Javier Navarro

Football player infobox|
playername = Javi Navarro
fullname = Francisco Javier Vicente Navarro
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1974|2|6
cityofbirth = flagicon|Spain Valencia
countryofbirth = Spain
height = height|m=1.82
nickname =
currentclub = Sevilla FC
clubnumber = 2
position = Central defender
youthyears = ?–1993
youthclubs = Valencia CF
years = 1993–2000
1994–1995
2000–2001
2001–
clubs = Valencia CF
CD Logroñés (loan)
Elche CF
Sevilla FC
caps(goals) = 041 (0)
015 (0)
033 (0)
168 (3)
nationalyears = 1995–1996
2006–2007
nationalteam = Spain U21/Olympic
Spain
nationalcaps(goals) =
0|004 (0)
pcupdate = 30 September 2008
ntupdate = 30 September 2008

Francisco Javier Vicente Navarro, commonly known as Javi Navarro (born February 6, 1974 in Valencia), is a Spanish football player, who currently captains Sevilla FC of the Spanish "La Liga". His position is centre back.

Club career

A product of hometown Valencia CF's youth system, Navarro debuted with the first team during 1993-94 (4 matches) and, after a loan stint with CD Logroñes, returned with little impact (0 appearances from 1998-2000, although he played in 19 contests as Valencia finished runner-up in 1995-96).

After a season in "Segunda División" with Elche CF, Navarro signed in July 2001 with Sevilla FC, where he proceeded to form a dreaded centre-back partnership with Pablo Alfaro (from 2001-06). In March 2005, Navarro brutally impacted with his elbow on Real Mallorca's Juan Arango, leaving the Venezuelan unconscious on the pitch. [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=kDtPPfotPLs Navarro assaults Arango] ]

After being one of Sevilla's most important players throughout the team's conquests in 2005-07 (two UEFA Cups, one European Super Cup and one Spanish Cup), Navarro was sidelined for almost two years with a severe knee injury.

International career

Navarro made his international debut for the Spain national football team in a friendly 0-1 loss against Romania on 15 November 2006 in Cádiz, aged 32, becoming the second-oldest debutant for Spain after former Real Madrid star Ferenc Puskás (34). [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/15/sports/EU_SPT_SOC_Spain_Romania.php Romania beats Spain in friendly] ]

Previously, he appeared with the nation at the 1996 Summer Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals.

References

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=5992 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon