9. Jemez Was A Spain International Centre-Back As A Player... But Longed To Be A Midfielder
During a 17-year playing career, Jemez operated as a 5ft 11ins centre-back - even representing Spain on 21 occasions, including helping them to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2000. Having risen through the youth ranks at Cordoba and into their first team, Jemez then moved to Murcia in 1991, before enjoying two spells at Rayo Vallecano (the club he would go on to manage), Deportivo La Coruna, Real Zaragoza and Lugo. In all, Jemez made 352 league appearances in Spain as a centre-back - although, by his own admission, he was a frustrated midfielder who loved to play the ball on the deck. He always hoped to move forward into a more-advanced midfield role, but he was rarely given the opportunity to.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
