Juan Manuel 'Juanma' Ortiz Palazón (born 1 March 1982) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played mainly as a right midfielder.
After starting out at Atlético Madrid, he went on to spend most of his career with AlmerÃÂa, appearing in 151 official matches over two spells (16 goals) whilst taking part in four La Liga seasons with the club. He also played in Scotland and Cyprus.
Born in Guardamar del Segura, Province of Alicante, Valencia, Ortiz was a graduate of Atlético Madrid's youth system, where he played five first-team games during the 2003âÂÂ04 season, three as a starter.
He had previously made his debut with the main squad in the 2001âÂÂ02 campaign, appearing in one Segunda División match as the Colchoneros were promoted, and would spend the next three years on loan at both CA Osasuna and Polideportivo Ejido, the latter in the second level.
For 2007âÂÂ08, Ortiz joined newly promoted UD AlmerÃÂa, where he was instrumental in helping the Andalusia side overachieve to a final eighth place in La Liga. He scored two goals, including in a 4âÂÂ1 away win against neighbours Sevilla FC on 19 April 2008, and continued to be regularly used in the following top-flight seasons, inclusively as an attacking right-back.
Ortiz played as both right and left-back during the 2010âÂÂ11 campaign. He netted twice in the Copa del Rey, both in a 4âÂÂ3 victory over RCD Mallorca (8âÂÂ6 on aggregate) in the round of 16, as the team eventually reached the competition's semi-finals for the first time in their history, being nonetheless relegated after ranking 20th and last.
From 2007 to 2009, Ortiz was one of three AlmerÃÂa players with that surname, Mané and José Ortiz being the others.
Ortiz signed for Scottish Premier League club Rangers on 6 July 2011, on a three-year contract. He made his first competitive appearance 17 days later, struggling to make an impact and playing out of position in a 1âÂÂ1 away draw with Heart of Midlothian. He scored his only official goal on 18 August, in a UEFA Europa League qualifier against NK Maribor.
On 30 January 2012, after a somewhat disappointing first half to his Rangers campaign, it was announced that Ortiz would rejoin AlmerÃÂa on loan until the end of the season. He netted three times in his first three games, awarding his team nine points after strikes against Córdoba CF (2âÂÂ1, home), Girona FC (1âÂÂ0, away) and Real Murcia CF (4âÂÂ2, home).
Following Rangers' liquidation after they entered administration, several players refused to have their contracts transferred to a new company set up by Charles Green, and both Ortiz and the club agreed on having his link terminated. On 10 July 2012, he signed a two-year contract with Granada CF.
Having signed in the summer of 2014 at the age of 32, Ortiz then spent several seasons in the Cypriot First Division with AEK Larnaca FC, sharing teams with a host of compatriots. On 29 September 2017, he returned to his country and signed with amateurs CF La NucÃÂa, helping to a first-ever promotion to the Segunda División B in 2019.
Ortiz returned to Tercera División in December 2019, joining CF Intercity.