“Teamwork is the key in Club Tijuana”

Juan Carlos Nuñez is one of the team’s most experienced players. The defender is playing in his 12th tournament with the Xoloitzcuintles in the 2014 Clausura. Nuñez, also known as “Kalin” by his teammates, marked his name in Club Tijuana’s history as he was part of three Xoloitzcuintles championship trophies. He was a key figure in the 2010 Apertura title as well as in the promotion to the Mexican First Division in the 2011 Clausura. He also won the team’s first title in the First Division in the 2012 Apertura.

“Tijuana is part of my life. I owe everything to Club Tijuana. I am very thankful to the team’s administration and I hope to accomplish more things with this institution,” said Nuñez, who has been with the team five years. 

COLLECTIVE WORK, THE TEAM BASE

 “The Xoloitzcuintles has accomplished great things with everyone’s sacrifice and effort. From administration to the players, everyone’s work has been very important. Work has been the foundation of this team and we want to keep it that way so that we can grow together. Club Tijuana is very important in my career. I want to leave more here, leave our names and reach more things. This club was made for big things and it has reached some important titles, always going for more.”

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT WITH CLUB TIJUANA

“My greatest accomplishments have gone noticed. In 2011 we had to work hard to stay in the First Division. It was a great glory that we lived and now we get to stay in the First Division. They are great accomplishments such as the 2012 Apertura title that we won. Those two moments are very important to me.”

JUAN CARLOS PLANTS ROOTS IN TIJUANA

“The birth of my son Matias has marked my life greatly. It means a lot that my son was born in Tijuana. He came right after the First Division debut in August of 2011. It is a very special moment and something that Tijuana has allowed me to live.”

FIVE CONSISTENT YEARS WITH THE XOLOITZCUINTLES

“Working day in and day out, being well, we’ve had different coaches that have had confidence in me but I thin the player earns it with what it has shown on the field.”

GAMES MOST REMEMBERED

“There are several of them. One of them is the semifinals against Leon in the 2012 Apertura when we won the title that year. It left a mark in us. People counted us for dead in that series. We turned it around in the second leg. The team showed it was made for great things. Another game was the quarterfinals in the 2013 Copa Libertadores against Atletico Mineiro. We had them on the ropes. We were left out because of a missed penalty  kick but games like these have been marked in our minds.” 

CLUB TIJUANA A CHANGING FACTOR IN THE BORDER REGION

“It feels good and we are happy to be part of this history, to change the face of Tijuana. People talked a lot about violence when I got here. And now when you talk about Tijuana you talk about Xoloitzcuintles, about sports and that is something nice. It is nice that we have changed the face of Tijuana so that all the kids can focus on sports and go down a better path.”

PROFILE

Juan Carlos Nuñez plays as the right back for Club Tijuana and has maintained a great level of play during the five years he has been with the team. He has played in 170 games with the Xoloitzcuintles. Before coming to Club Tijuana in 2008, he played in 15 games with CD Toluca in four different First Division tournaments. Nuñez is a versatile defender who helps with the start of the team’s attack from the back. He is a capable player in one-on-one situations. He has been able to shut down some internationally known attackers, such as Ronaldinho and Landon Donovan.

“Game experience and the work of your teammates help you to gain the confidence to be able to defend such players. They have been special moments like in the Copa Libertadores and now the CONCACAF Champions League. This has also been important in my career.”

NUÑEZ ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A XOLOITZCUINTLE

* LIGA MX- 2012 Apertura champion

* LIGA Ascenso 2011 Clausura champion

* LIGA Ascenso 2010 Apertura champion

Name: Juan Carlos Núñez Orozco

Date of Birth: April 18, 1983

Birth Place: Guadalajara, Mexico

Height: 167 m

Position: Defender