Javier Artero


Javier Artero López is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder.
After playing for five teams in the lower leagues of his country he joined Dundee in Scotland, spending two years with the club before being forced to retire at only 27, due to illness.

Club career

Early years

Born in Madrid, Artero started playing football with local amateurs CD Colonia Moscardó. In 1995 he joined Real Madrid, but never made it past the C-team, also being loaned to another club in the community, CD Leganés of Segunda División, and appearing very rarely over the course of his only season.
Subsequently, Artero dropped down to Segunda División B and joined Málaga CF, helping the Andalusians return to the second level after which he signed for another side in that tier, CD Badajoz.

Dundee

In 1999, Artero moved abroad and joined San Lorenzo de Almagro from Argentina. From March–May of the following year he was loaned to Dundee F.C. in the Scottish Premier League, with the move being made permanent on 1 July for £300,000, a then-club record. On the 30th, he scored in a 2–0 away win against Motherwell.
On 18 November 2000, Artero contributed with one goal to a 5–0 home victory over St Mirren, and enjoyed his best years as a professional with the Dark Blues, appearing in 64 official games with the side and helping them to the sixth place in his first year, with the subsequent qualification to the UEFA Intertoto Cup.
On 1 August 2001, 26-year-old Artero was admitted to hospital with an unknown disease, which was revealed to be multiple sclerosis early into the following month. Even though he was still able to take part in some matches in the 2001–02 season, he was forced to retire from football in August 2002, being immediately named Dundee's international scout.
Artero worked as a football analyst after retiring, being a co-commentator on Real Madrid TV.