Juan Eduardo Esnáider Belén (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈxwanesˈnajðeɾ]; born 5 March 1973) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker, currently a manager.
Having spent most of his career in Spain, he was known as a powerful player with an excellent aerial game. He started at Real Madrid in that country, having little impact with its first team and going on to represent another four clubs (mostly Real Zaragoza), amassing La Liga totals of 197 matches and 74 goals. Other than in his own country, he also competed in Italy (Juventus), Portugal and France.
However, Esnáider never really settled in the main squad, and moved on loan to Real Zaragoza for 1993–94 (with the latter having the option to buy at the end of the campaign). He quickly developed into one of European football's most in-form strikers and, already property of the Aragonese side, helped them to the 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, scoring in the final against Arsenal[5][6] and being the tournament's second-best scorer behind Ian Wright (he also added 16 in La Liga).[7]
Real Madrid paid Zaragoza more than double they had received in July 1995,[8] but Esnáider only netted once during another disappointing season.[4] Signed by Atlético Madrid for 1996–97 – immediately after an historic double – he again displayed his best football, with 21 goals in all competitions.[9]
Esnáider joined Barcelona-based Espanyol after being released by Atlético, and produced another good individual season with 13 successful strikes in the league. In January 1999, he was signed by Juventus for an estimated fee of £4,5 million, as an intended replacement for Alessandro Del Piero who had just been sidelined with a serious knee injury,[10] but was unable to settle at the Turin-based team.[11] In late December 2000 he returned to Zaragoza and,[12] with 11 goals in just 17 matches, helped the side avoid relegation (that included two on 14 April 2001 in a 4–4 tie at Barcelona),[13][4]adding his second Copa del Rey in the process.[14]
Subsequently, Esnáider's career remained low-profile, with spells at Porto (arriving the season after countryman Juan Antonio Pizzi, who also left unsettled after a few months),[15]Cadetes de San Martín, River Plate,[16]Ajaccio[17] and Real Murcia, before retiring at Newell's Old Boys in Argentina. He obtained his coaching degree in 2008 and, in April of the following year, became Getafe's assistant to former Real Madrid teammate Míchel, who was replacing Víctor Muñoz after a string of bad results; he occupied the position until December 2010.[18]
Esnáider returned to Getafe on 12 April 2016 following the dismissal of Fran Escribá, but now as head coach.[22] His first match in the Spanish top flight – as a manager – took place four days later, in a 5–1 home loss to former club Real Madrid.[23]
During his first spell at Zaragoza and while at Atlético Madrid, Esnáider was considered by many as one of the most promising strikers in European football. However, this was often overshadowed by his misconduct and foul play in many matches:
In 2000–01's dying stages, as Zaragoza fought to retain their top-division status, Esnáider brutally assaulted a Celta de Vigo player with his elbow (with the consequent dismissal), allegedly after being told by the club he would be deemed surplus to requirements for the following season. The player denied, however, this as the main reason for the incident.[26]
On Christmas Day 2012, Esnáider lost a 17-year-old son to illness.[31] A son also named Juan, was also a footballer and a forward, and he too represented Zaragoza;[32] another son, Facundo was born during his spell in Porto, and also played the sport.[33]
^Carbajosa, Carlos E. (22 July 1995). "Esnaider enamora a Mendoza" [Mendoza in love with Esnaider]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 January 2020.
^Avellana Buñuel, Gonzalo (1 May 2020). "El Gardel de La Romareda" [La Romareda's Gardel] (in Spanish). Diario UF. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
^León, José Carlos (29 May 2013). "Esnáider, números de revulsivo imperfecto" [Esnáider, figures of an imperfect catalyst]. El Día de Córdoba (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 April 2016.
