Jaime Jiménez Merlo (born 10 December 1980) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Club career Born in Valdepeñas, Province of Ciudad Real, Castilla–La Mancha, Jiménez played lower league football until the age of nearly 25, representing mainly AD Ceuta in the Segunda División B.Jaime no se olvida de sus orígenes (Jaime does not forget where he came from); La Tribuna de Ciudad Real, 17 June 2013 (in Spanish) In the summer of 2005 he joined Ciudad de Murcia from Segunda División, making his league debut on 13 November in a 0–2 home loss against Real Valladolid;La expulsión de Iván Amaya decide en Murcia (Iván Amaya's ejection decides in Murcia); Mundo Deportivo, 14 November 2005 (in Spanish) the club was renamed Granada 74 CF for the 2007–08 season.Jaime y Falcón fichan por el Granada 74 (Jaime and Falcón sign for Granada 74); Marca, 4 July 2007 (in Spanish)
In 2008, Jiménez signed with Elche CF.Jaime firmará hoy tras cerrar anoche su fichaje en el club (Jaime will sign today after completing his move to the club last night); Diario AS, 17 July 2008 (in Spanish) He played understudy to Willy Caballero during most of his spell in the Valencian Community, his best year being 2010–11 when he played 19 games. He added four appearances in that campaign's unsuccessful promotion playoffs, as the Argentine had already left for Málaga CF in the winter transfer window.Jaime: "A Caballero le tocó el Euromillón y a mi, la Primitiva" (Jaime: "Caballero won the major lottery, I won the next best thing"); El Norte de Castilla, 17 October 2012 (in Spanish)
Jiménez moved to fellow second-tier side Valladolid on 8 July 2011, on a 2+1 contract.Jaime y Dani Aquino llegan al Valladolid (Jaime and Dani Aquino arrive at Valladolid); Marca, 8 July 2011 (in Spanish) He conceded only 36 goals in 41 matches in his debut season – good enough to claim the Ricardo Zamora TrophyJaime, triste y sorprendido (Jaime, sad and surprised); El Norte de Castilla, 23 October 2012 (in Spanish)– but, in the playoffs, suffered an injury in the first game against Córdoba CF, being relegated to the bench in favour of Dani Hernández after recovering.Jaime se resiente de la lesión y no podrá jugar contra el Córdoba (Jaime relapses from injury and will not play against Córdoba); El Mundo, 9 June 2012 (in Spanish)
Jiménez made his debut in La Liga on 20 August 2012, in a 1–0 away victory over Real Zaragoza.Newboys Valladolid stun Zaragoza ; ESPN FC, 20 August 2012 On 9 July 2014, following Valladolid's relegation, he agreed to a 1+1 deal at newly promoted SD Eibar.Jaime Jiménez defenderá la portería del Eibar (Jaime Jiménez will defend the Eibar goal) ; SD Eibar, 12 July 2014 (in Spanish)
Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsZamora2002–03Segunda División B350—50400Ceuta2003–04Segunda División B12020—1402004–05Segunda División B3803020430Total5005020570Ciudad Murcia2005–06Segunda División26020—2802006–07Segunda División21000—210Total47020—490Granada 742007–08Segunda División37010—380Elche2008–09Segunda División6020—802009–10Segunda División2000—202010–11Segunda División1902040250Total2704040350Valladolid2011–12Segunda División410—104202012–13Segunda División14020—1602013–14La Liga10020—120Total6504010700Eibar2014–15La Liga5000—50Career total26601601202940
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