David Rocha Explained

David Rocha
Fullname:David Mateos Rocha
Birth Date:7 February 1985
Birth Place:Cáceres, Spain
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Mérida (sporting director)
Youthclubs1:Cacereño
Years1:2003–2005
Years2:2005–2008
Years3:2008
Caps3:13
Goals3:2
Years4:2008–2011
Caps4:96
Goals4:17
Years5:2011–2013
Caps5:79
Goals5:6
Years6:2013–2016
Caps6:99
Goals6:16
Years7:2016
Caps7:4
Goals7:0
Years8:2016–2018
Caps8:63
Goals8:3
Years9:2018–2019
Caps9:18
Goals9:0
Years10:2019
Caps10:10
Goals10:0
Years11:2019–2021
Caps11:30
Goals11:1
Years12:2021–2022
Caps12:28
Goals12:0
Totalcaps:396
Totalgoals:36
Manageryears1:2023
Managerclubs1:Mérida (caretaker)
Manageryears2:2023–2024
Managerclubs2:Mérida

David Mateos Rocha (born 7 February 1985) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central midfielder, and the sporting director of Mérida AD.

Club career

Born in Cáceres, Extremadura, Rocha started playing football in CP Cacereño's youth system, and made his debuts as a senior in the 2002–03 campaign, in Segunda División B. In 2005, he moved to Villarreal CF B in Tercera División, appearing regularly for the side.

On 11 January 2008 Rocha joined FC Cartagena in the third level.[1] On 15 July he returned to Cacereño, with the side now in the fourth division,[2] winning promotion in his first season.

On 14 July 2011 Rocha signed for Albacete Balompié, after being team captain at his previous club.[3] On 26 June 2013 he moved to fellow third division side Gimnàstic de Tarragona, signing a two-year deal.[4]

On 19 June 2015, after winning promotion to Segunda División with Nàstic, Rocha renewed his link until 2018.[5] He made his professional debut on 23 August, starting in a 2–2 home draw against former club Albacete.[6]

On 21 January 2016 Rocha moved abroad for the first time in his career, after agreeing to a three-year deal with Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo.[7] On 6 July 2016, he mutually terminated his contract with Dynamo after alleging "family reasons".[8]

On 11 July 2016 Rocha returned to Spain and its second tier, after agreeing to a two-year deal with Real Oviedo.[9] On 4 July 2018 he terminated his contract,[10] and returned to Gimnàstic just hours later.[11]

Rocha cut ties with Nàstic on 24 January 2019,[12] and signed a short-term deal with fellow league team UD Almería just hours later.[13] On 2 July, he signed a two-year contract with Extremadura UD, still in the second division.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rocha, nuevo interior diestro del Cartagena. Rocha, new right winger of Cartagena. Diario AS. es. 11 January 2008. 20 June 2015.
  2. Web site: El CP Cacereño presenta oficialmente a sus dos primeros refuerzos, Rocha y Rai. CP Cacereño officially presents its two first additions, Rocha and Rai. Hoy. es. 15 July 2008. 20 June 2015.
  3. Web site: David Rocha, ya excapitán del Cacereño, firma por el Albacete. David Rocha, already former captain of Cacereño, signs for Albacete. El Periódico de Extremadura. es. 14 July 2011. 20 June 2015.
  4. Web site: David Mateos Rocha es converteix en jugador del Nàstic. David Mateos Rocha becomes a Nàstic player. Gimnàstic's official website. ca. 26 June 2013. 20 June 2015.
  5. Web site: David Rocha, renovado. David Rocha, renewed. Gimnàstic's official website. es. 19 June 2015. 20 June 2015.
  6. Web site: El Gimnástic remonta in extremis al Albacete. Gimnástic comes back in extremis against Albacete. Marca. es. 23 August 2015. 23 August 2015.
  7. Web site: David Rocha se despide de la familia grana. David Rocha bids farewell from the grana family. Gimnàstic's official website. es. 21 January 2016. 23 January 2016.
  8. Web site: Houston Dynamo part ways with David Rocha; Leonel Miranda loan expires. Houston Dynamo. 6 July 2016. 6 July 2016.
  9. Web site: David Rocha, nuevo jugador del Real Oviedo. David Rocha, new player of Real Oviedo. Real Oviedo. es. 11 July 2016. 11 July 2016.
  10. Web site: Rescisión de David Rocha. Rescision of David Rocha. Real Oviedo. es. 4 July 2018. 5 July 2018.
  11. Web site: David Rocha torna al Gimnàstic de Tarragona. David Rocha returns to Gimnàstic de Tarragona. Gimnàstic Tarragona. ca. 4 July 2018. 5 July 2018.
  12. Web site: El Nàstic i David Rocha rescindeixen el contracte. Nàstic and David Rocha rescind the contract. Gimnàstic Tarragona. ca. 24 January 2019. 26 January 2019.
  13. Web site: David Rocha se convierte en el segundo fichaje del mercado de invierno. David Rocha becomes the second winter signing. UD Almería. es. 24 January 2019. 26 January 2019.
  14. Web site: David Rocha es azulgrana. David Rocha is red-and-blue. Extremadura UD. es. 2 July 2019. 5 July 2019.