Juan Carlos Ablanedo Iglesias (; born 2 September 1963) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Due to his above-average reflexes, he was nicknamed El gato (cat), and represented local club Sporting de Gijón for almost 20 years as a professional.Ablanedo, el portero más seguro (Ablanedo, the safest goalkeeper); El País, 13 November 1985 (in Spanish)Juan Carlos Ablanedo: palabras mayores (Juan Carlos Ablanedo: bigger words) ; Yo Jugué en el Sporting, 28 March 2008 (in Spanish)
Club career Ablanedo was born in Mieres, Asturias. He played solely for Sporting de Gijón after being a product of the club's famed youth system, Mareo, and received his first-team debut on 2 January 1983, as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 home win against RCD Español after José Aurelio Rivero was sent off.1–0: Savic, en su debut, marcó el gol del Sporting ante el Español (1–0: Savic, in his debut, scored Sporting's goal against Español); ABC, 3 January 1983 (in Spanish)
After two further games in the following season, Ablanedo became the Asturian side's undisputed starter, totalling 399 in La Liga. In the 1986–87 campaign, as Sporting finished fourth, he appeared in 42 matches (out of 44, as the league had a second stage).
Ablanedo retired from football at the end of 1998–99, with Sporting now in the Segunda División.Ablanedo se despide (Ablanedo says goodbye); Mundo Deportivo, 18 June 1999 (in Spanish) He also had some serious injuries during his career, making only two appearances in his last season and none whatsoever in 1991–92.Ablanedo: Un mes y medio K.O. (Ablanedo: One month and a half out); Mundo Deportivo, 15 August 1987 (in Spanish)Ablanedo, cinco meses K.O. (Ablanedo, five months out); Mundo Deportivo, 28 January 1989 (in Spanish)El Sporting de Gijón se queda sin guardametas (Sporting de Gijón lose all goalkeepers); Mundo Deportivo, 1 May 1991 (in Spanish) He was awarded the Ricardo Zamora Trophy three times.El portero más seguro (The safest goalkeeper); Mundo Deportivo, 22 April 1985 (in Spanish)
International career Ablanedo earned four caps for Spain, the first coming on 24 September 1986 in a 3–1 friendly victory over Greece in Gijón.3–1: Son los mismos, pero parecían dormidos (3–1: Same guys, they just looked asleep); Mundo Deportivo, 25 September 1986 (in Spanish) He was a backup at both the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups.
Previously, Ablanedo helped the nation's under-21s to win the 1986 European Championship.¡¡¡Campeones!!! (Champions!!!); Mundo Deportivo, 30 October 1986 (in Spanish)
Personal life Ablanedo's older brother, José Luis, was also a footballer. A defender, he too played several top-tier seasons with Sporting, and they were hence known as Ablanedo I and Ablanedo II.Qué fue de… Ablanedo (What happened to… Ablanedo); 20 minutos, 20 June 2008 (in Spanish)
Honours Spain U21 UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1986
Individual Ricardo Zamora Trophy: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1989–90
See also List of one-club men
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