He amassed La Liga totals of 270 matches and 49 goals over eleven seasons, mainly with Atlético Madrid – for which he signed at the age of 18 from Sevilla, going on to score 34 times in 144 appearances – and Villarreal (four years apiece).

[4][5] José Mari failed to settle in Italy after a €19 million move to AC Milan in January 2000[6]– Atlético were relegated at the end of the campaign[3]– and was subsequently loaned to the Colchoneros for 2002–03, their first back in the top flight after a two-year absence.

[12] In 2007, after falling out of favour at Villarreal with the arrival of Giuseppe Rossi and the recovery of longtime injury absentee Nihat Kahveci, José Mari returned to Seville, joining Real Betis on a one-year deal.

[13] He scored his first goal for his new club more than a year after his arrival, on 24 September 2008, in a 3–2 away loss to Barcelona;[14] despite still having a contract running until June 2010, he was released in late December and, the following month, moved to Segunda División with Gimnàstic de Tarragona.

[15] In June 2010, after one and a half seasons of regular playing time, with six league goals in his last year,[16] José Mari became a free agent and was released.