David Català

David Català Jiménez (born 3 May 1980) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender, currently manager of Croatian club NK Istra 1961.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Català and the second or maternal family name is Jiménez.
David Català
Català as a Celta player in 2009
Personal information
Full name David Català Jiménez
Date of birth (1980-05-03) 3 May 1980
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Istra 1961 (manager)
Youth career
Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2003 Espanyol B 102 (3)
2000–2003 Espanyol 7 (0)
2003–2004 Xerez 36 (3)
2004–2005 Lleida 37 (3)
2005–2006 Albacete 16 (0)
2006–2007 Lorca Deportiva 26 (1)
2007–2009 Salamanca 82 (3)
2009–2012 Celta 77 (5)
2012–2019 AEK Larnaca 204 (18)
Total 587 (36)
Managerial career
2021–2022 AEK Larnaca
2022 Apollon Limassol
2023– Istra 1961
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After beginning his career at Espanyol, he spent most of it in Segunda División, representing six teams over nine seasons in the division, mostly Salamanca and Celta. He totalled 274 games and 15 goals in that tier.

Català finished playing after a seven-year spell at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, where he began managing.

Playing career

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Català began his career at hometown club RCD Espanyol. He made his senior debut on 16 May 1999, playing the entirety of the reserves' 3–0 home win over Palamós CF in the Segunda División B. He first appeared in La Liga with the first team the following 6 May, as a 43rd-minute substitute for Cristóbal in a 2–0 away loss against CD Numancia.[1]

After leaving for Xerez CD of Segunda División in 2003, Català spent each of the next four seasons at a different team in that level, culminating in Lorca Deportiva CF's relegation in 2007. He stayed for five years in the same league, with UD Salamanca and RC Celta de Vigo; he was recommended to the latter by Miguel Torrecilla, the sporting director who made the same move earlier, and was the second player to be acquired that window after Cristian Bustos, agreeing to a three-year deal on 23 June 2009.[2]

Català scored in the Galician derby on 15 April 2012 seven minutes after entering in place of Hugo Mallo, albeit in a 3–2 loss to Deportivo de La Coruña at Balaídos.[3] The campaign nonetheless ended in top-flight promotion, with him contributing 18 games and two goals to the feat.[4]

On 28 July 2012, after recently signing a new contract, Català rescinded it and moved abroad for the first time, signing a three-year deal at AEK Larnaca FC of the Cypriot First Division.[5] He helped the side win the 2017–18 Cypriot Cup at the age of 38,[6] and retired the following year.[7]

Coaching career

Catalá was appointed manager of his last club in May 2021, replacing Sofronis Avgousti on a two-year contract.[8][9] On 12 August 2022, he continued in the same league by signing a one-year deal with Apollon Limassol FC.[10]

On 14 August 2023, Català was hired at NK Istra 1961 of the Croatian Football League, for one season with the option of a further year; he took over from Mislav Karoglan, who had taken one point from three games.[11]

Career statistics
As of 4 October 2015[12][13]
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Espanyol 1999–2000 La Liga 10000010
2001–02 La Liga 60000060
Total 70000070
Xerez 2003–04 Segunda División 36320—383
Lleida 2004–05 Segunda División 37320—393
Albacete 2005–06 Segunda División 16020—180
Lorca Deportiva 2006–07 Segunda División 26110—271
Salamanca 2007–08 Segunda División 42310—433
2008–09 Segunda División 40020—420
Salamanca Total 82330—853
Celta 2009–10 Segunda División 22100—221
2010–11 Segunda División 372101[lower-alpha 1]0392
2011–12 Segunda División 18240—222
Total 7755010635
AEK Larnaca 2012–13 Cypriot First Division 28150—331
2013–14 Cypriot First Division 31230—332
2014–15 Cypriot First Division 30461—365
2015–16 Cypriot First Division 60002[lower-alpha 2]080
Total 957141201118
Career total 370212713040022
  1. Appearances in Promotion Playoffs
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Managerial statistics
As of 8 October 2022
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
AEK Larnaca Cyprus 21 May 2021 21 March 2022 29 13 11 5 50 25 +25 044.83 [14]
Apollon Limassol Cyprus 13 August 2022 9 November 2022 18 6 7 5 16 18 −2 033.33 [15]
Istra 1961 Croatia 13 August 2023 Pressent 7 2 1 4 3 9 −6 028.57
Total 54 21 19 14 69 52 +17 038.89 —

Honours

AEK Larnaca

References
  1. Romero, Carmelo (7 May 2000). "El Numancia acaricia la salvación tras ganar al Espanyol" [Numancia caress survival after defeating Espanyol]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  2. "Catalá: "Creo en este nuevo proyecto"" [Català: "I believe in this new project"]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 June 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  3. Piñeiro, Miguel (16 April 2012). "El Deportivo vence al Celta en un derbi gallego para el recuerdo" [Deportivo defeat Celta in a Galician derby to remember]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  4. Ereaga, Txema (9 November 2012). "Catalá: Un defensa central goleador" [Catalá: A scoring centre-back.] (in Spanish). Fame Celeste. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  5. Bernardo, Julio (28 July 2012). "Catalá se va sorprendido y decepcionado" [Català leaves surprised and disappointed]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  6. Manchón, Martín (16 May 2018). "El AEK Larnaca de Imanol Idiakez, campeón de la Copa chipriota" [Imanol Idiakez's AEK Larnaca, Cypriot Cup champions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  7. "El excéltico David Catalá cuelga las botas" [Former Celta man David Catalá hangs up his boots]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 25 May 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  8. "AEK Larnaca, David Català es el nuevo entrenador" [AEK Larnaca, David Català is the new manager] (in Spanish). Todo Mercado Web. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  9. Manchón, Martín (11 November 2021). "Catalá: "Cuando pasas de jugar a entrenar te das cuenta de lo desagradecido que es el banquillo"" [Catalá: "When you go from playing to coaching you realise how ungrateful the bench is"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  10. "David Catala is the new head coach of Apollon". Apollon Limassol. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  11. "David Catalá, nuevo entrenador del Istra 1961 croata" [David Català, new manager of Croatia's Istra 1961] (in Spanish). Infobae. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  12. "Català". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  13. "David Catalá". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  14. "AEK Larnaca FC: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  15. "Apollon Limassol FC: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
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