José Luis Mato Sanmartín was born on March 27, 1990 in the German city of Stuttgart, son of Elvira and Roman Mato. The couple also had a daughter, Irene Mato, who was very close to her brother. Three years after Joselu was born, the Matos decided to move to the “land of rabbits”. It was here that he would spend most of his life and immerse himself in the diverse Spanish culture.
Joselu took his first steps through the school halls in Germany, but after the move, his academic journey resumed in Spain. Carrying a passion for football rooted in his heart, Joselu began his football career after joining the football club SD Silleda at the tender age of 9 and spent over two years playing for the team.
His consistent ability to outshine others and score many goals caught the attention of Celta Vigo to make him an offer that he would not reject. He moved to his aunt’s house, 130 kilometers from his parents’ house, at the age of 11, simply to fulfill his dream of becoming a football player. Joselu improved his footballing prowess and honed his skills during his time at the club, earning him a place in Celta’s under-19 squad for the 2008/2009 season.
Joselu’s wife
Joselu married after a long-term relationship with flight attendant and model Melanie Canizares in May 2016. The couple are still madly in love and are currently raising two boys. The first son, Leo Mato, was born in 2017, while the second, Lucas Mato, was born 5 years later. The couple is very active on social media and constantly uploads family photos.
Joselu sister
Joselu shares a deep brotherly relationship with his sister, Irene Mato. Little information about Irene has been released. Irene is a huge fan of her brother and has been photographed watching his games.
Joselu’s relationship with Carvajal
Joselu’s wife, Melanie Canizares, has an identical twin sister, Daphne Cañnzares Lagerwey, who is married to Joselu’s current teammate, Dani Carvajal. This means that Carvajal is Joselu’s brother-in-law. The two football players share a strong bond on and off the field.
