José Antonio García Rabasco (born 29 September 1986), known as Verza, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
He appeared in 100 La Liga matches across five seasons, totalling 14 goals while representing Villarreal, Almería and Levante. He added 266 games and 19 goals in the Segunda División, appearing for six clubs including the last two.
Club career
Born in Murcia and raised in Orihuela, Province of Alicante, Verza finished his youth career in Villarreal CF's academy, going on to spend two years with the reserves in the lower leagues. On 22 June 2003, he made his first-team – and La Liga – debut, playing the last 20 minutes in a 1–4 home loss against Real Betis when he was just 16.
In January 2005, Verza was loaned to Segunda División side Recreativo de Huelva until the end of the season. In July, he joined neighbouring Córdoba CF in the Segunda División B.
In January 2007, having been sparingly used by the Andalusians, Verza moved to Orihuela CF on loan, signing permanently in July. After one and a half years with the Valencian club, he joined second-tier Albacete Balompié on a two-year deal.
Verza was an undisputed starter for the Castilla–La Mancha side the following years but, after their relegation in 2011, he terminated his contract and signed with UD Almería from the same league one week later.
Verza appeared in 40 league matches in his second season (plus four in the play-offs), helping the Rojiblancos return to the top flight after a two-year absence. He played his first game in the competition in more than one decade on 19 August 2013, starting in a 2–3 home loss to former side Villarreal, and scored his first goal later that month, from the penalty spot in the 2–2 home draw with Elche CF.
On 8 February 2014, Verza netted twice at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos to help hand Atlético Madrid the second consecutive loss of the campaign, scoring the final 2–0 through a penalty. On 7 January 2015, he scored an own goal and a penalty in the 1–1 home draw against Getafe CF in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.
On 8 June 2015, Verza signed a four-year deal with Levante UD after his contract expired. In August 2017, he returned to Almería by agreeing to a one-year loan.
Verza became a free agent on 29 August 2018, and joined second division team CF Rayo Majadahonda two days later. The following 19 July, after suffering relegation, he signed a two-year contract with third-tier FC Cartagena.
Verza helped Efesé in their promotion to division two in his first season, but terminated his contract on 11 January 2021 due to being rarely used in his second. He retired in 2021 aged 34, following a brief spell with Real Murcia CF.
Personal life Verza's father, José (born 1960), was also a footballer, and the former inherited the nickname from the latter. He played mainly in the lower leagues, but made one top-division appearance for Murcia.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsVillarreal2002–03La Liga1000——102003–04302030—802004–05000010—10Total40204000100Recreativo (loan)2004–05Segunda División15000——150Córdoba2005–06Segunda División B25010——2602006–078010——90Total330200000350Orihuela (loan)2006–07Segunda División B18400——184Orihuela2007–0834200——342Total526000000526Albacete2008–09Segunda División33410——3442009–1034200——3422010–1133600——336Total1001210000010112Almería2011–12Segunda División38130——4112012–1340230—404722013–14La Liga34800——3482014–1533431——365Total1451591004015816Levante2015–16La Liga29221——3132016–17Segunda División20010——2102017–18La Liga0000——00Total492310000523Almería (loan)2017–18Segunda División24210——252Rayo Majadahonda2018–19Segunda División24200——242Cartagena2019–20Segunda División B19200—102022020–21Segunda División5000——50Total242000010252Murcia2020–21Segunda División B12000——120Career total48241182405050943
Honours Villarreal UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2003
Almería Segunda División play-offs: 2012–13
Levante Segunda División: 2016–17
References
External links