Last Sunday, Real Betis beat Valencia on penalties to win this season's Copa del Rey. After the game, Joaquin became the focus of the conversation.
Betis has won only two titles in the 21st century, the Copa del Rey in 2005 and the Copa del Rey in 2022, spanning 17 years of waiting, and Joaquin has witnessed it himself on both occasions.
Origins beetize Betis
In 2000, the 19-year-old Joaquin made his first-team debut at Betis, and at the end of that season, Betis finished second in La Liga, winning a straight-through place for promotion to La Liga.
In the 01/02 season, Joaquin made 34 appearances this year, contributing 5 goals and 1 assist, and promoted Marbertis finished sixth in the first year of his return to La Liga, locking up european qualification for the next season. Also from this year on, Joaquin slowly became the main force of Betis.
On 11 June 2005, in the Copa del Rey final, Betis defeated Osasuna 2-1 in extra time, with Joaquin playing all 120 minutes. It was Betis' first victory since 1977 and the first of Joaquin's career.
Continue the leading edge
In the summer of 2006, Joaquin left Betis and began a nine-year spell, playing for Valencia, Malaga and Fiorentina. During these years, Betis also went up and down several times, downgraded twice and upgraded twice.
In 2015, Betis, who had just returned to La Liga, welcomed a deceased person , Joaquin, home. Cloaked in green and white again, Joaquin proved that his sword is not old, and over the years has successively refreshed countless Betis and La Liga records.
At the end of last year, Joaquin revealed that he would retire after the end of the season. Although most of the games were off the bench, he enjoyed the "last year".
In this Copa del Rey, he made 5 appearances, contributed 2 goals and 2 assists, and scored a penalty in the final penalty shootout. This title made Joaquin the only player to win the title with the team twice when he was on the Betis team, and he was the beetle of Betis.
Perhaps it was the atmosphere of winning the championship that made Joaquin passionate again, or perhaps the enthusiasm of the fans moved him, and at yesterday's championship parade ceremony, Joaquin said in front of countless Betis fans: "I am ready to fight for another year." Yes, he's going to renew his contract, captain Betis, 40, and the legend continues.
This means that Joaquin will continue to set new records, he is already the most appearance-making player in Betis history, the second-most appearances in La Liga history (596 games), and only 26 games away from the first place, can we see him break this record next season?