Juan Arango Jr.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Arango and the second or maternal family name is Tortolero.
Juan Arango Jr.
Personal information
Full name Juan Fernando Arango Tortolero[1]
Date of birth (2006-06-27) 27 June 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Calvià, Spain
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
 Girona B
Number 31
Youth career
EdF Juan Arango
Caracas
2021–2022 Girona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Girona B 8 (3)
International career‡
2022– Venezuela U17 11 (4)
2023– Venezuela U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 November 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 November 2023

Juan Fernando Arango Tortolero (born 27 June 2006) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish side Girona B.

Early and personal life

Arango was born in Spain to former Venezuelan international footballer Juan Arango Sr.. He is the nephew of Edson Tortolero, and the great-grandson of Argenis Tortolero, both of whom also represented Venezuela at international level.[2][3] His cousin, Edson Tortolero Jr., is also a footballer, and currently plays for Venezuelan side Carabobo.[3]

Club career

Having begun his career at the academy set up by his father, Escuela de Fútbol Juan Arango, Arango played briefly for Caracas, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela, he only managed an appearance apiece for the club's under-15 and under-17 sides.[4] In March 2021, he went on trial with Spanish side Girona, before joining the club at the opening of the summer transfer window in August of the same year.[4][5]

He signed his first professional contract with the club in August 2022, penning a three-year deal.[6] He marked his debut for Girona's B team with a goal, scoring the club's fourth goal in a 4–2 win against Vilafranca in the Tercera Federación.[7]

International career

Eligible to represent both Spain and Venezuela at international level, Arango chose to follow in the footsteps of his father, stating in an interview with Venezuelan sports newspaper Diario Meridiano that he has "always wanted to represent Venezuela".[2] He was called up to the Venezuela under-17 squad in late 2022, and scored twice in a 4–2 friendly win against Bolivia in December.[8]

Called up to the squad again for the 2023 South American U-17 Championship, he scored twice in eight appearances to help Venezuela to a fourth-place position in the final round.[9] Following his goal against Bolivia in Venezuela's 2–0 win, he stated that he wanted to "create [his] own legacy", and that his father's name was not a burden on his footballing career.[10] After Telasco Segovia had to undergo surgery for an abdominal issue, Arango was drafted into Venezuela's under-23 squad for the 2023 Maurice Revello Tournament, where he went on to make one appearance as Venezuela finished eighth.[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 17 November 2023[12][13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Girona B 2022–23 Tercera Federación 8 3 – 0 0 8 3
2023–24 0 0 – 0 0 0 0
Career total 8 3 0 0 0 0 8 3
Notes

References

  1. ^ a b "FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023™" (PDF). fdp.fifa.org. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b Chacon Albino, Carlos Alberto (14 February 2022). "Juan Arango Tortolero no le pierde pisada a su padre: quiere jugar con La Vinotinto" [Juan Arango Tortolero does not lose track of his father: he wants to play with La Vinotinto]. meridiano.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Juan Arango Jr.: ¿seguirá los pasos de su padre?" [Juan Arango Jr.: will he follow in his father's footsteps?]. larepublica.pe (in Spanish). 18 April 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Juan Arango Jr, el inicio de una nueva historia" [Juan Arango Jr, the beginning of a new story]. solovenex.com (in Spanish). 27 March 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  5. ^ "El hijo de Juan Arango comienza su andar en el fútbol de élite" [Juan Arango's son begins his journey in elite football]. lapatilla.com (in Spanish). 3 August 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  6. ^ Benitez, Karla (18 August 2022). "Hijo de Juan Arango firmó contrato con Girona" [Juan Arango's son signed a contract with Girona]. primicia.com.ve (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Con un gol debutó hijo de Juan Arango en España" [Juan Arango's son made his debut in Spain with a goal]. diarioeltiempo.com.ve (in Spanish). 8 October 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  8. ^ "De tal palo… Pegada de Juan Arango Jr. selló la victoria de la Vinotinto Sub-17 ante Bolivia" [From such a suit… Juan Arango Jr.'s strike sealed the victory of the Vinotinto U-17 against Bolivia]. registrationcdnaws.com (in Spanish). 16 December 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  9. ^ Perozo, Kiko (4 April 2023). "De Juan Arango a Juan Arango, la Vinotinto vuelve a sonreír" [From Juan Arango to Juan Arango, Vinotinto smiles again]. hsmdeportes.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  10. ^ Sabedra, Fabiola (5 April 2023). "Arango Jr: "Estoy creando mi propio legado"" [Arango Jr: "I am creating my own legacy"]. liderendeportes.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  11. ^ "¡Oficial! Juan Arango Jr sustituirá a Telasco Segovia en el Torneo Maurice Revello 2023" [Official! Juan Arango Jr will replace Telasco Segovia in the 2023 Maurice Revello Tournament]. mazo4f.com (in Spanish). 7 June 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  12. ^ Juan Arango Jr. at Soccerway
  13. ^ Juan Arango Jr. at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)