José Manuel Velázquez


José Manuel "Sema" Velázquez Rodríguez, is a Venezuelan football defender. He is playing for Deportivo Táchira and he is also playing for the Venezuela national football team.

Club career

Velázquez started his career at just six when he started to play for various youth clubs in town. He made his professional debut with ACD Lara in 2007. Having made himself a regular at the age of 17, Deportivo Anzoátegui secured his services at the beginning of 2008.
He signed for Villarreal in 2009 to play for its reserve team. However, he did not feature in any match since he joined the squad, and was loaned to Venezuelan club Mineros de Guayana for the end of the 2010–11 season and the whole 2011–12 campaign.
On 7 July 2012, he signed a 3-year contract for Panathinaikos F.C..

International career

Velázquez has played at every level from Under-15 to Under-20.

International goals

No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
113 May 2009Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela51–01–1Friendly
213 June 2016NRG Stadium, Houston, United States191–01–1Copa América Centenario
33 June 2017Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, United States251–01–1Friendly

Under 20s

Velázquez was selected to play for Venezuela in the 2009 South American Youth Championship by César Farías, partnering Carlos Salazar in central defence. During the Round of 16 of the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Egypt, he play the full 90 minutes against UAE but Venezuela was eventually defeated 1–2.

Senior Team

Velázquez is a member of the Venezuela national football team, having debuted on 28 March 2009 against Argentina.

Honours

;Deportivo Anzoátegui SC
;AC Mineros