Josu Explained

Josué Prieto Currais (born 27 February 1993), commonly known as Josu, is a Spanish footballer who plays as a left-back or a left midfielder for L'Escala.

Club career

Journeyman

Born in Langreo, Asturias, Josu emerged through FC Barcelona's youth system at La Masia, where he played alongside future Spanish international Gerard Deulofeu. He only competed in the lower leagues or amateur football in his own country, his first professional experience being with Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho in the Finnish Ykkönen.^[1]

Josu signed with Polish club Górnik Łęczna in January 2015.^[2] Also in that year he joined Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League,^[3] scoring his first goal as a professional on 6 October to help to a 3–1 home win against NorthEast United FC.^[4]

On 14 December 2016, Josu converted his penalty shootout attempt against Delhi Dynamos FC to help his team reach the final against Atlético de Kolkata (eventually lost).^[5] He subsequently returned to Spain, moving to Segunda División B side Extremadura UD.^[6]

FC Cincinnati

On 7 May 2017, Josu signed with United Soccer League club FC Cincinnati for one year; he was announced eight days later, with coach Alan Koch describing him as a varied player, writing, "He is an attack-minded left back, but can also play further up the field if needed."^[7] On 29 June, in his new team's first match against Chicago Fire Soccer Club during their semi-final run in the U.S. Open Cup, he scored in the 3–1 shootout win.^[8]

On 8 August 2017, Josu agreed to an extension that would keep him at Nippert Stadium through the 2018 season.^[9] On 16 April 2018, however, the club announced that they had reached a mutual agreement with the player to terminate his contract, indicating that he would be returning to Spain but not disclosing what his plans were or if he would continue playing professionally.^[10]

Lahti

On 8 December 2018, after a brief spell back in his homeland with UE Llagostera, Josu returned to Finland and its Veikkausliiga with FC Lahti.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: From La Masia to Kochi: The story of Josue Currais Prieto. Goal. Ashwin. Muralidharan. 19 October 2015. 16 May 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161217180328/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/7083/isl/2015/10/19/16456902/from-la-masia-to-kochi-the-story-of-josue-currais-prieto. 17 December 2016.
2. Web site: Górnik Łęczna ma dwóch nowych graczy!. Górnik Łęczna have two new players!. Lubsport. pl. 24 January 2015. 16 May 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015705/http://www.lubsport.pl/aktualnosci/gornik-leczna-ma-dwoch-nowych-graczy/. 7 November 2017.
3. Web site: ISL round-up: Tendulkar's Kerala Blasters sign Barca youth product. Rediff.com. 24 July 2015. 16 May 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180626192312/http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/isl-round-up-tendulkars-kerala-blasters-sign-barca-youth-product-josu-currais-moritz/20150724.htm. 26 June 2018.
4. Web site: Kerala blast away to a 3–1 win over NorthEast United FC. Indian Super League. 6 October 2015. 16 May 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010444/http://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/2381-kerala-blast-away-to-a-3-1-win-over-northeast-united-fc. 7 November 2017.
5. Web site: Kerala enter the final after nerve-racking shootout against Delhi. Indian Super League. 14 December 2016. 16 May 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170513021323/http://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/5440-kerala-enter-the-final-after-nerve-racking-shootout-against-delhi. 13 May 2017.
6. Web site: Alejandro Zamora y Josu Currais se unen al proyecto azulgrana. Alejandro Zamora and Josu Currais added to azulgrana project. Vavel. Carlos. Gómez. es. 9 January 2017. 16 May 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012045/https://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/segunda-b/segunda-division-b-grupo-4/740610-alejandro-zamora-y-josu-currais-se-unen-al-proyecto-azulgrana.html. 7 November 2017.
7. Web site: FCC adds defender Josu. FC Cincinnati. Fumi. Kimura. 15 May 2017. 15 May 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170519013233/http://www.fccincinnati.com/news_article/show/792880. 19 May 2017.
8. Web site: Mitch says no, FCC upsets Fire to advance in Cup action. FC Cincinnati. 29 June 2017. 4 April 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180405025217/https://www.fccincinnati.com/news_article/show/808857-mitch-says-no-fcc-upsets-fire-to-advance-in-cup-action. 5 April 2018.
9. Web site: Josu secured through '18, Halfhill signs pro contract. FC Cincinnati. Fumi. Kimura. 4 August 2017. 20 August 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170828144616/http://www.fccincinnati.com/news_article/show/820269. 28 August 2017.
10. Web site: FCC Josu agree to part ways. FC Cincinnati. Fumi. Kimura. 16 April 2018. 16 April 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180618075947/https://www.fccincinnati.com/news_article/show/908038. 18 June 2018.
11. Web site: Josu siirtyy FC Lahteen. Josu moves to FC Lahti. FC Lahti. fi. 8 December 2018. 21 January 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190121064849/http://www.fclahti.fi/uutiset/2018/12/08/josu-siirtyy-fc-lahteen. 21 January 2019.