Carmelo José González Jiménez (born 9 July 1983), known simply as Carmelo, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
He spent most of his extensive career with Las Palmas, Sporting de Gijón (competing in La Liga with both clubs) and in the Thai Premier League.
Club career Born in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Carmelo graduated from his hometown club UD Las Palmas' youth ranks. In his first appearance with the main squad, in 2001–02's La Liga, he scored in a 3–0 away win against RCD Mallorca on 26 August 2001, and would play a further three seasons with them in the Segunda División (two) and the Segunda División B (one).
Carmelo joined Levante UD in 2005–06 on a four-year contract, where he would be a key figure in the Valencian Community side's promotion to the top division. He appeared in only six matches the following campaign, finishing it with Hércules CF on loan.
For 2007–08, Carmelo moved to CD Numancia still owned by Levante, scoring seven goals (third-best in squad) en route to another top-flight promotion. He then switched the next season to another promotee, Sporting de Gijón, netting in back-to-back wins in October against Mallorca, CA Osasuna and Deportivo de La Coruña as the Asturians retained their league status.
In the following three seasons, Carmelo struggled with injury but managed to be relatively used, only being able to score once over 58 games however. His team suffered relegation at the end of the 2011–12 campaign.
Carmelo left Sporting in February 2013, moving abroad for the first time shortly after as he signed with Thai Premier League's Buriram United FC. He won the national championship in his first year, being top scorer in the process.
In early July 2016, aged 33, Carmelo switched countries and joined Al-Ittihad Kalba SC in the UAE Pro League. The following season, he returned to his homeland with Arucas CF in the Canarian regional divisions.
International career Carmelo earned his sole cap for the Spain under-21 team on 17 February 2004, as a 77th-minute substitute in a 2–1 friendly home win against Norway.
Career statistics
ClubDivisionSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLas PalmasLa Liga2001–0220120——221Segunda División2002–0331310——323Segunda División2003–0435410——364Segunda División B2004–0534610——356Total1201450——12514LevanteSegunda División2005–0631510——325La Liga2006–076020——80Total37530——405HérculesSegunda División2006–0719100——191Total19100——191NumanciaSegunda División2007–0838700——387Total38700——387Sporting GijónLa Liga2008–0927642——318La Liga2009–1027020——290La Liga2010–1118010——190La Liga2011–1213120——151Segunda División2012–136000——60Total91792——1009Buriram UnitedThai Premier League201323236370—3626Thai Premier League201425127550—3717Total4535138120—7041Career totals353693010120—39579
Honours Numancia Segunda División: 2007–08
Buriram United Thai Premier League: 2013, 2014 Thai FA Cup: 2013 Thai League Cup: 2013 Kor Royal Cup: 2013, 2014
Spain U17 Meridian Cup: 2001
Spain U19 UEFA European Championship: 2002
Individual Thai Premier League top scorer: 2013
References
External links