David Navarro (footballer)

David Navarro Pedrós (Valencian pronunciation: [daˈvit naˈvaro]; born 25 May 1980) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender, and the current coordinator of the sports management team at Levante UD.

For other people named David Navarro, see David Navarro (disambiguation).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Navarro and the second or maternal family name is Pedrós.

David Navarro
Navarro in action for Levante in 2012
Personal information
Full name David Navarro Pedrós[1]
Date of birth (1980-05-25) 25 May 1980[1]
Place of birth Sagunto, Spain[1]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Acero
1997–1999 Valencia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2003 Valencia B 56 (3)
2002–2011 Valencia 97 (7)
2007–2009 → Mallorca (loan) 48 (1)
2011–2012 Neuchâtel Xamax 16 (0)
2012–2016 Levante 109 (2)
2016–2017 Alcorcón 38 (3)
Total 348 (16)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He amassed La Liga totals of 254 matches and ten goals over 15 seasons, representing in the competition Valencia, Mallorca and Levante.

Club career

Valencia

Born in Sagunto, Valencian Community, Navarro was a product of local giants Valencia CF's youth ranks. During the course of six seasons he appeared sporadically for the 2002 and 2004 champions of La Liga; in addition, he added a rare goal on 26 February 2004, in a UEFA Cup win over Beşiktaş JK (3–2 home win, achieved in the last minute),[2] as the Che eventually emerged victorious in the tournament.

On 6 March 2007, Navarro sparked an on-pitch melee that occurred during a UEFA Champions League tie against Inter Milan. Navarro, who had spent the match on the bench as an unused substitute, ran onto the pitch as the brawl began with an exchange of words and what appeared to be a kick by fellow defender Carlos Marchena at Inter counterpart Nicolás Burdisso.[3][4] On the pitch he punched Burdisso in the face, breaking the Argentine's nose, while he was being held back by his teammates,[5] then proceeded to run away, chased by opposing players Iván Córdoba, Julio Cruz and Maicon all the way to the tunnel.

As the scuffles continued on the field, Navarro sought refuge in the Valencia dressing room. Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo entered the Valencia dressing room to confront the Spaniard, while Inter players Esteban Cambiasso and Luís Figo argued with the security personnel that tried to prevent them from entering the Valencia dressing room too.[3]

On 7 March 2007, UEFA charged Marchena and Navarro, as well as Burdisso, Córdoba and Maicon, with "gross unsporting conduct." Navarro later apologised for his involvement in the incident, stating he was "very sorry and ashamed" for his actions and also noted he would contact Burdisso to apologise.[6] The following week, after reviewing video evidence of the brawl, UEFA suspended Navarro for seven months from European football (it was later reduced to six months); on the 20th, after several appeals to FIFA to allow the ban to cover both domestic and international games, he had his ban applied to all games, ending with the closure of the 2006–07 campaign.

In 2007–08, Navarro spent one year on loan at RCD Mallorca, where he was used as a backup, appearing in 18 games and returning to Valencia in June 2008 only to be immediately loaned again to the Balearic Islands side until the end of the following season,[7] where he now featured prominently – 29 matches – scoring in a 2–3 home loss to Recreativo de Huelva on 7 December 2008.[8]

Navarro subsequently returned to Valencia for 2009–10, going on to serve as club captain after replacing longtime incumbent David Albelda, but eventually being stripped of that honour by the same manager, Unai Emery.[9][10][11] During the campaign he contributed with two goals in 19 games, all as starter,[12][13] as the team finished third and qualified to the Champions League.

Later years

In summer 2011, aged 31, Navarro had his first abroad experience, joining compatriots Javier Arizmendi, Joaquín Caparrós (coach) and Víctor Sánchez at Neuchâtel Xamax and penning a 2+1 contract with the Swiss club.[14] He was released in the following transfer window, however.

In early February 2012, Navarro returned to his homeland and signed with Levante UD from the top flight, until the end of the season.[15] On 26 July 2016, after suffering relegation, the 36-year-old moved to second tier side AD Alcorcón.[16]

On 22 December 2017, Navarro announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37, and was immediately included in Alcorcón's backroom staff.[17] On 19 June 2019, he returned to former club Levante as coordinator of the sports management team.[18]

Style of play

In December 2013, Spanish football website El Gol Digital ranked Navarro at third in its list of the world's dirtiest footballers.[19]

References
  1. "DAVID NAVARRO Pedrós" (in Spanish). El Mundo. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  2. Ros, Cayetano (27 February 2004). "David Navarro salva al Valencia" [David Navarro saves Valencia] (in Spanish). El País. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  3. "FIFA extends Navarro suspension". BBC Sport. 7 March 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2007.
  4. Navarro incident video; at YouTube
  5. La brutta rissa di Valencia (Ugly brawl at Valencia); La Repubblica (in Italian)
  6. Bandini, Paolo (7 March 2007). "UEFA charge Valencia and Inter over brawl". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  7. "David Navarro se marcha cedido al Mallorca" [David Navarro goes to Mallorca on loan] (in Spanish). Marca. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  8. "Mallorca 2–3 Recreativo Huelva". ESPN Soccernet. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  9. Paniagua, Raúl (2 March 2011). "David Navarro: el capitán ´leñador´ del Valencia" [David Navarro: Valencia's ´hacker´ captain] (in Spanish). Diario Córdoba. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  10. "Emery trabaja con solo 14 jugadores de la primera plantilla" [Emery with only 14 first-team players] (in Spanish). Marca. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  11. Rodríguez, Miguel Ángel (19 June 2011). "Emery quiere capitanes comprometidos con el club" [Emery wants captains committed to the club] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  12. "Navarro header seals three points". ESPN Soccernet. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  13. "Negredo grabs a double". ESPN Soccernet. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  14. Álvarez, Fernando (5 July 2011). "David Navarro ficha por el Neuchatel Suizo" [David Navarro signs for Neuchatel in Switzerland] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  15. El Levante ficha a David Navarro (Levante sign David Navarro); Merca Fútbol, 13 February 2012 (in Spanish)
  16. David Navarro ficha por la A.D. Alcorcón (David Navarro signs for A.D. Alcorcón); AD Alcorcón, 26 July 2016 (in Spanish)
  17. "David Navarro anuncia su retirada como futbolista profesional" [David Navarro announces his retirement as a professional footballer] (in Spanish). AD Alcorcón. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  18. "Levante UD presents the new Sports Area". Levante UD. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  19. Bossi, Dominic (12 December 2013). "Kevin Muscat named football's dirtiest player". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
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