Pepe Reina

At 41 years old, Pepe Reina has this physical status:

José Manuel "Pepe" Reina Páez (Spanish pronunciation: [xo manwel spepe pae]; born 31 August 1982) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for La Liga team Villarreal.

Pepe Reina, the son of Barcelona and Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Miguel Reina, started his playing career with the Barcelona youth team and made his La Liga debut in the 2000-2001 season. He signed for Villarreal in 2002, winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup twice. Reina went to Liverpool and made his UEFA Super Cup debut, which Liverpool defeated in 2005. He was instantly promoted to first-choice goalkeeper and went on to win both the FA Cup – where he saved three out of four West Ham United penalties in the final – and the FA Community Shield. He reached the Champions League Final with Liverpool in 2007, rematching the feat achieved by his father in 1974, but Liverpool lost to AC Milan.

Reina spent the 2013–14 seasons as Liverpool's first-choice keeper, after eight seasons as Liverpool's first-choice keeper, when the coach, Rafael Bentez, reunited him with Napoli, where he rejoined him in 2005. Reina was a member of the team that lifted the Coppa Italia in 2014 during his loan stint in Naples. Reina then moved to Bayern Munich, where he was the second-choice keeper for Manuel Neuer. Reina signed a permanent position in Napoli in 2015, where he remained until 2018 when he signed for Milan. He made a loan move to Aston Villa in January 2020 before returning to Serie A with Lazio in August 2020.

Reina also competed for Spain's youth team, winning the European Under-17 Championship in 1999, winning the UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He made his senior debut in 2005 and has since been selected as the second-choice keeper behind Iker Casillas and David de Gea. He was a member of Spain's 2006 World Cup squad and made one appearance in the country's triumphant UEFA Euro 2008 campaign, earning him his first international recognition. He was later a member of the Spain squads that won their first World Cup in 2010 and their third UEFA European Championship in 2012, as well as competing at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.

Reina has made his 4th appearances in the Premier League, with more than 200 appearances in his first five seasons, with 108 of the 219 appearances being clean sheets. In a 3–0 victory over Aston Villa in the 2010–11 season, he kept his 100th Premier League clean sheet for Liverpool.

Personal life

Reina married Yolanda Ruiz in Córdoba on May 19, 2006, before he joined the Spain national team for the 2006 World Cup. The couple have five children. Reina was the former next door neighbour of Atlético Madrid striker and Spanish international teammate Fernando Torres. Reina and teammate Luis Suárez were neighbors when he was at Liverpool.

In the 1974 European Cup Final, Miguel Reina's father was in goal for Atlético Madrid, who lost 4–0 in a replay after the first match ended 1–1.

Reina, a solid and solid figure as goalkeeper, is known for his exuberant, jester-like person off the field, often wringing his coworkers with jokes and songs, and, more specifically, serving as a crowd-pleasing master of ceremonies at Spain's official victory celebrations following the 2010 European Championship, the 2010 World Cup, and Euro 2012.

He tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2020, and in a conversation with Spanish radio station COPE later that month, he declared that he had made a "full recovery."

The Italian Football Federation's (Juan) heard Reina and former Napoli footballers Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica were subjected to a hearing in July 2018 regarding their ties to the Esposito brothers, high-ranking Camorra members. Reina was also accused of attempting to purchase free tickets for the Lo Russo Camorra clan.

Reina drew criticism in May 2020 for encouraging the far-right political party Vox's anti-lockdown demonstrations amidst Spain's COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2021, he called the left-wing group Podemos "the worst thing that has happened to Spain in the last 40 years."

Reina was unveiled as a gigantic penguin on the Spanish version of the Masked Singer in July 2021.

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Club career

Pepe Reina, the son of former Barcelona goalkeeper Miguel Reina, began his football career in Barcelona, La Masia, in 1995. He appeared as a first-choice goalkeeper for Barcelona's reserve team, which then competed in the third division of the Spanish football pyramid from 1999 to 2003. After the first and second choice goalkeepers, Richard Dutruel and Francesc Arnau, sustained injuries, he was called up to the Barcelona first team in 2000. In a 3–3 draw with Celta de Vigo on December 2, 2000, he made his debut as a substitute for Dutruel. He made 19 appearances in the remainder of the 2000-01 La Liga season and seven times in the 2000–01 UEFA Cup, where Barça lost to Reina's future team Liverpool in the semi-finals.

Reina made 16 appearances for the club from 2001-2002, most notably as Understudy to Roberto Bonano. He made his UEFA Champions League debut in Barcelona's 1–0 group stage victory over Fenerbahçe at Camp Nou on October 31, 2001.

Barcelona told Reina he was allowed to leave the club after signing German goalkeeper Robert Enke.

Reina joined Villarreal in July 2002 and spent three seasons with the Valencian club. Villarreal qualified for the UEFA Champions League in 2004 for the first time in the club's history.

Reina was signed by Liverpool from Villarreal in July 2005, with manager Rafael Bentez describing him as Spain's best goalkeeper. In the first qualifying round of the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League, Reina made his Liverpool debut against Total Network Solutions, now known as The New Saints.

Reina took over as Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper for the 2005–06 season, relegating 2005 Champions League Finalist Jerzy Dudek to the bench. Reina made his international debut for Spain in a friendly against Uruguay on August 17th. Spain defeated the United States 2–0.

Liverpool's season was fruitful, as they improved on the previous year's league position and claimed the FA Cup. Reina's personal success was also a big success, as he made Liverpool debuts. Reina kept his sixth straight clean sheet against Wigan Athletic in the Premier League on December 3, 2005, breaking the Liverpool club record for consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League. He beat David James' record of five games from 1996-97. Reina's tenure in football came to an end, when James Beattie scored for Everton in Liverpool's 3–1 Merseyside derby victory on December 28, 2005. With 11 between October and December 2005, Reina also broke Liverpool's clean sheet record in all competitions. Mineiro, a Brazilian from So Paulo, eventually defeated him in the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup final on December 18, 2005.

Reina had been suspended in a Premier League match against Chelsea on February 5, 2006, after being charged with violent conduct against Arjen Robben. Robben, who collapsed to the ground, was described as "going down like he'd been sledgehammered" by pundit Alan Hansen. Liverpool lost the match 2–0, and Reina was given a three-match suspension. Reina played his 50th game for Liverpool on April 16, 2006, by keeping a clean sheet against Blackburn Rovers. He also holds the Liverpool record for the fewest goals conceded by a goalkeeper in his first 50 games. When Ray Clemence stopped scoring in 1970–71, he had the previous record of 32 goals. Reina could not afford more than 29 people. Reina was given the Golden Glove Award in May 2006 for her 20 clean sheets during the 2005-06 season.

Reina made a few mistakes in the final domestic match of the season, the 2006 FA Cup Final, allowing West Ham United to lead 3–2. With a late equalizer, Steven Gerrard brought the match to an end. Reina saved three out of four penalties to win the cup by 3–3.

Reina's status as Liverpool's top goalkeeper was even more questioned during the 2006–07 season after Jerzy Dudek conceded nine goals in two cup matches against Arsenal. Reina was named man of the match by Liverpool fans following a string of impressive saves, including two saves from midfielder Frank Lampard in 2007, Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea. He maintained his good form in the second leg by keeping a clean sheet. Liverpool defeated 4–1 after Reina demonstrated his penalty-saving reputation by blocking two of the three Chelsea kicks. On his return home from the match, he discovered that his house in Woolton had been burgled.

Reina became only the third person to follow in his father's footsteps by appearing in a European Cup final three weeks later in Athens. In the final to AC Milan, Liverpool lost 2–1. On June 7, 2007, Reina signed a new five-year deal with Liverpool.

Reina received the Golden Glove Award for the second straight season in August 2007, after having 19 clean sheets in the 2006–07 Premier League campaign.

Reina started the season off by saving a penalty from Portsmouth's Nwankwo Kanu to help his team win by a 0–0 draw. Reina became Liverpool's fastest goalkeeper to have 50 clean sheets on February 2, 2008. On his 92nd league debut, he dominated the previous record by three points in beating Sunderland 3–0, defeating the previous record by three.

Reina appeared in all 38 Premier League games for Liverpool and received his third straight Golden Glove award with 18 clean sheets.

Reina spent every minute of Liverpool's 2008-09 Premier League season, including 20 clean sheets, as the team finished as league runners-up with 86 points. Reina kept his 100th clean sheet for Liverpool in a Premier League match against Aston Villa on March 22, 2009. With a long pass in Liverpool's 5–0 victory, he contributed to a goal for Albert Riera during the game.

Reina also appeared in all 38 games during the 2009–2010 Premier League season, with 17 of them being clean sheets. He tied for the Golden Glove award for the season, alongside Chelsea's Petr ech, but the trophy was given with a winning goals-to-game ratio. Reina was named Player of the Season by the Liverpool city Council in 2009-10, with 75% of the vote.

Liverpool was defeated 1–0 by Sunderland on October 17, 2009, which was deflected through Reina by a beach ball kicked from the crowd.

Reina signed a new six-year deal with Liverpool in April 2010.

Reina's 2010-11 season off to a rocky start, with a late own goal giving Arsenal a 1–1 draw in Liverpool's first Premier League fixture. Roy Hodgson, club captain Steven Gerrard, and vice-captain Jamie Carragher were all eager to get behind Reina and tell him not to let the mistake impact his season.

Reina captained the team's Europa League matches against Napoli and Steaua București due to the absences of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. Reina captained Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, beating Aston Villa 3–0. This clean sheet made him his 100th appearance in 198 league games, the fastest goalkeeper to reach the milestone.

Reina played his 150th league match for Liverpool on May 9, 2011. He was one of only two players to have played in all of Liverpool's league games from 2010-2011. Reina underwent double hernia surgery in June 2011.

Reina said on September 3rd, 2011 that he intended to remain in Liverpool for another five to six years.

Reina defeated Chelsea 2–0 in the Football League Cup quarterfinals on November 29, 2011 – breaking the club record for most clean sheets. Ray Clemence and Bruce Grobbelaar had previously held the record.

Reina won his second major award with Liverpool on February 26, 2012, beating Cardiff City on penalties in the 2012 League Cup final.

Reina was issued a red card in a 2–0 loss to Newcastle United due to violent conduct on Newcastle player James Perch on April 1st. Reina's suspension snapped a streak of 183 consecutive Premier League appearances, which had begun in August 2007. He was on Saturday in Premier League matches against Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers, as well as the FA Cup semi-final against Everton.

Reina started for Liverpool against Chelsea in their 2–1 2012 FA Cup Final loss.

Reina made a mistake in a 1–1 draw against Hearts in the Europa League on August 30, 2012, giving the Edinburgh club the lead at Anfield. Sergio Agüero scored a late equalizer in a 2–2 draw on February 3, 2013 but made another mistake against Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium, allowing him to score a late equalizer in a 2–2 draw.

Theresa Valdés was supposed to leave Barcelona for Monaco at the end of the 2012-13 season, and Reina was to be his replacement. According to his father, an agreement had been reached for Reina to sign, but Valdés opted to remain in Barcelona for another season, no move was made. Liverpool had signed Belgian international goalkeeper Simon Mignolet from Sunderland in anticipation of Reina's departure. As a result, Reina completed a loan transfer to Napoli's Serie A side on July 29, reuniteing him with former Liverpool manager Rafael Bentez.

Reina was loaned out to Napoli from 2013-2014. Reina expressed dissatisfaction with Liverpool's decision to Napoli before informing him. Prior to being loaned, he had made 394 appearances for Liverpool.

Reina saved a penalty from Lukas Podolski against Arsenal in August's pre-season Emirates Cup tournament, and in September, he saved a Mario Balotelli penalty, becoming the first goalkeeper to do so in a competitive match.

Reina's Liverpool career was likely to come to an end on September 28.

Reina triumphed the Coppa Italia with Napoli on May 3rd, 2014, beating Fiorentina 3–1.

Liverpool announced Reina had joined Bayern Munich on a three-year contract on August 8, 2014, bringing an eight-year association with the club to an end. He wore the number 23 shirt for Bayern, the same number he wears for the Spain national team. Reina made his Bayern debut on March 14, 2015, kicking Werder Bremen 4–0 away. Because of his appearance in the game, he became Europe's first goalkeeper and Spaniard to play in four of Europe's top leagues: Spain, England, Italy, and Germany.

Bayern had already won the 2014-15 Bundesliga and had a Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona to face Barcelona on May 9, but regular goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was rested for their home match against FC Augsburg and Reina started on Sunday. After 14 minutes after giving a foul on Ral Bobadilla, he was given a straight red card; Neuer came on in replacement of Philipp Lahm, but Augsburg won 1–0, Paul Verhaegh hit the post.

Reina will return to Napoli on a three-year contract, according to a one-year stint at Bayern Munich.

Reina will join Serie A rivals Milan on a Bosman transfer, according to the publication on May 15, 2018. On July 2, 2018, the agreement was signed and he was released on a three-year contract with the Rossoneri. In a 1–0 away win over F91 Dudelange, he made his Europa League debut for the club on September 20th. Despite being back-up to Gianluigi Donnarumma in Serie A for his first season with the club, he was the club's starting goalkeeper in the Europa League during his first season with the club, making six appearances, as Milan suffered a first-round exit. Following the latter's injury in the first ten minutes of play, he made his league debut with the team on April 2nd, starting as a substitute for Donnarumma.

Reina continued to play as a back-up to Donnarumma in the first half of his second season with the club, but after the match, he conceded a penalty against the same opponent, who later claimed it.

Reina joined Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season, following the team's regular first choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton's injury until the summer.

Lazio announced the signing of Reina on a permanent basis on August 27, 2020. In a 2–1 home win over Bologna in Serie A, he made his club debut on October 24th.

Reina returned to Villarreal on a season-long contract on July 8, 2022.

International career

Reina has been a regular in the Spain national team since 2005, mainly as the second-choice keeper after Iker Casillas. He was a member of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

Reina made his debut on August 17, 2005, at El Molinón, Gijón, beating Uruguay 2–0. He was a member of the Spanish squad that reached the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup, but did not participate. He appeared in Salzburg for the final group match as Spain had already advanced, losing a header by reigning champion Greece's Angelos Charisteas, but Spain came back to win 2–1.

After defeating Estonia 3–0, he and Casillas together broke the national record for the longest time without conceding a single goal. The pair went unbeaten for 710 minutes after Reina Leo Varadkar resigned from Charisteas, much longer than Andoni Zubizarreta and Francisco Buyo. Wesley Sonck of Belgium snapped a streak when he scored against Casillas in a World Cup qualifier later this month. The following year, he was a member of the Spanish squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. His sole appearance in Bloemfontein's last group game was clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over hosts South Africa in a world record 15th international victory for Spain.

Reina was also in Spain's squad for the 2013 Confederations Cup, in which they reached the final. In the second group game against Oceanian champions Tahiti, a 10–0 victory at the Maracan, his sole appearance in the tournament came. With Spain's withdrawal having been confirmed, he was selected to start in Spain's last group match of the 2014 World Cup by keeping a clean record against Australia in a 3–0 win.

He was selected in Spain's final squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in May 2018.

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