List of Catalan footballers
The list of Catalan footballers features male association football players from Catalonia, one of Spain's seventeen autonomous communities and a territory with a population of over 7 million, plus the adjoining Pyrénées-Orientales, a French department, and also the Sardinian city of Alghero. All of them have reached international status with the national teams as specified, the vast majority representing Spain.[1][2][3]
The region has a representative squad – the Catalonia national football team – but they are not recognised by FIFA, were inactive for long periods and only play friendly matches against FIFA teams or against other sides with similar status such as the Basque Country.[4][5][6]
Catalonia national team players (since 1997)
Listed below are the players who have featured for the Catalonia international team dating from 1997 when regular fixtures against FIFA national teams were arranged. As of May 2019, there have been 25 matches played in this era (including four against the Basque Country who have the same unofficial status as Catalonia and select their squads on the same basis), with 141 players involved.
Key | |
---|---|
* |
Still active for the national team[lower-alpha 1] |
= |
Player is tied for the number of caps |
GK | Goalkeeper |
DF | Defender |
MF | Midfielder |
FW | Forward |
Notes
- Players who are still active for the national team are players who have not retired from football (although they may have retired from their FIFA international team) and are thus eligible to be called up.
- Catalonia score given first in all cases.
- 2–0 vs China, 2002
- 2–1 vs Venezuela, 2019
- 1–0 vs FR Yugoslavia, 1999
- 1–1 vs Nigeria, 2013
- 1–1 vs Bulgaria, 1997
- 2–2 vs Basque Country, 2006
- 5–0 vs Nigeria, 1998
- 3–3 vs Tunisia, 2016
- 1–0 vs Chile, 2001
- 0–0 vs Tunisia, 2011
- 2–0 vs Costa Rica, 2006
- 0–3 vs Argentina, 2004
- 4–1 vs Cape Verde, 2013
- 1–1 vs Paraguay, 2005
- 2–1 vs Colombia, 2008
- 4–2 vs Ecuador, 2003
- 2–5 vs Brazil, 2004
- 0–1 vs Argentina, 2008
- 1–1 vs Basque Country, 2007
- 0–1 vs Basque Country, 2015
- 4–0 vs Honduras, 2010
- 4–2 vs Argentina, 2009
- 1–1 vs Basque Country, 2014
- 1–3 vs Brazil, 2002
- 5–0 vs Lithuania, 2000
- Pepe Reina and Andrés Iniesta are the only players to have featured for Catalonia since 1997 who would not have definitely qualified to do so under standard FIFA eligibility criteria (other than the rule on being 'cap-tied' to another national team, which does not apply), although at the time of their respective selections both had lengthy associations with the region playing for the youth teams of FC Barcelona.
- Soler, an amateur player with CE Manresa, was called up to the squad at late notice having performed well in the Spanish stage of the UEFA Regions' Cup.[9]
FIFA international players from Catalonia
All of the players listed were either born or raised in Catalonia, with most meeting both criteria.
- Players in bold have won the FIFA World Cup
- Players in underlined have won a continental championships
- Players in italics have won the gold medal at the Olympic Games
- As of 13 September 2023
Notes
- 2012 Africa Cup of Nations
- 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
- 1934 FIFA World Cup
- 1938 FIFA World Cup
- 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
- 2022 AFF Championship
- 1978 FIFA World Cup
- 2004 African Cup of Nations
- 2006 African Cup of Nations
- UEFA Euro 1996
- 2017 Africa Cup of Nations
- 2018 FIFA World Cup
- UEFA Euro 2012
- 2012 Olympic Games
- 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
- 2014 FIFA World Cup
- UEFA Euro 2016
- UEFA Euro 2020
- No full caps; Olympic Games selection only
- 1968 Olympic Games
- 2022 FIFA World Cup
- 1994 FIFA World Cup
- 1998 FIFA World Cup
- UEFA Euro 2000
- 1950 FIFA World Cup
- 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
- 2010 FIFA World Cup
- 1986 FIFA World Cup
- UEFA Euro 1988
- 2000 Olympic Games
- UEFA Euro 2004
- UEFA Euro 2008
- Includes 1 match not counted by some sources: See Spain national football team results (1920–29)#Unofficial match
- 1924 Olympic Games
- 1966 FIFA World Cup
- 2006 FIFA World Cup
- 1992 Olympic Games
- No full caps; Mediterranean Games squad only.
- 2009 Mediterranean Games
- 1996 Olympic Games
- 1964 European Nations' Cup
- Only played in 1 unofficial wartime international in 1937: See Spain national football team results (1930–39)#Unofficial matches.
- 2005 Mediterranean Games
- UEFA Euro 1984
- 1962 FIFA World Cup
- 2002 FIFA World Cup
- 1976 Olympic Games
- UEFA Euro 1980
- 1920 Olympic Games
- 1982 FIFA World Cup
Catalan heritage
There are many other international footballers with some Catalan heritage or connection, for example:
See also
References
- "Catalonia Greatest All-time 23 member team". Soccer, football or whatever. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "Which players would make the all-time Catalan XI?". Marca. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "The Catalan referendum tears through Spain – and Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos fall on either side of the divide". The Independent. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "Catalonia and Basque Country reignite call for independent national football identities". The Telegraph newspaper, 30 December 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- "The unofficial Catalonia national football team". Sports Keeda. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- Matt Davis (13 October 2018). "Basque Country: The Spain internationals playing for a different team". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- Raül Capó: Raül Capó Gibert, BDFutbol
- Sellarés: Marc Sellarés de Pedro, BDFutbol
- Josep Maria Soler convocat amb la catalana absoluta, 26/12/2007, NacióDigital
- Santi Triguero: Santiago Triguero Blanch, BDFutbol
- Perelló: Emilio Perelló Serra, BDFutbol