juani only made his debut for the Philippine National Football Team (Azkals) in an exhibition game against the Uzbekistan U-23 team (part of their Middle East tour in February), Juani was supposed to be part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. His cousin Rafa Garcia explained to Juani and Angel the football situation in the Philippines and invited the Guirado brothers to play for the national team. Unfortunately, club commitments and his work at Frito-Lay among other things delayed his highly-anticipated Azkals debut.
Little did Juani know just how life-changing the months of February and March would be. A few days after he arrived, he made his Global FC debut in the second half against Green Archers United, whom they defeated 1–0, on February 5th. During his first appearance with the team, he flaunted his strong left foot, made an impressive heading, and showed excellent distribution. Talk about a first impression! He then joined the Azkals for their Middle East tour in preparation for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal. It was his first time to join the Azkals and described the experiences as “incredible” and the Filipinos there as “beautiful.”
Succeeding games proved just as successful. Global FC sealed a priceless 1–0 victory against the remarkable Stallion FC. Juani scored his first goal in the United Football League (UFL) during the match against Philippine Navy FC, who lost 5–0. Juani described how he felt when he scored his first goal for Global FC: “Very happy. I concentrate on the match and don’t focus on scoring, but when an opportunity comes, I grab it.”
On February 29th, he was also part of the starting lineup in the FIFA-sanctioned friendly match against Malaysia, which ended in a 1–1 draw. Technically, this was his first cap with the national team.
In just his first month, he pulled a Ryan Giggs—six years older than him—and proved to the fans that in the face of a challenge, he can come through all with consummate ease and can only command respect from everyone. He plays with such a swagger and charm that one can sense immediately.
Teammates
The Younghusband brothers are not the only siblings who get to play on the same team and Juani reveals that he has always wanted to play with his younger brother. Juani confesses, “I’ve always wanted to play with Angel and I think it’s beautiful to play with my brother.” Hey Angel, did you hear that?
Playing for both the Azkals and Global FC, Juani has also found friends in Misagh Bahadoran and Carlie Martínez de Murga. Misagh, who also became his roommate in Nepal, is somewhat of a staple on everybody’s list because he just loves getting to know other people. Juani says, “I joke with Misagh,” who is muy hablador (“very talkative”) all the time. He calls Marwin Angeles, his other roommate, “incredible guy.” Juani’s favorite words may seem to be incredible and beautiful, but that’s only because they are conveniently the most apt.
Juander Coach Graeme
Coach Graeme Mackinnon may have resigned as Global FC’s head coach, but he did leave some memorable experiences with Juani, both on and off the pitch. Always hanging out at team manager Dan Palami’s office, Coach Graeme is vulnerable to any interview ambush especially by yours truly and being in Australia does not make him any less accessible. When asked about his first impression, Coach analytically responds, “There were two immediate impressions I had when I met Juani for the first time and a third seconds after I spoke with him.”
Always anticipating my follow-up questions, he continues: “He was tall and quiet. He was ready to practice but was just standing by himself not talking with anyone, just observing. The third impression was when I was introduced to him and he answered me back. I smiled and inwardly thought, ‘Great, he can understand and communicate in English,’ because my Spanish stops at ole!”
Take notes because you might end up comparing your first impression with the guy who nicknamed Misagh Bahadoran “Hollywood.” Based on everyone’s experiences, we can all agree that when Coach Graeme starts talking there’s no holding him back. Just out of curiosity, since we all know that the more you pepper Coach with questions, the wiser he gets, I asked what he thought of Juani as a player and as person.
“Juani brings many things as a player to any team he will play in. Firstly, it is his experience which he can pass on to younger players and help them through some tough times. He is calm and focused both at practice and on the field. He will play in any position the coach asks him to without querying the coach's mentality. You can expect a wholehearted effort every time he crosses the white line.” With that kind of assessment, what coach wouldn’t want Juani on his team? Always accepting instructions with alacrity, Juani is a role model for any player out there.
Off the pitch, according to Coach, “He is a fun guy to be with. He enjoys his life and fits in with any crowd or occasion without wanting to take it over.” I get the feeling that somewhere, at this moment, there is a wide-eyed fan reading this just thinking about inviting Juani to the biggest birthday bash of his or her life!
AFC Challenge Cup
Juani represented the team in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, which took place in Nepal from March 8 to 19, 2012. For him, “Professional football is a job. You need to make sacrifices. All my life I’ve been training really hard.” Armed with his faith and relentless attitude, he and the Azkals faced the national teams of North Korea, India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Palestine.
Juani describes the first match, against North Korea, as “very tough!” How tough? “First 20 minutes, I see Koreans all over the pitch,” recalls Juani. But “best match of Korea was with us,” he clarifies. I’m sure we can all agree with that.
He found the match with India “hard” in the beginning. “I was in midfield. In the first 20 minutes, I ran and I didn’t get the ball. Later, I was comfortable.” Muy bien, indeed. The final tally: a definitive victory for the Philippines, 2–0.
Defeating Tajikistan was a momentous occasion for both the players and the entire country. Juani explains, “There was more accumulated tension because we had to win this match.” And so they did! “After match, tension turned into excitement. Better feeling than we beat Palestine,” he proudly narrates. If we can recall, it did cause a national stir because we made history and we all witnessed it. “All my life I’ve wanted high-level football, but no opportunity. Beating Tajikistan is my moment,” he earnestly adds.
The memories still so fresh, he begins giving an emotional recollection of the team’s hard-fought victory. All the Azkals, Juani especially, were a mix of wide smiles and misty eyes following that match. “History for me, so I cried,” he unintentionally divulges, wanting to take it back with a smile just seconds later. Lo siento, mi amigo (“I’m sorry my friend”), but I just had to write it! Boys may not cry, but real men do!
The Azkals survived the “group of death,” where they faced former and current defending champions, and entered the semifinals. If that isn’t enough of an achievement, I don’t know what is. In just a few months with the team, Juani has become a part of Philippine football history. They’ve come along way and every day the team gets stronger.
Although the team lost to Turkmenistan, 2–1, their winning attitude never faded. Nobody gave up and they continued their quest for honor and victory. Juani scored his first international goal in the third place play-off against Palestine, giving the national team a historic third-place finish in the AFC Challenge Cup after a 4–3 victory. Juani’s physical attributes make him an asset to the team and a threat on the pitch and we saw it when he ventured forward and battled with the defender to score his first international goal against Palestine. These are more than enough accomplishments to leave a place in every Filipino’s heart and memory, including Juani’s. “Very happy with third place! But even before the game we were already winners,” he remarks. The fans were taken by his inspirational work ethic and ferocious will to win.
Thrilla in Juanila
Shortly after the AFC Challenge Cup, life went back to normal for Juani: training in the morning with Global FC and hanging out with teammates and cousins. He may not be the type to whine about things—he has unlimited reserves of patience and tolerance—but I know deep down that he misses playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on his PS3. Bring it next time!
While he can effectively play either as a central defender or as a holding midfielder, he actually prefers being a defender. “Midfielder is more difficult. Being a defender, I see everyone on the pitch and take control,” he admits. From an athletic perspective, here’s what Coach Graeme had to say: “Juani, with his height and physicality, is able to win those aerial battles and defuse opposition attacks. His height and the length of stride he also allows him to be able to win the ball on the ground. He is a fierce but fair tackler.”
Still going on the momentum from the AFC Challenge Cup, he joined Global FC on their mission to defeat 2011–2012 UFL Cup Champions Philippine Air Force. A nail-biting occasion for all football fans resulted to a 5–3 win for Global. By the way, Juani scored a brace in that match! And then the much-awaited match between Global FC and Kaya FC took place on March 31st, and ended with a banging 5–1. Until the last day of the month, Juani kept fighting to win and making history with the teams he represents.
Juan In Love
It’s now April and Juani is back in Spain. No worries, he will be back in November for the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, but for now, let him enjoy some R&R in the arms of his beautiful fiancée, Andrea Marijuan, as they prepare for their wedding in June. Best wishes to the bride and groom from everyone in the Philippines!
Striking a conversation with Juani is always easy; he speaks both English and Spanish. And yes, he’s beginning to pick up on Tagalog here and there! Sometimes you don’t even have to approach him. He doesn’t need to make a big entrance to let everyone know he’s arrived, because his quiet self-confidence lets you know that he just wants to play the sport and win. In a way, he’s like Chicharito, one of his favorite players, in the sense that he smiles his way through his career. Juani is definitely on the road to becoming a Philippine football legend, and might I add, truly one of the nicest and most genuine.
www.azkalsfootballteam.com/news.php?id=152
The Gentle Giant: The Juan & Only Juan Luis Guirado
by Miji Gonzales 2012-04-16 12:12:05
Fleet-footed and strong as an ox, Juan Luis Guirado of the Philippine National Football Team and Global FC may be a threat on the pitch, but off the pitch, his genteel manners and fluent English have a way of making anyone feel at ease. At heart, he is a genuine professional who is focused on improving his game. There's more to Juani than being Angel's brother, and even more reasons why everybody wants to be his amigo.
Juan of Us
Born on August 27, 1979, in Málaga, Spain, Juan Luis Aldeguer Guirado is the eldest of the brood of three. Yes, apart from Angel, they have their sister Cristina in between, who was once a goalkeeper. I regret to inform the Malditas (Philippine Women’s National Football Team) that she doesn’t play anymore. No doubt it would’ve been amazing to see all three Guirados playing for the national teams, but let’s digress!
With both Juan and Luis being common names for Filipinos and Spaniards, it might be worth mentioning that he was actually named after his Spanish father and grandfather. Family and close friends call him “Juani” for short and occasionally you might hear his cousin Rafa screaming “Juanito,” ironically, as a term of endearment which fans have grown accustomed to. This big guy will always say “Hello!” or “¡Hola!” without hesitation. You will never see him complaining or frowning. When you’re down, he might even lift you up—literally. We won’t be surprised if you become amigos nuevos (”new friends”) right after you first meet.
Juander Kid
One might be surprised to find out what inspired Juani to pursue football in the first place. It all started because of an animated series, believe it or not: Oliver y Benji. For the anime enthusiasts out there, Oliver y Benji is the Spanish title of the popular Japanese football manga Captain Tsubasa. Interestingly, it’s the same series that inspired Alessandro del Piero and Fernando Torres to become footballers.
We returned from the nearest Comic Alley empty-handed. “We don’t have it anymore. Sorry, sir!” replied a friendly store employee. No surprise there. The anime ran from 1983–1986, although there were reruns on Animax not so long ago. If the store owner ever finds out that Capitán Tsubasa inspired Juani to become a footballer, I’m sure they’ll take a second look at what they’ve got listed in inventory. Note to fans: Now you know what to get Juani!
Juani started playing football in school when he was eight years old, and like Capitán Tsubasa, he fell in love with the sport and had dreams of playing at the World Cup. It’s like his future had mapped itself out after watching the show. “All my life is football,” he says. Where’s Angel, you may ask? Well, Angel was always with Juani during training. Or, instead of babysitting Angel, Juani must have disguised it as training.
Most Juanted
Although Juani only made his debut for the Philippine National Football Team (Azkals) in an exhibition game against the Uzbekistan U-23 team (part of their Middle East tour in February), Juani was supposed to be part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. His cousin Rafa Garcia explained to Juani and Angel the football situation in the Philippines and invited the Guirado brothers to play for the national team. Unfortunately, club commitments and his work at Frito-Lay among other things delayed his highly-anticipated Azkals debut.
Little did Juani know just how life-changing the months of February and March would be. A few days after he arrived, he made his Global FC debut in the second half against Green Archers United, whom they defeated 1–0, on February 5th. During his first appearance with the team, he flaunted his strong left foot, made an impressive heading, and showed excellent distribution. Talk about a first impression! He then joined the Azkals for their Middle East tour in preparation for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal. It was his first time to join the Azkals and described the experiences as “incredible” and the Filipinos there as “beautiful.”
Succeeding games proved just as successful. Global FC sealed a priceless 1–0 victory against the remarkable Stallion FC. Juani scored his first goal in the United Football League (UFL) during the match against Philippine Navy FC, who lost 5–0. Juani described how he felt when he scored his first goal for Global FC: “Very happy. I concentrate on the match and don’t focus on scoring, but when an opportunity comes, I grab it.”
On February 29th, he was also part of the starting lineup in the FIFA-sanctioned friendly match against Malaysia, which ended in a 1–1 draw. Technically, this was his first cap with the national team.
In just his first month, he pulled a Ryan Giggs—six years older than him—and proved to the fans that in the face of a challenge, he can come through all with consummate ease and can only command respect from everyone. He plays with such a swagger and charm that one can sense immediately.
Teammates
The Younghusband brothers are not the only siblings who get to play on the same team and Juani reveals that he has always wanted to play with his younger brother. Juani confesses, “I’ve always wanted to play with Angel and I think it’s beautiful to play with my brother.” Hey Angel, did you hear that?
Playing for both the Azkals and Global FC, Juani has also found friends in Misagh Bahadoran and Carlie Martínez de Murga. Misagh, who also became his roommate in Nepal, is somewhat of a staple on everybody’s list because he just loves getting to know other people. Juani says, “I joke with Misagh,” who is muy hablador (“very talkative”) all the time. He calls Marwin Angeles, his other roommate, “incredible guy.” Juani’s favorite words may seem to be incredible and beautiful, but that’s only because they are conveniently the most apt.
Juander Coach Graeme
Coach Graeme Mackinnon may have resigned as Global FC’s head coach, but he did leave some memorable experiences with Juani, both on and off the pitch. Always hanging out at team manager Dan Palami’s office, Coach Graeme is vulnerable to any interview ambush especially by yours truly and being in Australia does not make him any less accessible. When asked about his first impression, Coach analytically responds, “There were two immediate impressions I had when I met Juani for the first time and a third seconds after I spoke with him.”
Always anticipating my follow-up questions, he continues: “He was tall and quiet. He was ready to practice but was just standing by himself not talking with anyone, just observing. The third impression was when I was introduced to him and he answered me back. I smiled and inwardly thought, ‘Great, he can understand and communicate in English,’ because my Spanish stops at ole!”
Take notes because you might end up comparing your first impression with the guy who nicknamed Misagh Bahadoran “Hollywood.” Based on everyone’s experiences, we can all agree that when Coach Graeme starts talking there’s no holding him back. Just out of curiosity, since we all know that the more you pepper Coach with questions, the wiser he gets, I asked what he thought of Juani as a player and as person.
“Juani brings many things as a player to any team he will play in. Firstly, it is his experience which he can pass on to younger players and help them through some tough times. He is calm and focused both at practice and on the field. He will play in any position the coach asks him to without querying the coach's mentality. You can expect a wholehearted effort every time he crosses the white line.” With that kind of assessment, what coach wouldn’t want Juani on his team? Always accepting instructions with alacrity, Juani is a role model for any player out there.
Off the pitch, according to Coach, “He is a fun guy to be with. He enjoys his life and fits in with any crowd or occasion without wanting to take it over.” I get the feeling that somewhere, at this moment, there is a wide-eyed fan reading this just thinking about inviting Juani to the biggest birthday bash of his or her life!
AFC Challenge Cup
Juani represented the team in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, which took place in Nepal from March 8 to 19, 2012. For him, “Professional football is a job. You need to make sacrifices. All my life I’ve been training really hard.” Armed with his faith and relentless attitude, he and the Azkals faced the national teams of North Korea, India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Palestine.
Juani describes the first match, against North Korea, as “very tough!” How tough? “First 20 minutes, I see Koreans all over the pitch,” recalls Juani. But “best match of Korea was with us,” he clarifies. I’m sure we can all agree with that.
He found the match with India “hard” in the beginning. “I was in midfield. In the first 20 minutes, I ran and I didn’t get the ball. Later, I was comfortable.” Muy bien, indeed. The final tally: a definitive victory for the Philippines, 2–0.
Defeating Tajikistan was a momentous occasion for both the players and the entire country. Juani explains, “There was more accumulated tension because we had to win this match.” And so they did! “After match, tension turned into excitement. Better feeling than we beat Palestine,” he proudly narrates. If we can recall, it did cause a national stir because we made history and we all witnessed it. “All my life I’ve wanted high-level football, but no opportunity. Beating Tajikistan is my moment,” he earnestly adds.
The memories still so fresh, he begins giving an emotional recollection of the team’s hard-fought victory. All the Azkals, Juani especially, were a mix of wide smiles and misty eyes following that match. “History for me, so I cried,” he unintentionally divulges, wanting to take it back with a smile just seconds later. Lo siento, mi amigo (“I’m sorry my friend”), but I just had to write it! Boys may not cry, but real men do!
The Azkals survived the “group of death,” where they faced former and current defending champions, and entered the semifinals. If that isn’t enough of an achievement, I don’t know what is. In just a few months with the team, Juani has become a part of Philippine football history. They’ve come along way and every day the team gets stronger.
Although the team lost to Turkmenistan, 2–1, their winning attitude never faded. Nobody gave up and they continued their quest for honor and victory. Juani scored his first international goal in the third place play-off against Palestine, giving the national team a historic third-place finish in the AFC Challenge Cup after a 4–3 victory. Juani’s physical attributes make him an asset to the team and a threat on the pitch and we saw it when he ventured forward and battled with the defender to score his first international goal against Palestine. These are more than enough accomplishments to leave a place in every Filipino’s heart and memory, including Juani’s. “Very happy with third place! But even before the game we were already winners,” he remarks. The fans were taken by his inspirational work ethic and ferocious will to win.
Thrilla in Juanila
Shortly after the AFC Challenge Cup, life went back to normal for Juani: training in the morning with Global FC and hanging out with teammates and cousins. He may not be the type to whine about things—he has unlimited reserves of patience and tolerance—but I know deep down that he misses playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on his PS3. Bring it next time!
While he can effectively play either as a central defender or as a holding midfielder, he actually prefers being a defender. “Midfielder is more difficult. Being a defender, I see everyone on the pitch and take control,” he admits. From an athletic perspective, here’s what Coach Graeme had to say: “Juani, with his height and physicality, is able to win those aerial battles and defuse opposition attacks. His height and the length of stride he also allows him to be able to win the ball on the ground. He is a fierce but fair tackler.”
Still going on the momentum from the AFC Challenge Cup, he joined Global FC on their mission to defeat 2011–2012 UFL Cup Champions Philippine Air Force. A nail-biting occasion for all football fans resulted to a 5–3 win for Global. By the way, Juani scored a brace in that match! And then the much-awaited match between Global FC and Kaya FC took place on March 31st, and ended with a banging 5–1. Until the last day of the month, Juani kept fighting to win and making history with the teams he represents.
Juan In Love
It’s now April and Juani is back in Spain. No worries, he will be back in November for the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, but for now, let him enjoy some R&R in the arms of his beautiful fiancée, Andrea Marijuan, as they prepare for their wedding in June. Best wishes to the bride and groom from everyone in the Philippines!
Striking a conversation with Juani is always easy; he speaks both English and Spanish. And yes, he’s beginning to pick up on Tagalog here and there! Sometimes you don’t even have to approach him. He doesn’t need to make a big entrance to let everyone know he’s arrived, because his quiet self-confidence lets you know that he just wants to play the sport and win. In a way, he’s like Chicharito, one of his favorite players, in the sense that he smiles his way through his career. Juani is definitely on the road to becoming a Philippine football legend, and might I add, truly one of the nicest and most genuine.
www.azkalsfootballteam.com/news.php?id=152