From electrician to Copa hero: Jefté's remarkable journey to facing Barça
Albacete's Copa del Rey hero Jefté Betancor opens up about his mental health break, working as an electrician, and how he stunned Real Madrid before facing Barcelona.
After scoring twice to knock out Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, Albacete’s Jefté Betancor is ready for another giant-killing against Barcelona - but his journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward.
From globetrotter to electrician
The Las Palmas-born forward has taken the scenic route to Spanish football stardom. Before becoming the toast of Albacete, Jefté’s career took him across Europe - with stints in Austria, Romania, Cyprus and Greece - before he made the difficult decision to step away from football entirely.
During that break, he worked as an electrician while focusing on his mental health. It was a period that proved crucial to his development not just as a player, but as a person.
“In that moment I wasn’t right mentally and we decided to stop,” Jefté explains. “For me, with the values my parents instilled, being a good person comes first. We believed it was time to work on the mind to go further and improve as a person too.”
Family support through thick and thin
Jefté credits three pillars for helping him through his darkest times:
- His family
- His wife
- His psychologist
“They all held my hand,” he says, reflecting on how they worked together toward the same goal. That support network was visible in the emotional scenes after knocking out Real Madrid, when he immediately sought out his parents in the stands.
“After so many years of struggle and seeing my parents sacrifice for me since I was a child, everything you dreamed about becomes reality. My first instinct was to go and hug them.”
The Madrid moment
The victory over Los Blancos was career-defining for Jefté. His second goal, which sealed Madrid’s fate, created scenes of pure jubilation in Albacete.
“It was a magnificent day, a dream day,” he recalls with pride. “Videos are still coming out and people still remember it. It’s the most beautiful thing. I still get goosebumps when I see it.”
Finding peace in Albacete
After his global adventures, Jefté has found what he was looking for in Albacete - stability and tranquility. Being back in Spain has provided comforts many take for granted: speaking the same language, shopping without stress, and feeling at home.
“The city is calm, people treat you very well, and so does the club. The people inside have been spectacular to me personally.”
Barcelona in his sights
With his wife and son in attendance this time - they missed the Madrid victory - Jefté is dreaming of another cup upset against Barcelona.
“After eliminating Madrid, you have to go out with the mentality of trying to eliminate Barça too. Although our chances may be minimal, we’re going to have them.”
For a player who once walked away from football to find himself, Jefté Betancor is now exactly where he’s meant to be - in the spotlight, but with the perspective that only comes from life’s harder lessons.