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Pepe Reina
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Position: Goalkeeper
Date of Birth: 31/08/1982
Height: 6'2
Weight: 14st 7
1st team games: 156
1st team goals: 0
International caps: 10
International goals: 0
Former clubs: Barcelona, Villarreal
Birth Place: Madrid
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Jose Manuel Reina (known as Pepe Reina) was signed from Spanish club Villareal in the summer of 2005 for a fee in the region of £6m.
Despite former number one Jerzy Dudek’s heroics in Istanbul Reina started the 05/06 season as Rafa Benitez’s first choice stopper, and remains so to this present day, despite a number of suitors for his title over that time.
Reina’s career began at Barcelona, where having he made his debut aged just 18. He went on to make 33 appearances for the Catalan giants in the 00/01 season, including two matches against Liverpool in the UEFA Cup semi-final. He would later reveal how the reception he received from the Kop when visiting Anfield played a key part in his decision to join the Reds.
Despite featuring regularly in 00/01 he went on to make just 11 appearances the following season, prompting a loan move to Villarreal which was made permanent in May 2004. He helped the club secure a Champions League spot in the 04/05 season, saving an amazing seven out of nine penalty kicks.
His form caught the eye of Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, and on July 4th 2005 he was unveiled as a Liverpool player. On arriving in Merseyside Reina was hailed as "the best goalkeeper in Spain" by his new manager.
Reina’s debut season was certainly a memorable one, with the stopper notching up a club record 11th successive clean sheet in December 2005.
The season ended with an FA Cup final against West Ham, and though he made a number of errors in normal time Reina went on to redeem himself.
The game went to penalties, and his reputation for saving spot kicks was confirmed as he stopped three out of four West Ham penalties and
Liverpool went on to win the trophy.
His Liverpool form saw Reina called up to the Spanish squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, though Real Madrid's Iker Casillas and Valencia's Santiago Canizares were both ahead of him in the pecking order and he played no part in the competition.
Back at Anfield, Reina would soon break another club record, his clean sheet against Blackburn in April 2007 his 28th in his first 50 league games - three more than former record holder Ray Clemence. On May 1st that year Reina was again the hero, his penalty saves helping Liverpool reach another Champions League final at the expense of Chelsea.
Despite his club form Reina still hasn’t been able to claim the number one jersey for his country, that honour going to Iker Casillas. Reina was included in his country’s squad for Euro 2008, but featured just once as Spain won their first major honour in 44 years. Reina didn’t let this dampen his spirits though, and was a key part in the celebrations that followed.
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