José María Giménez is footballer of Atlético de Madrid and the Uruguayan National Football Team.
José María Giménez (Toledo, Canelones, Uruguay, January 20th 1995) has barely passed his twenties but his youth doesn’t stop him being one of the most efficient centrebacks of world’s and European’s football. His partnership with his countryman Godín is key to understand Atlético de Madrid’s defensive strength, a team that is enjoying the best defending system in the world.
Everything has happened so quickly for Giménez. He started playing football for his local team. There he received the call from Danubio Fútbol Club, one of the most prestigious teams in Uruguay. He debuted with Danubio in the First Division on November 2012. Juan Ramón Carrasco was the coach that gave him the alternative. Several months later, in April 2013, his signing for the club from Madrid was made public.
The first official match of the centreback with his new team was on the 14th of September 2013. It was at the Vicente Calderón against Almería. He played all 90 minutes and his team won 4-2. It was a complete year in which he had to adapt himself to Spanish football but he also had to get used to Simeone’s rules. As a team, they won the League and were Champions League finalists.
The next season was vital for him. Miranda was injured so he had the chance to prove himself as a starter. Cholo Simeone trusted him to replace the Brazilian and he performed quite well. His spectacular uprise wasn’t unnoticed in Europe. He went from playing 3 matches in 2013-14 to playing 28 in 2014-15.
With Uruguay’s National Team, his youth hasn’t been an obstacle to live incredible experiences at the highest level. His best achievement with the ‘Celeste’ was reaching the second position at the Under 20 World Cup in 2013. Only Pogba’s France could beat them and on from the penalty spot. With Uruguay’s absolute National Team, he debuted on September of that precise year. At the orders of Tabárez, he played the 2014 and 2018 World Cup and two American’s Cups (2015, 2016), wearing the Uruguay shirt in more than 30 games (in which he has scored 4 goals). His future in Uruguay’s National Team is as promising as in Atlético de Madrid.
Career
2012-13. Danubio FC
- He debuted with the first team on the 10th of November 2012 (vs Central Español)
2013-Current days. Atlético de Madrid
- He debuted at the Vicente Calderón against Almería on the 14th of September 2013
- Champion of the 2013-14 League
- Champions League finalist 2013-14
- Spain’s Supercup champion 2014
- On the 6th of December 2014 he scores his first goal with Atlético (against Elche, 0-2)
- Champions League finalist 2015-16
- Europa League champion 2017-18
- La Liga champions 2020-21
International Career
- 2013 Sub 20 World Cup Runner-up
- He debuted with Uruguay’s national team on the 11th of September 2013 (vs Colombia 2-0 win)
- Tabárez summons him for the 2014 World Cup. Starter in three of the four Uruguay matches in the competition
- 8th of September 2014. First goal with Uruguay (Friendly against South Korea, 0-1 win)
- Summoned by Tabárez for the 2015 American Cup. Starter in all 4 Uruguay matches. Decisive header goal against Paraguay on the first round. He was included in the best 11 team of the first leg of the competition (group stage)
- Summoned by Tabárez for the 2016 American Cup. Starter in all 3 Uruguay matches
- Starter in four games for the 2018 World Cup. Decisive goal against Egypt.
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