José Ignacio (footballer, born 1973)
# José Ignacio (footballer, born 1973)

José Ignacio Sáenz Marín (born 28 September 1973), known as José Ignacio, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

## Club career

Born in Logroño, La Rioja, Ignacio made his professional debut for hometown club CD Logroñés. Upon its La Liga relegation at the end of the 1994–95 season he joined Valencia CF, helping with 27 matches to a final runner-up place in his first year.

In the summer of 1997, Ignacio moved to Real Zaragoza, where he would play five seasons. In 2000–01 he scored a career-best six goals, including one in a 14 April 2001 thriller at FC Barcelona that finished 4–4 as the Aragonese went on to barely avoid relegation (17th, adding that year's Copa del Rey), which would eventually befall the next year.

Ignacio joined RC Celta de Vigo for 2002–03, making 33 league appearances as the Galician side achieved a UEFA Champions League berth. However, they would also be relegated the following campaign.

Upon retiring in 2006 at nearly 33, one year after playing only 11 games as Celta returned to the top tier, he rejoined his first team Logroñés as a director of football. In 11 top-flight seasons – out of the 14 he played – he amassed totals of 317 matches and 17 goals.

## International career

Ignacio received two caps for Spain during 2001. The first came in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein on 5 September, and he also appeared in a friendly in Huelva with Mexico two months later.

Previously, Ignacio represented the nation at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

## Honours

### Club

Zaragoza

* Copa del Rey: 2000–01

### International

Spain U21

* UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 1996
