Juan Elía Explained
| Juantxo Elía |
| Fullname: | Juan Elía Vallejo |
| Birth Date: | 24 January 1979 |
| Birth Place: | Pamplona, Spain |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Youthyears1: | 1993–1997 |
| Youthclubs1: | Osasuna |
| Years1: | 1997–2002 |
| Caps1: | 109 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2002–2008 |
| Caps2: | 40 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2002–2003 |
| Clubs3: | → Ourense (loan) |
| Caps3: | 36 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2008–2010 |
| Caps4: | 61 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Totalcaps: | 246 |
| Totalgoals: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1997 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 1996–1998 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 10 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 1998 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2004–2005 |
| Nationalcaps4: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
Juan 'Juantxo' Elía Vallejo (born 24 January 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Club career
Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Elía spent the bulk of his professional career with his hometown side CA Osasuna, save for a loan at modest CD Ourense. In the 2004–05 campaign he played a personal-best in La Liga 22 games, but served mostly as a backup during his spell with his main club, 15 years including his formative ones;[1] [2] he was also in goal in the 2005 Copa del Rey final, lost 2–1 against Real Betis at the Vicente Calderón Stadium.[3]
In August 2008, Elía joined Real Murcia CF, recently relegated to the Segunda División.[4] He was first choice in his debut season but the team only finished in mid-table, being relegated in the following with him appearing in 24 matches.[5]
Elía announced his retirement in September 2010 at the age of 31, due to persistent back problems.[6] Subsequently, he took up golf.[7]
International career
Elía represented Navarre in two matches.[8] [9]
Notes and References
- http://es.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=379250.html Elía renueva por Osasuna (Elía renews with Osasuna)
- https://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/osasuna/2021/03/19/osasuna-16-anos-portero-titular-2155729.html Osasuna: 16 años sin un portero titular de la cantera (Osasuna: 16 years without a starting goalkeeper from the youth system)
- https://cadenaser.com/ser/2005/06/11/deportes/1118446096_850215.html El Betis se adjudica la Copa del Rey tras ganar a Osasuna (2–1) (Betis take King's Cup after beating Osasuna (2–1))
- http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/murcia/es/desarrollo/1143876.html Elia y Campos, "ilusionados" por el proyecto deportivo del Real Murcia (Elia and Campos, "heartened" by Real Murcia's sporting project)
- http://www.laverdad.es/murcia/20091110/deportes_murcia/real-murcia/elia-primer-sacrificado-20091110.html Elía, el primer sacrificado (Elía, first one out)
- https://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/osasuna/2010/10/01/elia-dice-adios-3442856.html Elía dice adiós desde aquí (Elía says goodbye from here)
- https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noticias/deportes/futbol/osasuna/2022/04/07/el-golf-enfermedad-juantxo-elia-523409-1027.html El golf, la “enfermedad” de Juantxo Elía (Golf, Juantxo Elía's "sickness")
- http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/PUB/2004/12/30/EMD20041230008MDP.pdf Euskadi y Navarra ganan (Euskadi and Navarre win)
- http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/PUB/2005/12/27/EMD20051227008MDV.pdf Orbaiz y Gurpegi participan en la victoria de Navarra ante China (Orbaiz and Gurpegi take part in Navarre win against China)
