Pepe Reina
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Date of Birth: 31/08/1982
- Height: 6'2
- Weight: 14st 7
- 1st team games: 128
- 1st team goals: 0
- International caps: 9
- International goals: 0
- Former clubs: Barcelona, Villarreal
- Birth Place: Madrid
Goalkeeper Jose Manuel Reina arrived at Melwood from Villarreal in July 2005. The Spaniard, who goes by the nickname Pepe, started his career with Barcelona, making his debut aged 18 against Celta Vigo in December 2000. He'd already represented Barcelona B and helped lead his country to glory in the European Under-16 Championships.
Reina played 33 games for the Catalan giants in 2000-01, including two against Liverpool in the UEFA Cup semi-final. He would later reveal how the reception he received from The Kop during the second leg was key in his decision to join the Reds. The stopper played just 11 times during the 2001-02 season, prompting a loan move to Villarreal in July 2002.
The transfer was made permanent in May 2004 in a deal with saw Juliano Belletti head to the Nou Camp. Reina helped Villareal secure a Champions League spot in 2004-05 season, saving an incredible seven out of nine penalty kicks. It was to be his final deed for the club. On arriving in Merseyside, the newboy was labelled "the best goalkeeper in Spain" by Rafa Benitez.
Reina quickly establish himself as first choice at Anfield despite the presence of Istanbul hero Jerzy Dudek. His Liverpool debut came in a Champions League qualifier on July 13, 2005 against TNS. A month later, on August 17, he won his first Spain cap in a 2-0 victory over Uruguay. What a year it was turning out to be for the young keeper. And it was to get even better on December 15 when he and his teammates kept a club record 11th successive clean sheet against Deportivo Saprissa in the World Club Championships.
Reina's first season ended with an FA Cup final against West Ham, and though he made a number of errors in normal time, his knack of saving spot kicks once again made him a hero. Three out of four of West Ham's penalties were blocked and the cup was heading to Anfield for the seventh time. Spain coach Luis Aragones took the Liverpool man to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, though Real Madrid's Iker Casillas and Valencia's Santiago Canizares prevented him playing any part.
Back on Merseyside, Reina played a crucial part in helping Liverpool reach their second Champions League final in three seasons - but not before breaking another club record. In April 2007, a shut out against Blackburn meant he'd kept 28 clean sheets in his first 50 league games - three more than Kop legend Ray Clemence. But there was no time to bask in his own glory, for just around the corner lay a Champions League semi-final against Chelsea. And Rafa had his man between the sticks to thank when the Reds returned from the first leg at Stamford Bridge with just a one-goal deficit. The tie ultimately went to penalties, and it was no surprise when Liverpool prevailed. It was later revealed that while Reina was thwarting Arjen Robben and Geremi, thieves were ransacking his home.
Three weeks later in Athens he became only the third player to follow in his father's footsteps by appearing in a European Cup final. Unfortunately, like former Atletico Madrid stopper Miguel Reina Santos, he was on the losing side. On June 7, 2007 Reina signed a new deal five-year deal at Liverpool.