Little Bean Chronicle: A Humble Story of Juan Mata

Known as the ‘Gentle Football Genius,’ Juan Mata has earned the nickname ‘Little Bean,’ and we’ll explore exactly how he got that name. This article dives deeper into Mata’s life beyond the football field, tracing his journey from his early years to his rise in the sport. We’ll introduce you to his close-knit family—his father, Juan Manuel Mata Sr., his mother, Marta Garcia, his sister, Paula Mata, and his partner, Evelina Kamph.

While many admire Mata for his footballing talent, few truly know the full story of the humble, soft-spoken player. This article will reveal the man behind the footballer, sharing lesser-known details about his background, family, and personal life. So, without further delay, let’s dive into the captivating story of Juan Mata.

Juan Mata Childhood Story – Early Life:

For Biography starters, Juan Manuel Mata García was born on the 28th day of April 1988 in Villafranca Montes de Oca, Spain, by Juan Manuel Mata Sr. (father) and Marta Garcia (mother).

Juan inherited his name from his father, Juan Manuel Mata Rodríguez, who wanted his son to replicate his lifestyle and career as a footballer.

Mata’s dad was also a small-stature footballer during his time. His family never had the physique of a footballer.

They forced their way through and had a long history of silencing and proving critics wrong. This was why Juan Manuel Mata Rodríguez wanted his son Juan Mata to follow suit.

Juan grew up in the town of Villafranca Montes de Oca, which at some point, never felt comfortable for his dad because of the lack of football opportunities for youths.

At age 5, his dad moved to the town named Oviedo (North-West Spain), where he got football opportunities.

Mata was quick to settle and start playing football there. He was a humble and hardworking child who respected his parents and followed their plans for him.

Mata’s love for football grew intensively at Oviedo. His parents felt happy for their son and would allow him to take his football even to his bed.

Juan Mata Biography – Rising to Fame Story:

As Mata recalls,

‘I spent the rest of my childhood in Oviedo, Asturias, just enjoying life and gradually falling more and more in love with the sport that would eventually become my lifelong passion.’

Asturias, a region in northwest Spain, is famous for its rugged coastline, mountainous landscapes, religious landmarks, and medieval architecture. It also became a hotspot for producing talented footballers and a magnet for scouts from all across Spain.

Juan Mata’s journey into professional football began at Real Oviedo, his first club, where he honed his skills and learned the basics of the game. Mata got the nickname ‘Little Bean’ for being the smallest and deadliest in his team.

He single-highhandedly led his team to win a major championship as a kid. It took no time before Juan grew to have the adult facial looks we know him to possess today.

As he puts it in his Biography website titled JuanMata8,

“Real Madrid came calling when I was just 15, back in 2006. I spent four seasons playing in their academy. After I turned 18, I made my professional debut with Castilla in the Second Division.”

Known as ‘The Little Bean,’ he was regarded as the star of Real Madrid’s youth academy, La Fábrica. His standout moment came when he single-handedly guided his team to victory in the Spanish Juvenil Cup.”

 Victory for Juan Mata led to the Spanish club circling around him like sharks. It also meant pressure for him as regards the push to the Real Madrid senior team.

However, he didn’t get the chance to play for the senior Real Madrid team because of their great Galacticos, who were irreplaceable at that time.

The likes of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and other football greats did not pave the way for Juan Mata to get into the senior team.

Having observed his frustration at getting into the Real Madrid senior team, his dad made the ultimate move to pull him out of the club by delivering him to the hands of many scouts to compete for his signature.

It was Valencia CF who finally got the opportunity to sign him.

Mata made an impressive 174 appearances and scored 46 goals during his time at Valencia. In the summer of 2011, Arsenal made a strong bid for him, but Chelsea swooped in and sealed the deal in August.

At Chelsea, Mata quickly became a key figure and was named the club’s Player of the Year in both 2012 and 2013. However, things took a turn when he fell out of favour with new manager José Mourinho, and by the 2013/2014 season, Mata was seeking a new opportunity.

With Manchester United needing creativity in midfield, they signed Mata for 44 million euros in January 2014. The rest, as they say, is history.

Family Life:

The Juan Mata Family has its history in Burgos, Spain. He was born into a football family that has a long history of proving people wrong.

People criticize their size and inability to show physicality in physical sports. They have grown in helping one another, including their offspring, to become relevant in football.

Juan Mata Father:

The Baller’s Dad helped him in his career achievement. He was even more small-statured and shorter than his son. He was a professional striker for Burgos CF in the ’80s and ’90s.

Mata always gives credit to his beloved dad for his success and makes sure to share his happiest moments with him and the rest of his family.

Juan Manuel Mata Rodríguez currently acts as Mata’s agent, becoming FIFA-registered in the process.

Juan Mata’s Mother:

Her name is Marta Garcia, and she has been hidden from the media for private reasons. As shown here, she is rumoured to be the mother of Juan Mata.

She is quite older than his dad. Juan Mata’s mum has been a full-time housewife all her life. One who hardly socializes, instead, provides household support for her husband and kids.

Juan Mata Sister:

The Spanish footballer has a beloved sister and childhood best friend named Paula Mata. Paula Mata is, without doubt, his biggest supporter, who never ceases to pray for his beloved little brother to excel in his career. They’ve been best friends since their childhood days.

Even in their adult, both still find time to share time together and never forget and let go of their childhood friendship.

Juan Mata’s Partner – Evelina Kamph:

Is Juan Mata Married?… The answer is No. He is currently unmarried but enjoys his relationship with his beloved partner, Evelina Kamph.

His girlfriend, Evelina, is a well-known social media celebrity who has a huge list of fans. Both Mata and his girlfriend are not currently in the mood to get married as of the time of writing.

Juan Mata’s relationship life is synonymous with that of Marcus Rashford, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Davide Zappacosta. Very Much different and opposite to Karim Benzema and Raheem Sterling.

Loved by Hollywood Celebrities:

Mata was thrilled to observe his meekness and gentleness, which are very much loved by even Holywood celebrities. Among many, it was Hollywood star Julia Roberts who couldn’t resist having a picture with the Midfield maestro.

Roberts, who is best known for her role in acting, has become a bold admirer of the Spanish star. She never fails to get the chance to watch him in action.

The Hollywood A-lister visited Old Trafford with her husband and three children to watch Juan Mata play against West Ham. Her kids also had a kickaround with Wayne Rooney’s children on the pitch after the game.

A Footballer and Scholar:

Juan Mata isn’t just talented on the football field; he’s also an academic standout. He holds two degrees—one in Marketing and another in Sports Science—demonstrating his commitment to both his education and his football career. Mata’s dedication to learning sets him apart as one of the rare footballers who excels both intellectually and athletically.

He started studying Marketing at the Camilo José Cela University while playing for Valencia. He later continued his studies through an online programme owned by the Technical University of Madrid.

This earned him a Degree in Sports Science. After his training and match days, Juan Mata prefers to read and do private academic research.

Juan Mata is a quick learner. He studied English and learnt it within a year, having known his career path would lead him to play for an English club.

When he joined Chelsea, he never had difficulties conversing with his English teammates, unlike his Spanish teammates. Especially the likes of Diego Costa, who didn’t speak English at that time.

Juan Mata Hobbies:

If you follow Mata on any of his social media networks, you’ll observe that he really loves travelling and sightseeing.

The Spaniard confesses that his love for travelling began when he was young when he used to backpack around Spain in his free time.

Without a doubt, Mata is obsessed with travelling. He has also found a new love for photography. This he does whenever he tours places.

A Tennis Fan:

Mata is an avid tennis fan and considers tennis superstar Rafael Nadal to be the greatest Spanish athlete. Both are sports greats and great friends as well.