MX23RW : Thursday, June 6 11:02:50| >> :600:334947:334947:

Jose Antonio Reyes, the Premier and Europa League history maker

Jose Antonio Reyes, the Premier and Europa League history maker
© Reuters
Reyes won the Premier League with Arsenal and also claimed the Europa League fives times.

Jose Antonio Reyes was the first Spaniard to win the Premier League.

His part in the Gunners' historic unbeaten Premier League triumph in 2004 will remain etched in the club's folklore, Arsene Wenger's men going through the season unbeaten.

Reyes is also the most decorated player in the Europa League, having won it five times.

Reyes was a big hit at Arsenal
Reyes was a big hit at Arsenal (Sean Dempsey/PA)

He won the trophy three times with Sevilla and it was his boyhood club who confirmed his death in a car accident, aged 35, on Saturday.

Born in Utreta, less than 20 miles from the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, it was inevitable that Reyes would start his career with Sevilla, making his debut at 16, and helping them to promotion to LaLiga in 2001.

He scored 22 goals in 73 starts in four years, which attracted Wenger's interest.

He joined Arsenal for £10.5million in January 2004, scoring five goals in 21 games in all competitions during the second half of the seaosn as the unbeaten Gunners claimed the Premier League title.

He reached the Champions League final with the Gunners
He reached the Champions League final with the Gunners (Nick Potts/PA)

A year later he helped Arsenal to FA Cup glory but was sent off in extra-time in the final before Arsenal beat Manchester United on penalties.

He was also a late substitute in Arsenal's 2-1 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in 2006 and in the August he joined Real Madrid, initially on loan.

Reyes won LaLiga with Real before switching to city rivals Atletico for £12million in 2007 to officially end his Arsenal career after 110 appearances and 23 goals.

It was a successful four and a half years at the Vicente Calderon Stadium as Reyes helped Atletico win the Europa League in 2010 and 2012.

Success in Spain followed
Success in Spain followed (David Davies/PA)

He had rejoined Sevilla by the time Atletico lifted it in 2012 but had played in the early stages and it was the start of a love affair with the trophy.

With Sevilla he won it three more times as Unai Emery's side dominated the competition, winning it in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Reyes set up Carlos Bacca to score in the 2015 final against Dnipro as Sevilla won 3-2.

His fourth win was a Europa League record and he set another in 2016 when he collected a fifth winners' medal following Sevilla's 3-1 win over Liverpool.

Again, he did not play in the final but, under UEFA's rules, having played in the early stages he claimed a medal.

Reyes moved on a free to Espanyol later that summer and also played for Cordoba after a brief spell in China with Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard and joined Extremadura in Spain's second tier in January.

He won 21 caps for Spain, scoring four times and played in the 2006 World Cup.

He is survived by wife Noelia, whom he married in 2017.

Share this article now:
Jose Antonio Reyes during a Sevilla training session in May 2016
Read Next:
Thierry Henry pays tribute to 'exceptional human being' Reyes on social media
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Click here to log in with Facebook and add your favourite team's news and scores to this panel

6

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
/esi/758/0/index.html - esi:0:site:0:-p-: {0}: - :T758:-: {0}: < ! - - T  758 {0} - - >  : 
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38322495237298
2Liverpool38307189226797
3Chelsea38219863392472
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs382321367392871
5Arsenal382171073512270
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd381991065541166
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38169134746157
8Everton38159145446854
9Leicester CityLeicester38157165148352
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham38157165255-352
11Watford38148165259-750
12Crystal Palace38147175153-249
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174248-645
14Bournemouth38136195670-1445
15Burnley38117204568-2340
16Southampton38912174565-2039
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3899203560-2536
RCardiff CityCardiff38104243469-3534
RFulham3875263481-4726
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3837282276-5416

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account