Javi Fuego Explained

Javi Fuego
Fullname:Javier Fuego Martínez
Birth Date:4 January 1984
Birth Place:Pola de Siero, Spain
Position:Defensive midfielder
Youthclubs1:Romanón
Youthyears2:1993–2002
Youthclubs2:Sporting Gijón
Years1:2002–2003
Years2:2002–2007
Caps2:114
Goals2:4
Years3:2007–2008
Caps3:24
Goals3:1
Years4:2008–2010
Caps4:67
Goals4:6
Years5:2010–2013
Caps5:104
Goals5:1
Years6:2013–2016
Caps6:88
Goals6:5
Years7:2016–2018
Caps7:48
Goals7:1
Years8:2018–2019
Caps8:16
Goals8:0
Years9:2019–2021
Caps9:72
Goals9:0
Totalcaps:533
Totalgoals:18
Nationalyears1:2002–2003
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2003
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2006
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2005
Nationalcaps4:5
Nationalgoals4:0

Javier "Javi" Fuego Martínez (pronounced as /es/; born 4 January 1984) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

He played 277 La Liga matches over ten seasons, scoring a total of nine goals for Levante, Recreativo, Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, Espanyol and Villarreal. He added 256 appearances in Segunda División, mainly in representation of Sporting de Gijón.

Club career

Early years and Recreativo

Fuego was born in Pola de Siero, Asturias.[1] He started playing professional football for Sporting de Gijón,[2] representing the local side in six Segunda División seasons and being first choice from 2004 to 2007.[3]

In the 2007–08 campaign, Fuego signed with La Liga strugglers Levante UD,[4] but was one of many players to leave the squad upon relegation[5] and serious financial problems.[6] In August 2008, he signed a three-year deal worth €140.000 with Andalusia's Recreativo de Huelva,[7] appearing regularly as a starter but being relegated from the top flight in his first year.[8]

Rayo Vallecano

For 2010–11, Fuego joined Rayo Vallecano, quickly establishing himself as first choice for the Madrid club and helping it to a second-place finish and subsequent top-division promotion.[9]

He rarely missed a match in his subsequent two-year spell in that tier, helping his team consecutively retain their status.[10] [11] [12]

Valencia

In January 2013, months before the season was over, it was announced that Fuego would not renew his expiring contract with Rayo, agreeing to a three-year deal with fellow league club Valencia CF as of 1 July.[13] He made his official debut on 17 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Málaga CF.[14]

Fuego scored the first brace of his professional career on 23 March 2014, netting both of his team's goals in a 2–1 victory over Villarreal CF also at the Mestalla Stadium.[15] On 1 April 2015, he renewed his link until 30 June 2017 with the option of a further season.[16]

Fuego played seven games in the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League in a group-stage exit,[17] the first being a 3–1 home defeat of AS Monaco FC in the play-off round where he came on as a second-half substitute for Paco Alcácer.[18]

Espanyol

On 13 August 2016, Fuego signed a three-year contract with RCD Espanyol.[19] He started in 29 of his 31 league appearances in his first season, scoring once[20] in an eventual eighth-place finish.

Villarreal

On 30 January 2018, aged 34, Fuego joined Villarreal on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[21] He featured rarely during his spell in the Valencian Community, due to injuries and a bacterial infection.[22] [23]

Return to Sporting

Fuego returned to first club Sporting on 26 June 2019, after agreeing to a two-year contract.[24] He announced his retirement on 23 July 2021.[25]

Honours

Spain U23

2005[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sufrir en Mareo para disfrutar de El Molinón. Suffer at Mareo to enjoy El Molinón. Cadena SER. Fran. Guaita. es. 11 September 2015. 30 March 2023.
  2. News: Lediakhov no viajó a Leganés porque ha sido padre. Lediakhov did not travel to Leganés because he became a father. Mundo Deportivo. es. 4 May 2002. 12 November 2020.
  3. News: El capitán experto. The expert captain. El Comercio. Manuel. Rosety. es. 2 August 2007. 12 November 2020.
  4. News: Matabuena toma el relevo de Javi Fuego. Matabuena takes over for Javi Fuego. El Comercio. Manuel. Rosety. es. 4 August 2007. 12 November 2020.
  5. News: Se consuma el descenso del Levante. Levante relegation confirmed. Diario AS. es. 27 April 2008. 12 November 2020.
  6. News: La salida de Javi Fuego. Javi Fuego's departure. El Comercio. Manuel. Rosety. es. 22 November 2015. 12 November 2020.
  7. News: El Recreativo ficha a Javi Fuego. Recreativo sign Javi Fuego. Marca. es. 12 August 2008. 14 August 2008.
  8. News: El Recreativo consumó el descenso. Recreativo confirmed relegation. ABC. es. 23 May 2009. 12 November 2020.
  9. News: El Rayo celebra su ascenso a Primera con una goleada. Rayo celebrate promotion to Primera with rout. Diario AS. es. 22 May 2011. 12 November 2020.
  10. News: Javi Fuego llega a los 100 partidos en Primera. Javi Fuego makes it 100 games in Primera. Marca. es. 10 November 2012. 25 June 2013.
  11. News: Una ganga llamada Javi Fuego. A steal called Javi Fuego. Marca. Isaac. Suárez. es. 22 November 2012. 25 June 2013.
  12. Web site: Adiós a Don Javi Fuego. Goodbye to Mr. Javi Fuego. Rayo Herald. Juan Carlos. De Oro. es. 30 May 2013. 25 June 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140227233507/http://www.rayoherald.com/33899-adios-a-don-javi-fuego.html. 27 February 2014.
  13. News: Javi Fuego ficha por el Valencia CF. Javi Fuego signs for Valencia CF. Super Deporte. César. Izquierdo. es. 10 January 2013. 25 June 2013.
  14. Web site: Valencia edge victory. ESPN FC. 17 August 2013. 22 August 2013.
  15. Web site: Valencia rediscover winning touch. ESPN FC. 23 March 2014. 8 April 2014.
  16. News: Javi Fuego firma su renovación. Javi Fuego puts pen to paper on renewal. Levante-EMV. Pau. Fuster. es. 1 April 2015. 21 June 2015.
  17. News: Javi Fuego: "La ilusión permanece intacta como el primer día". Javi Fuego: "I have exactly the same hunger now as day one". Diario AS. José Ramón. Rodríguez. es. 13 October 2020. 12 November 2020.
  18. News: El Valencia se asoma a la Champions tras derrotar al Mónaco. Valencia near Champions after beating Monaco. El País. Javier. Pérez. es. 19 August 2015. 12 November 2020.
  19. Web site: Javi Fuego es el séptimo. Javi Fuego is the seventh one. RCD Espanyol. es. 13 August 2016. 14 August 2016.
  20. News: El alma de Reyes acaba con el Betis. Reyes' heart finishes Betis. Marca. Pablo. Egea. es. 31 March 2017. 9 February 2018.
  21. News: Oficial: Javi Fuego ya es futbolista del Villarreal. Official: Javi Fuego is already a Villarreal player. Diario AS. Alberto. Martínez. Javier. Mata. es. 30 January 2018. 30 January 2018.
  22. Web site: Javi Fuego está de vuelta siete meses después. Javi Fuego returns seven months later. Castellón Información. es. 6 December 2018. 14 August 2019.
  23. News: Javi Fuego valora su salida con el Sporting en el horizonte. Javi Fuego weighs in on his departure with Sporting on the horizon. Diario AS. Javier. Mata. es. 28 May 2019. 14 August 2019.
  24. News: El Sporting cierra el fichaje de Javi Fuego. Sporting complete signing of Javi Fuego. El Comercio. Javier. Barrio. es. 26 June 2019. 26 June 2019.
  25. News: Javi Fuego cuelga las botas. Javi Fuego hangs up boots. Marca. Borja. Fernández. es. 23 July 2021. 29 July 2021.
  26. Web site: Mediterranean Games 2005 (Spain). RSSSF. Erik. Garin. 27 September 2016.

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