Manuel Jesús Arana Rodríguez (born 3 December 1984) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a right winger.

He played 75 La Liga matches over four seasons, totalling seven goals for Racing de Santander and Rayo Vallecano. He added 164 appearances and 33 goals in the Segunda División, and also competed professionally in Australia, India and Gibraltar.

Club career

Arana was born in Seville, Andalusia. After not being able to reach the first team at Real Betis in his hometown he signed with CD Castellón, where he would first appear professionally in 2006–07's Segunda División, playing one game; in the following two seasons, also at that level, he proceeded to be used regularly.

In June 2009, Arana moved to La Liga with Racing de Santander, on a four-year contract. He made his debut in the competition on 30 August in a 1–4 home loss against Getafe CF, and scored in his third match for a 2–1 win at Málaga CF, going on to net three more goals in the league (totalling 1,749 minutes) as the side from Cantabria managed to retain their league status.

Arana terminated his contract with Racing in late August 2012, following the club's top-flight relegation. Four days later, he signed a two-year deal with Rayo Vallecano of the same league.

On 7 July 2014, Arana left Recreativo de Huelva and joined RCD Mallorca also in division two, for two years. On 30 September 2016 the 31-year-old moved abroad for the first time in his career, after being confirmed as the third visa player signing by Brisbane Roar FC for the 2016–17 season.

On 12 July 2017, Arana switched clubs and countries again, signing for FC Goa. He scored his debut goal for them on 25 November, but in a 2–1 away defeat to Mumbai City FC. On 31 January 2018, he was loaned to fellow Indian Super League team Delhi Dynamos FC until March.

Career statistics

As of match played on 14 February 2018

ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Castellón2006–07Segunda División1020—30
2007–08Segunda División28600—286
2008–09Segunda División41830—448
Total701450—7514
Racing Santander2009–10La Liga31430—344
2010–11La Liga14110—151
2011–12La Liga28210—292
Total73750—787
Rayo Vallecano2012–13La Liga2010—30
Recreativo2012–13Segunda División18100—181
2013–14Segunda División24820—268
Total42920—449
Mallorca2014–15Segunda División32800—328
2015–16Segunda División20200—202
Total521000—5210
Brisbane Roar2016–17A-League1800062242
Goa2017–18Indian Super League103——103
Delhi Dynamos2017–18Indian Super League20——20
Career total291461306231048

Honours

Europa

Individual

External links

  • at BDFutbol