KOLKATA:
The champions of inaugural edition and the semi finalist of the second season of Indian Super League, Atlético de Kolkata, announced today the signing of Spanish Centre Forward Juan Belencoso and added more fervor in their strong International line up of players. Known for his hard working nature and skills, Belencoso is a fan favourite with his clinical finishes and played for Kitchee FC in Hong Kong. Belencoso also played for sides like Alb
“On behalf of the team management we welcome Belencoso to Atlético de Kolkata which will help us in further developing the nucleus of the team this year. My association with his style of football goes back to the Kitchee FC days in Hong Kong. He had been one of the most consistent performers and had been nominated as AFC Foreign Player of the Year. With Postiga and now Belencoso I feel the need for the right strikers has been precisely addressed.” – José Molina, Head Coach, Atlético de Kolkata
About Juan Belencoso
Born in Elche de la Sierra, Albacete, Belencoso started playing as a senior with amateurs Deportivo Rayo Cantabria. From 2002 to 2008, following a brief spell in Portugal, he competed mainly in Segunda División B, representing in that level Real Jaén, Mérida UD, CE L’Hospitalet and CD Baza. Belencoso reached Segunda División for the first time in the 2008–09 seasons, signing with local Castile-La Mancha club Albacete Balompié. He made his debut in the competition on 31 August 2008, coming in as a late substitute in a 2–1 home win against Sevilla Atlético, but only scored twice in the league over the course of two full seasons.
Belencoso returned to division three for the following years, playing with UB Conquense, CD Lugo and Cádiz CF. He achieved promotion with the second team after scoring 14 goals, three in the playoffs. On 9 July 2013, Belencoso became coach Àlex Gómez’s first foreign signing of the new campaign as he joined Kitchee SC in Hong Kong. He became a regular scorer for Kitchee and fired them to the domestic treble last season including two goals in the FA Cup final against Eastern. In terms of continental football, in the AFC Cup 2014, his eleven goals helped propel Kitchee to the semi-final stage where they eventually succumbed. Belencoso models his style of football on Robert Lewandowski.
About Atlético de Kolkata:
Atlético de Kolkata is the winner of the first edition of Indian Super League and semi-finalists of the second edition. The franchise’s dedication and commitment towards a sustainable growth of football is on top of its agenda. Atlético de Kolkata leverages on the over 100-year experience of Atlético de Madrid’s sporting model of academies which enables them to recognize and empower talent from the very grassroots. The franchise is represented by notable industrialists and luminaries like Mr. Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman, RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group; Mr. Sourav Ganguly, Ex-captain, Indian cricket team, and President, Cricket Association of Bengal Mr. Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group and Mr. Utsav Parekh, Chairman, SMIFS Capital Markets Ltd as its co-owners and Atlético de Madrid.
