Javi Varas Explained

Javi Varas
Fullname:Javier Varas Herrera
Birth Date:10 September 1982[1]
Birth Place:Seville, Spain
Height:1.820NaN0
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthyears1:1993–1999
Youthclubs1:Pablo Blanco
Youthyears2:1999–2001
Youthclubs2:AD Nervión
Years1:2001–2003
Clubs1:AD Nervión
Years2:2003–2008
Caps2:86
Goals2:0
Years3:2003–2004
Clubs3:→ San José (loan)
Years4:2004–2005
Clubs4:Alcalá (loan)
Caps4:20
Goals4:0
Years5:2008–2014
Caps5:60
Goals5:0
Years6:2012–2013
Clubs6:Celta (loan)
Caps6:35
Goals6:0
Years7:2014–2015
Caps7:40
Goals7:0
Years8:2015–2017
Caps8:56
Goals8:0
Years9:2017–2018
Caps9:38
Goals9:0
Years10:2019
Caps10:0
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:335
Totalgoals:0

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

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.[2]

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.[3] For a full month, following an injury to the latter in October, he was again called on for starting duties,[4] only conceding once in four matches, in the 3–1 away victory over VfB Stuttgart for that campaign's UEFA Champions League.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

Varas lost his importance in the following years, following the arrival of Portuguese Beto in January 2013.[8] He made nine appearances as Sevilla won the 2013–14 Europa League, but was an unused substitute in the decisive match itself.[9]

Valladolid

On 25 August 2014, Varas joined Real Valladolid in a one-year contract.[10] He only missed four league matches in his 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.[11] 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.[12]

Varas joined SD Huesca on 19 February 2019, for the remainder of the top-flight campaign.[13] In October, he announced his retirement at the age of 37.[14]

Honours

Sevilla B

2006–07

Sevilla

2009–10

2013–14

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Javi Varas. Eurosport. 12 September 2020.
  2. News: Juande cree que el Sevilla ya no es ninguna sorpresa. Juande believes Sevilla are no surprise anymore. El Mundo. Spanish. 5 January 2007. 22 November 2023.
  3. News: Renato rescata un barco a la deriva. Renato rescues drifting boat. Marca. Enrique. Bernaola. Spanish. 17 January 2009. 15 May 2014.
  4. News: Javi Varas y las vueltas que da la vida. Javi Varas and the unpredictability of life. ABC. Roberto. Arrocha. Spanish. 23 October 2009. 21 May 2014.
  5. Web site: Squillaci nets brace. ESPN Soccernet. 20 October 2009. 14 June 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121106173859/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=283222&cc=5739. 6 November 2012.
  6. News: Javi Varas: el hombre que quitó la titularidad a Palop. Javi Varas: the man who took Palop's starting spot. Diario de Sevilla. Eduardo. Florido. Spanish. 1 March 2019. 7 November 2021.
  7. Web site: Barca held in dramatic fashion. ESPN Soccernet. 22 October 2011. 22 October 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20120716215549/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=323957&cc=5739. 16 July 2012.
  8. News: ¿El portero titular o el portero titular?. Starting goalkeeper or starting goalkeeper?. Diario de Sevilla. Jesús. Alba. Spanish. 12 March 2014. 21 May 2014.
  9. Web site: Spot-on Sevilla leave Benfica dreams in tatters. UEFA. John. Atkin. 14 May 2014. 15 May 2014.
  10. Web site: Javi Varas recoge los guantes del Pucela. Javi Varas takes the gloves of Pucela. Real Valladolid. Spanish. 25 August 2014. 30 August 2014.
  11. Web site: La UD Las Palmas ficha al portero Javi Varas por dos temporadas. UD Las Palmas sign goalkeeper Javi Varas for two seasons. UD Las Palmas. Spanish. 12 July 2015. 12 July 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714211008/http://www.udlaspalmas.es/-/la-ud-las-palmas-ficha-al-portero-javi-varas-por-dos-temporadas. 14 July 2015.
  12. News: El Granada ficha a Javi Varas para las dos próximas temporadas. Granada sign Javi Varas for next two seasons. Diario AS. Aguilera. Morales. Spanish. 13 June 2017. 15 June 2017.
  13. Web site: Javi Varas, experiencia para la portería. Javi Varas, experience for goal. SD Huesca. Spanish. 19 February 2019. 19 February 2019.
  14. News: Javi Varas anuncia su retirada. Javi Varas announces his retirement. Estadio Deportivo. Spanish. 22 October 2019. 11 February 2020.