Francisco Javier 'Pichu' Atienza Valverde (born 18 January 1990) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Greek Super League club Asteras Tripolis as a central defender.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Javier Atienza Valverde | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1990-01-18) 18 January 1990 (age 34) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cañete de las Torres, Spain | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Asteras Tripolis | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 18 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2007 | Atlético Madrid | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Atlético Madrid C | 33 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2011 | Atlético Madrid B | 68 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Sevilla B | 65 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Huesca | 33 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | Hércules | 76 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | Reus | 73 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Numancia | 38 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Zaragoza | 46 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Asteras Tripolis | 55 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Spain U17 | 11 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 April 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
Atienza was born in Cañete de las Torres, Córdoba, Andalusia, and joined Atlético Madrid's youth setup in 2003. After making his senior debut for the C-teaminTercera División, he was promoted to the reserves in 2008, spending several campaigns in Segunda División B.
On 18 July 2011 Atienza joined another reserve team, Sevilla Atlético also in the third level.[1] He continued to appear in the category in the following years, representing SD Huesca[2] and Hércules CF.[3]
On 7 July 2016, Atienza signed a two-year contract with CF Reus Deportiu, newly promotedtoSegunda División.[4] He made his professional debut on 20 August, starting in a 1–0 away win against RCD Mallorca.[5]
On 16 June 2018, Atienza signed a two-year contract with fellow second division side CD Numancia.[6] On 4 July of the following year, he agreed to a three-year deal with Real Zaragoza, still in the second level.[7]
On 7 July 2021, Pichu was announced by the Greek Super League side Asteras Tripolis, on a contract until June 2023.[8]
