José Antonio GarcÃÂa Rabasco (born 29 September 1986), known as Verza, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
He appeared in 100 La Liga matches across five seasons, totalling 14 goals while representing Villarreal, AlmerÃÂa and Levante. He added 266 games and 19 goals in the Segunda División, appearing for six clubs including the last two.
Born in Murcia and raised in Orihuela, Province of Alicante, Verza finished his youth career in Villarreal CF's academy, going on to spend two years with the reserves in the lower leagues. On 22 June 2003, he made his first-team â and La Liga â debut, playing the last 20 minutes in a 1âÂÂ4 home loss against Real Betis when he was just 16.
In January 2005, Verza was loaned to Segunda División side Recreativo de Huelva until the end of the season. In July, he joined neighbouring Córdoba CF in the Segunda División B.
In January 2007, having been sparingly used by the Andalusians, Verza moved to Orihuela CF on loan, signing permanently in July. After one and a half years with the Valencian club, he joined second-tier Albacete Balompié on a two-year deal.
Verza was an undisputed starter for the CastillaâÂÂLa Mancha side the following years but, after their relegation in 2011, he terminated his contract and signed with UD AlmerÃÂa from the same league one week later.
Verza appeared in 40 league matches in his second season (plus four in the play-offs), helping the Rojiblancos return to the top flight after a two-year absence. He played his first game in the competition in more than one decade on 19 August 2013, starting in a 2âÂÂ3 home loss to former side Villarreal, and scored his first goal later that month, from the penalty spot in the 2âÂÂ2 home draw with Elche CF.
On 8 February 2014, Verza netted twice at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos to help hand Atlético Madrid the second consecutive loss of the campaign, scoring the final 2âÂÂ0 through a penalty. On 7 January 2015, he scored an own goal and a penalty in the 1âÂÂ1 home draw against Getafe CF in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.
On 8 June 2015, Verza signed a four-year deal with Levante UD after his contract expired. In August 2017, he returned to AlmerÃÂa by agreeing to a one-year loan.
Verza became a free agent on 29 August 2018, and joined second division team CF Rayo Majadahonda two days later. The following 19 July, after suffering relegation, he signed a two-year contract with third-tier FC Cartagena.
Verza helped Efesé in their promotion to division two in his first season, but terminated his contract on 11 January 2021 due to being rarely used in his second. He retired in 2021 aged 34, following a brief spell with Real Murcia CF.
Verza's father, José (born 1960), was also a footballer, and the former inherited the nickname from the latter. He played mainly in the lower leagues, but made one top-division appearance for Murcia.
Villarreal
AlmerÃÂa
Levante