Juanfran

Juan Francisco Torres, known to everyone as Juanfran, grew up in Real Madrid's academy and made his name as an attacking winger at Osasuna. He joined Atlético in January 2011, and when Diego Simeone arrived later that year, his career took an unexpected turn.

A new position

Simeone moved him to right-back, and within months Juanfran had become one of the best in Europe in that position: tireless, disciplined in defence and still dangerous going forward. He was a fixture in the side that won the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2012, the 2013 Copa del Rey and La Liga in 2013–14, and he played in the Champions League finals of 2014 and 2016.

Milan 2016

In the 2016 final against Real Madrid in Milan, Juanfran's penalty hit the post in the shoot-out. The response of the Atlético supporters, who sang his name in support, became one of the defining images of the bond between the club and its players. He went on to win a second Europa League in 2018.

Legacy

Juanfran left in 2019 after more than eight seasons and almost 250 league games. Few players embodied Simeone's demand for effort and humility as completely.