|
"I am a very privileged person to have spent the best eight years of my life playing football in Scunthorpe," he wrote on Iron-Bru.net as he approached the end of his final season in claret and blue, 2003/04.
"My wife Leire and I are very thankful to everybody in Scunthorpe for being so supportive to us."
The Spaniard grew up during his time in North Lincolnshire. He was brought to the club from SD Eibar by then-manager Mick Buxton in 1996, who admitted at the time that anything the player did was of his own impulse as he was not sure how to get tactics across to him.
He arrived as a forward, but it was under the guidance of Buxton's replacement as manager, Brian Laws, that he was converted to the attacking midfield role where he made his name in the English game.
He made 233 appearances for the Iron, scoring 32 goals. none more memorable than that he scored on May 29 199. His header, from Gareth Sheldon's cross, sealed promotion to Division Two (now League One).
He was not to enjoy much of the single season in Division Two, as he suffered a broken leg in an away game at Reading. By the time he was back in action United were back in Division Three.
Although not technically entitled to a testimonial when he left the club he was granted a tribute match. The Alex Calvo-Garcia Unity Match saw the 1999 play-off side play a team made up of invited guests.