Born in Rota, Cádiz, Andalusia, José Mari played amateur football until the age of nearly 22, representing Unión Deportiva Roteña and Atlético Sanluqueño CF. In the summer of 2009 he joined Real Murcia Imperial in Segunda División B, being relegated in his first and only season. Subsequently, José Mari stayed in that level, spending two years at Real Jaén. In the 2012 summer he moved straight to La Liga, signing for two years with Real Zaragoza and initially being assigned to the reserves after the preseason was over; however, he managed to convince first-team coach Manolo Jiménez and, in August, was definitely promoted. José Mari made his professional – and top level – debut on 20 August 2012, playing the second half in a 0–1 home loss against Real Valladolid. He finished the campaign with 27 appearances all competitions comprised, scoring once in the Copa del Rey, but the Aragonese were eventually relegated. On 6 February 2014, it was announced that José Mari and Zaragoza had agreed to mutually terminate his contract. He netted his first league goal for the club in his last appearance, a 2–1 home victory over Córdoba CF on 8 December of the previous year.
Colorado Rapids
On 11 February 2014, José Mari joined the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, for a preseason trial. The team announced early in the following month that he had been signed to the active roster, and would be eligible to play pending receipt of his U.S. P-1 work visa and an international transfer certificate. He made his debut for the club as the season opened on 15 March, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against the New York Red Bulls; a week later, in his first match at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, he was sent off for a second yellow card in the last minute of a 2–0 defeat of the Portland Timbers. José Mari scored his first goals for the Rapids on 5 April 2014, as they came from behind to beat the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–1 away. He netted a further two times in his first and only MLS season, in which he was affected by injuries and his team did not qualify for the playoffs.
On 16 August 2016, José Mari signed a two-year deal with Cádiz CF in the second level. In October 2019, aged nearly 32, he agreed to an extension until 2020. José Mari appeared in his 100th competitive match on 6 March 2020, against CD Lugo. He played a further 28 games during the season, as the team returned to the top flight after a 14-year absence.
