José Mejías

Pepe Mejías

Personal information
Full name	José Manuel Mejías López
Date of birth	(1959-01-21) 21 January 1959
Place of birth	Cádiz, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
	Cádiz
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1976–1977	Cádiz B
1977–1986	Cádiz	248	(60)
1977–1978	→ Jerez Industrial (loan)
1986–1988	Zaragoza	60	(8)
1988–1989	Murcia	39	(10)
1989–1990	Rayo Vallecano	21	(3)
1990–1992	Cádiz	56	(6)
1992–1993	Elche	41	(9)
1993–1994	San Fernando
1994–1995	Conil
Total		465	(96)
International career
1985	Spain U21	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Mejías and the second or maternal family name is López.

José Manuel 'Pepe' Mejías López (born 21 January 1959) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

His career was closely associated to Cádiz, for which he appeared in 304 games both major levels of Spanish football combined, scoring 66 goals.

In La Liga Mejía also represented Zaragoza, Murcia and Rayo Vallecano, amassing competition totals of 263 matches and 43 goals over the course of ten seasons.

Football career

Born in Cádiz, Andalusia, Mejías spent most of his 19-year senior career with Cádiz CF. After starting out with the B-team he was loaned to neighbouring amateurs Jerez Industrial CF, returning in January 1978 and going on to remain with his main club a further eight full seasons; he made his La Liga debut on 9 April 1978, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–4 home loss against RCD Español.

During his first spell, Mejías constantly alternated between the top level and Segunda División, promoting three times to the former and being relegated to the latter in 1982 and 1984. In the 1982–83 campaign he scored a career-best 15 goals, helping the Gaditanos return to the main category.

Mejías left Cádiz in the 1986 summer, joining fellow top-divisioner Real Zaragoza. He continued to compete in that level in the following years, with Real Murcia (also started 1989–90 with the club in division two) and Rayo Vallecano; he appeared with the first in the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup, netting once in seven contests – the 2–0 win at Vitosha Sofia– to help the Aragonese team reach the semifinals.

After two more seasons with Cádiz in the second division, 33-year-old Mejías retired from professional football and moved to the lower leagues, retiring three years later.

Personal life

Mejías' younger brother, Salvador, was also a footballer. They coincided in several teams during their careers.

External links

• Pepe Mejías profile at BDFutbol
• Stats at Cadistas1910 (Spanish)