Javier Camuñas

Javier Camuñas Gallego (born 17 July 1980) is a Spanish retired professional footballer. A versatile midfielder (able to play as an attacking midfielder or in the wings), he could also appear as a second striker.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Camuñas and the second or maternal family name is Gallego.

Javier Camuñas
Personal information
Full name Javier Camuñas Gallego
Date of birth (1980-07-17) 17 July 1980
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, striker
Youth career
Parla Escuela
Real Madrid
Leganés
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Atlético Pinto 33 (4)
2000–2002 Rayo Vallecano B
2001–2002 → Getafe (loan) 43 (8)
2002–2004 Rayo Vallecano 18 (0)
2003–2004 → Ciudad Murcia (loan) 40 (8)
2004–2007 Xerez 115 (19)
2007–2009 Recreativo 71 (15)
2009–2011 Osasuna 67 (7)
2011–2013 Villarreal 27 (1)
2012–2013 → Deportivo La Coruña (loan) 23 (1)
Total 437 (63)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He amassed La Liga totals of 205 games and 24 goals over the course of eight seasons, representing in the competition Rayo Vallecano, Recreativo, Osasuna, Villarreal and Deportivo. He added 155 matches and 27 goals in the Segunda División, mainly with Xerez.

Club career

After starting out at modest and local club CA Pinto, Madrid-born Camuñas switched to neighbours Rayo Vallecano, first representing its reserves. He was then loaned to another team from the capital, Getafe CF (by that time in the Segunda División B).

Camuñas returned to Rayo in the 2002–03 season, making his La Liga debut on 1 September 2002 in a 2–2 home draw against Deportivo Alavés.[1] Rayo finished the campaign last and he went on to have four steady years in the Segunda División, with Ciudad de Murcia and Xerez CD, totalling 18 league goals in his final two.

Having been acquired by top-flight Recreativo de Huelva for 2007–08,[2] Camuñas was one of the Andalusians' most important players as they barely avoided relegation. He played all the matches save one – 28 of those complete – and netted on five occasions.[3]

In the following season, Camuñas scored even more (ten), but Recre finished last.[3] In late August 2009, he signed a three-year contract with top-tier club CA Osasuna.[4] an everpresent figure in his first year, he netted his first goal on 24 January 2010, against former side Xerez (2–1 away victory).[5]

Camuñas was again first choice for Osasuna in 2010–11. On 30 January 2011 he scored the game's only goal in a home defeat of Real Madrid, which he had represented as a youth.[6][7]

On 19 July 2011, Camuñas signed with Villarreal CF for three years.[8] He struggled to gain playing time in his first season, also suffering physical problems.[9][10] On 5 February 2012 he scored his first official goal for the Yellow Submarine, the last in a 2–1 win at Sevilla FC for the team's first away of the campaign,[11] which eventually ended in relegation after 12 years.[12]

Camuñas agreed to a one-year loan at Deportivo de La Coruña of the same league in August 2012.[13] He met the same fate at the end of his only season,[14] netting in the 2–1 away loss against Osasuna on 20 January 2013.[15]

References
  1. Justo empate entre Rayo y Alavés (Fair draw between Rayo and Alavés); El Mundo, 1 September 2002 (in Spanish)
  2. El Recreativo presenta a Silvestre Varela y confirma el fichaje de Camuñas (Recreativo present Silvestre Varela and confirm signing of Camuñas); Marca, 26 June 2007 (in Spanish)
  3. El Depor quiere pescar en el descenso y va a por Camuñas (Depor want to fish in relegation and go for Camuñas); Diario AS, 27 May 2009 (in Spanish)
  4. Osasuna ficha a Javier Camuñas (Osasuna sign Javier Camuñas); Diario de Navarra, 24 August 2009 (in Spanish)
  5. New boss, same old story; ESPN Soccernet, 24 January 2010
  6. Real suffer shock defeat; ESPN Soccernet, 30 January 2011
  7. Camuñas: "Las críticas de Cristiano son excusas ridículas" (Camuñas: "Cristiano's criticism are ridiculous excuses"); Marca, 31 January 2011 (in Spanish)
  8. Villarreal agree Camunas deal; ESPN Soccernet, 19 July 2011
  9. Four ruled out as Villarreal suffer further setback; UEFA, 31 October 2011
  10. Nilmar queda como único delantero del Villarreal tras la lesión de Camuñas (Nilmar is only Villarreal forward available after Camuñas injury); ABC, 9 January 2012 (in Spanish)
  11. First away win for Villarreal; ESPN Soccernet, 5 February 2012
  12. El Villarreal firma un descenso 'terrorífico' e inesperado (Villarreal sign 'terrible' and unexpected relegation); El Mundo, 14 May 2012 (in Spanish)
  13. Camuñas pasa reconocimiento médico con el Depor (Camuñas has successful medical at Depor); Super Deporte, 8 August 2012 (in Spanish)
  14. Resumen temporada 2012/13 del Deportivo de la Coruña (2012/13 Deportivo de la Coruña season summary); Vavel, 10 June 2013 (in Spanish)
  15. Osasuna gana en casa y deja de ser colista (Osasuna win at home and are no longer bottom); EITB, 20 January 2013 (in Spanish)
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