Antonio Juan Barragán Fernández (born 12 June 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right-back.
Having started out at Liverpool, he spent most of his career in the two highest divisions of Spanish football, playing for Deportivo, Valladolid, Valencia, Betis and Elche. In La Liga, he amassed totals of 251 games and three goals over 13 seasons.
Barragán earned 21 caps for Spain at youth level.
Club career Liverpool Born in Pontedeume, Galicia, Barragán signed for Liverpool in July 2005, as an 18-year-old who had yet to appear for Sevilla FC's first team.Barragan set for Liverpool move; BBC Sport, 24 June 2005
He, however, spent the 2005–06 season with the club's reserves, managing one appearance for the first team, as a substitute for fellow Spaniard Fernando Morientes in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against PFC CSKA Sofia. In doing so, he became the youngest foreigner to play for the Reds.
Deportivo Barragán signed a five-year deal with Deportivo de La Coruña on 4 August 2006, in an operation that cost €1 million.Deportivo sign Liverpool defender; BBC Sport, 4 August 2006 His time at his new team began well, as he was in the starting eleven for the first eight La Liga matches and scored against Real Sociedad in a 2–0 home win,Deportivo La Coruña 2–0 Real Sociedad; ESPN Soccernet, 1 October 2006 subsequently alternating in the right-back position with Manuel Pablo until he fractured his knee in April 2008,Barragán se rompe parcialmente la rodilla y encara ocho meses de baja (Barragán partially fractures knee and faces eight months out); La Voz de Galicia, 21 April 2008 (in Spanish) being out of action for the rest of the campaign and not featuring at all in 2008–09.
In 2008, Deportivo released Barragán from his contract without his consent. He successfully sued the club for an indemnity of €400,000,El Depor recurrirá la sentencia del 'Caso Barragán' (Depor to appeal decision on "Barragán Affair"); Marca, 27 January 2009 (in Spanish) even though it later decided to reverse its previous decision and restore him to the squad.Barragán ya tiene dorsal y ficha, pero no retirará su denuncia (Barragán has number and registration, but will not drop charges); El Depor, 3 January 2009 (in Spanish)
Valladolid In early June 2009, Barragán moved to Real Valladolid on a three-year contract."Empiezo un bonito ciclo" ("I start a beautiful cycle"); Real Valladolid, 9 June 2009 (in Spanish) He played one season apiece in each of the two major levels of Spanish football, appearing in 17 league games in 2009–10 (14 starts) as the campaign ended in relegation.
Valencia On 30 August 2011, Valladolid announced that Barragán would be leaving for Valencia CF in a deal worth €1.5 million.Barragán traspasado al Valencia (Barragán sold to Valencia); Real Valladolid, 30 August 2011 (in Spanish) During his first season, all three right-backs – himself, Bruno and Miguel– appeared in roughly the same number of games as the Che finished third and once again qualified for the Champions League.
Barragán scored his first competitive goal for Valencia on 13 March 2014, his team's first in a 3–0 away victory over PFC Ludogorets Razgrad in the campaign's UEFA Europa League. He continued battling for first-choice status with another Portuguese, João Pereira.
On 5 January 2015, Barragán netted his only league goal for the side, equalising in an eventual 2–1 home defeat of Real Madrid which ended the visitors' record 22-match unbeaten run.
Middlesbrough Barragán returned to England after ten years on 15 July 2016, agreeing to a three-year contract with Middlesbrough. He made his Premier League debut on 13 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw against Stoke City.
The season ended in relegation, while Barragán committed eight fouls in throw-ins.
Betis On 6 July 2017, Barragán returned to Spain and its first division after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Real Betis. Roughly one year later, the move was made permanent.
Elche On 4 October 2020, Barragán signed a one-year contract with Elche CF, newly-returned to the top tier. He announced his retirement in February 2023, aged 36.
International career Barragán was part of the Spain under-19 team that emerged victorious at the 2006 UEFA European Championship in Poland.Bueno double gives Spain glory; UEFA, 29 July 2006 Just a few months later, following solid performances with Deportivo and former Sevilla teammate Antonio Puerta's call-up to the senior side, he was promoted to the under-21s.Barragán benefits from Puerta's rise; UEFA, 4 October 2006
In December 2006, Barragán appeared for the Galicia unofficial team in a friendly against Ecuador.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLiverpool 2005–06Premier League0000001010Deportivo 2006–07La Liga16260——2222007–08La Liga10020——1202008–09La Liga0000——00Total26280——342Valladolid 2009–10La Liga17020——1902010–11Segunda División23041——2712011–12Segunda División1000——10Total41061——471Valencia 2011–12La Liga18030—502602012–13La Liga14040—502302013–14La Liga20020—913112014–15La Liga34120——3612015–16La Liga24050—60350Total1101160—2511512Middlesbrough2016–17Premier League2601000—270Betis (loan)2017–18La Liga29020——310Betis2018–19La Liga14051—502412019–20La Liga12020——140Total55091—50691Elche2020–21La Liga27000——270Career total2853402003113566
References
External links
CiberChe biography and stats