Javi Varas

Javier 'Javi' Varas Herrera (born 10 September 1982) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Varas and the second or maternal family name is Herrera.
Javi Varas
Varas with Celta in 2012
Personal information
Full name Javier Varas Herrera
Date of birth (1982-09-10) 10 September 1982[1]
Place of birth Seville, Spain[1]
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1993–1999 Pablo Blanco
1999–2001 AD Nervión
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 AD Nervión
2003–2008 Sevilla B 86 (0)
2003–2004 → San José (loan)
2004–2005 → Alcalá (loan) 20 (0)
2008–2014 Sevilla 60 (0)
2012–2013 → Celta (loan) 35 (0)
2014–2015 Valladolid 40 (0)
2015–2017 Las Palmas 56 (0)
2017–2018 Granada 38 (0)
2019 Huesca 0 (0)
Total 335 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He played 151 La Liga matches over eight seasons, in representation of Sevilla, Celta and Las Palmas. He added 117 appearances in the Segunda División, in a 12-year professional career.

Club career

Sevilla

Born in Seville, Andalusia, Varas arrived at Sevilla FC aged 23 after having only played amateur football in his native region (although he had been bought by the club two years earlier). He spent his first three seasons with the B team, contributing 13 games in 2006–07 as they were promoted to Segunda División for the first time ever, and occasionally training with the main squad.

After David Cobeño moved to Rayo Vallecano, Varas became Andrés Palop's backup, making his La Liga debut on 17 January 2009 in a 1–0 home win against CD Numancia.[2] During a full month, following an injury to the latter in October, he was again called on for starting duties,[3] only conceding once in four matches, in the 3–1 away victory over VfB Stuttgart for that campaign's UEFA Champions League.[4]

Varas became Sevilla's first choice midway through 2010–11, over the 37-year-old Palop. He appeared in 21 games as the side finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

Under new manager Marcelino García Toral, Varas continued as a regular starter.[5] On 22 October 2011, he put on a Player of the match performance against FC Barcelona, saving eight shots – including an injury-time penalty from Lionel Messi – in an eventual 0–0 away draw.[6]

Varas lost his importance in the following years, after the arrival in January 2013 from Portuguese Beto.[7] He made nine appearances as Sevilla won the 2013–14 Europa League, but was an unused substitute in the decisive match itself.[8]

Valladolid

On 25 August 2014, Varas joined Real Valladolid in a one-year contract.[9] He only missed four league matches during his first and only season, as his team narrowly missed out on play-off promotion.

Later years

On 12 July 2015, Varas signed a two-year deal with UD Las Palmas, newly promoted to the top division.[10] On 13 June 2017, after having contributed to their consecutive permanence, the free agent returned to the second tier and his native region by agreeing to a two-year contract at Granada CF.[11]

Varas joined SD Huesca on 19 February 2019, for the remainder of the top-flight campaign.[12] In October, he announced his retirement at the age of 37.[13]

Honours

Sevilla B

Sevilla

References
  1. "Javi Varas". Eurosport. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  2. Bernaola, Enrique (17 January 2009). "Renato rescata un barco a la deriva" [Renato rescues drifting boat]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  3. Arrocha, Roberto (23 October 2009). "Javi Varas y las vueltas que da la vida" [Javi Varas and the unpredictability of life]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  4. "Squillaci nets brace". ESPN Soccernet. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  5. Florido, Eduardo (1 March 2019). "Javi Varas: el hombre que quitó la titularidad a Palop" [Javi Varas: the man who took Palop's starting spot]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  6. "Barca held in dramatic fashion". ESPN Soccernet. 22 October 2011. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  7. Alba, Jesús (12 March 2014). "¿El portero titular o el portero titular?" [Starting goalkeeper or starting goalkeeper?]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  8. Atkin, John (14 May 2014). "Spot-on Sevilla leave Benfica dreams in tatters". UEFA. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  9. "Javi Varas recoge los guantes del Pucela" [Javi Varas takes the gloves of Pucela] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  10. "La UD Las Palmas ficha al portero Javi Varas por dos temporadas" [UD Las Palmas sign goalkeeper Javi Varas for two seasons] (in Spanish). UD Las Palmas. 12 July 2015. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  11. Morales, Aguilera (13 June 2017). "El Granada ficha a Javi Varas para las dos próximas temporadas" [Granada sign Javi Varas for next two seasons]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  12. "Javi Varas, experiencia para la portería" [Javi Varas, experience for goal] (in Spanish). SD Huesca. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  13. "Javi Varas anuncia su retirada" [Javi Varas announces his retirement]. Estadio Deportivo (in Spanish). 22 October 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
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