Joseba Llorente
A late-blooming Spanish striker whose predatory instincts in the box made him a fan favorite and a consistent goal threat for several La Liga clubs.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Spanish retired footballer·Birthday: November 24·Generation X
Biography
Joseba Llorente didn't follow a starlet's path; he crafted a career through persistence and a striker's cold efficiency in front of goal. Spending his early years in the lower divisions, his breakthrough came unexpectedly at the age of 28 with Real Valladolid, where his goal-scoring form earned a high-profile move to Villarreal. At his peak, he was a pure penalty-box operator, a master of intelligent movement and first-time finishes. His most famous moment came in a Europa League match for Villarreal, where he scored a stunning five goals in under 30 minutes. While never a regular for the Spanish national team, his club contributions were vital, particularly in Villarreal's runs in European competition. His career arc proved that sharp instincts and timing could trump early hype, leaving a legacy of crucial goals for every team he represented.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Joseba was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Joseba Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Joseba's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
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
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored five goals in a 17-minute span for Villarreal against Rosenborg in the 2008-09 UEFA Cup, a European competition record.
- Finished as the top scorer for Real Valladolid in the 2007-08 season, netting 15 goals and securing a move to Villarreal.
- Played a key role in Villarreal's run to the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
- Scored over 80 goals across Spain's top two divisions during his professional career.
- Helped Real Sociedad win promotion back to La Liga in the 2009-10 season after a loan move.
Did You Know?
His five-goal burst against Rosenborg occurred between the 59th and 76th minutes of the match.
Before his professional breakthrough, he studied and played while working in a bank.
He is the son of former Athletic Bilbao player Jose Luis Llorente.
Despite his prolific club form, he only ever received one call-up to the Spanish national team, in 2008.
“I scored goals because I was always in the right place at the right time.”
