Javier Artero López (born 16 April 1975) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
After playing for five teams in the lower leagues of his country he joined Dundee in Scotland, spending two years with the club before being forced to retire at only 27, due to illness.
Career Early career Born in Madrid, Artero started playing football with local amateurs Moscardó. In 1995 he signed with Real Madrid, but never made it past the C team, also being loaned to another club in the community, Leganés of Segunda División, and appearing very rarely over the course of his only season.Javier Artero, el español que ya jugó en San Lorenzo antes que Muniain: "No le va a sorprender nada que diga '¡ostras!'" (Javier Artero, the Spaniard who played for San Lorenzo before Muniain: "He will not be surprised by nothing I can tell him 'dammit!'"); Relevo, 4 September 2024 (in Spanish)
Subsequently, Artero dropped down to Segunda División B and joined Málaga, helping the Andalusians to return to the second tierJavier Artero: un ascenso con el Málaga y una retirada por la esclerosis (Javier Artero: a promotion with Málaga and a retirement due to sclerosis); El Desmarque, 17 April 2020 (in Spanish) after which he signed for another side in that league, Badajoz.Maradona inaugurará el estadio (Maradona to inaugurate stadium); Mundo Deportivo, 15 August 1998 (in Spanish) He scored his only goal as a professional in his country on 29 November 1998, the only in an away win against Albacete.La semana será caliente en Albacete (Impending hot week in Albacete); Mundo Deportivo, 30 November 1998 (in Spanish)
Dundee In 1999, Artero moved abroad to San Lorenzo from Argentina. From March–May of the following year he was loaned to Dundee of the Scottish Premier League, with the deal being made permanent on 1 July for £300,000, a club record.Dundee add to foreign quota; BBC Sport, 1 July 2000Caballero signs new Dundee deal; BBC Sport, 4 May 2001 On the 30th, he scored in a 2–0 away victory over Motherwell.Dundee win as manager sees red; BBC Sport, 30 July 2000
Artero contributed one goal to a 5–0 home defeat of St Mirren on 18 November 2000.Five-star Dundee crush Buddies; BBC Sport, 18 November 2000 He enjoyed his best years as a professional with the Dark Blues, appearing in 75 competitive gamesMS forces Dundee player to bow out; The Herald, 30 August 2002 with the side and helping them to the sixth place in his first year, with the subsequent qualification for the UEFA Intertoto Cup.Talking Kit – Dundee 2000/01; Scottish Professional Football League, 4 January 2017
On 1 August 2001, the 26-year-old Artero was admitted to hospital with an unknown disease,Artero admitted to hospital; BBC Sport, 1 August 2001 which was revealed to be multiple sclerosis early into the following month.Artero reveals serious illness; BBC Sport, 6 September 2001 Even though he was still able to take part in some matches in the 2001–02 season,Killie win at Dens Park; BBC Sport, 21 December 2001Dundee see off hapless Hibs; BBC Sport, 11 January 2002 he was forced to retire from football in August 2002, being immediately named Dundee's international scout.MS forces Artero retiral; BBC Sport, 29 August 2002
Artero worked as a football analyst after retiring, being a co-commentator on Real Madrid TV.Javier Artero: “No me importaba dejar el fútbol; sólo pensaba en vivir” (Javier Artero: "I did not mind leaving football; I only thought about living"); La Galerna, 11 November 2016 (in Spanish)
References
External links