José Antonio Reyes
A mercurial Spanish winger blessed with blistering pace, who tasted glory at Arsenal and across Europe's top leagues.
1983–2019 (age 36)·Spanish footballer·Birthday: September 1·Millennials
Biography
José Antonio Reyes arrived in English football in 2004 not as a prospect, but as a promise—a thrilling, left-footed whirlwind signed by Arsenal's invincible manager Arsène Wenger. His searing speed and technical audacity made him an instant fan favorite, and he contributed crucially to the Arsenal squad that went an entire Premier League season undefeated. While his time in London had moments of sublime brilliance, it was also marked by a palpable homesickness that led him back to Spain, beginning a nomadic journey through the elite of European football. He won league titles with Real Madrid and Benfica, and multiple Europa League trophies with Sevilla, where his talent found a consistent home. Reyes's life, filled with both dazzling highs and personal challenges, ended tragically in a car accident in 2019, shocking the football world.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
José was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When José Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
José's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2019Died at 36
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
Key Achievements
- Was part of the Arsenal 'Invincibles' squad that went unbeaten in the 2003-04 Premier League season.
- Won the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) three times with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016).
- Won a La Liga title with Real Madrid in the 2006-07 season.
- Earned 21 caps for the Spanish national team, scoring 4 goals.
Did You Know?
His transfer from Sevilla to Arsenal in January 2004 was one of the most expensive for a Spanish teenager at the time.
He scored twice in his first start for Arsenal, in an FA Cup match against Chelsea.
Reyes was known for his superstitious habit of always putting his right boot on before his left.
He had a brief loan stint with Portuguese giants Benfica, winning a league title there in the 2009-10 season.
“With the ball at my feet and space ahead, I see only the goal.”
