Pipa (footballer) explained

Pipa
Full Name:Gonzalo Ávila Gordón[1]
Birth Date:26 January 1998
Birth Place:Esparreguera, Spain
Height:1.75 m
Position:Right-back
Currentclub:West Bromwich Albion
(on loan from Ludogorets Razgrad)
Clubnumber:26
Youthclubs1:Esparreguera
Youthyears2:2008–2017
Youthclubs2:Espanyol
Youthyears3:2009–2010
Youthclubs3:Damm (loan)
Years1:2016–2018
Caps1:59
Goals1:4
Years2:2018–2020
Caps2:7
Goals2:0
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Gimnàstic (loan)
Caps3:18
Goals3:0
Years4:2020–2022
Caps4:48
Goals4:2
Years5:2022–2023
Caps5:11
Goals5:0
Years6:2023–
Caps6:14
Goals6:0
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:West Bromwich Albion (loan)
Caps7:13
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2016–2017
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2016–2017
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019–2021
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:25 April 2024 (UTC)

Gonzalo Ávila Gordón (born 26 January 1998), known as Pipa, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Bulgarian club Ludogorets.

Career

Espanyol

Born in Esparraguera, Barcelona, Catalonia, Pipa finished his formation with RCD Espanyol, after previous stints at CF Damm and FS Esparraguera.[2] He made his senior debut with the reserves on 20 February 2016, starting in a 0–1 Segunda División B away loss against Valencia CF Mestalla.[3]

Pipa was a regular starter for the B-side during the 2016–17 season, which ended in relegation. On 22 May 2017 he renewed his contract until 2022,[4] and scored his first senior goal on 27 August by netting the last in a 3–0 home win against FC Ascó in the Tercera División.[5]

On 28 May 2018, Pipa was definitely promoted to the main squad in La Liga ahead of the 2018–19 campaign.[6] The following 2 January, after failing to appear in a single match for the Pericos, he was loaned to Segunda División strugglers Gimnàstic de Tarragona until June.[7]

Pipa made his professional debut on 6 January 2019, starting as a right winger in a 1–0 home win against Córdoba CF.[8] He was a regular starter for the club during his six-month spell, suffering team relegation.

Upon returning to Espanyol, Pipa was handed the number 2 jersey, and made his first-team debut on 15 August 2019, starting in a 3–0 home defeat of FC Luzern in the UEFA Europa League.[9] He made his top-tier debut on 26 September, replacing Wu Lei in a 1–1 away draw against RC Celta de Vigo.[10]

Huddersfield Town

On 7 September 2020, Pipa signed a three-year contract with EFL Championship side Huddersfield Town, for an undisclosed fee.[11] He scored his first goal for Huddersfield in a 3–0 win over Millwall on 31 October.[12]

Ludogorets

On 1 February 2023, he was announced as a new signing of Bulgarian club Ludogorets.[13]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Espanyol B2015–16Segunda División B1010
2016–17Segunda División B310310
2017–18Tercera División274274
Total59459!4
Espanyol2018–19La Liga000000
2019–20La Liga702040130
Total70204!0130
Gimnàstic (loan)2018–19Segunda División18000180
Huddersfield Town2020–21Championship3720000372
2021–22Championship1103000140
Total4823000512
Olympiacos2022–23Super League Greece1100090200
Career total143650001301616

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Huddersfield Town . English Football League . 34 . 21 September 2020.
  2. Web site: "Estoy centrado en el presente". I am focused in the present. Diario La Grada. es. 3 February 2017. 12 July 2018.
  3. Web site: Pipa debuta en Segunda B. Pipa debuts in Segunda B. Vavel. es. 22 February 2016. 12 July 2018.
  4. Web site: ¡'Pipa' 2022!. Pipe, 2022!. RCD Espanyol. es. 22 May 2017. 12 July 2018.
  5. Web site: El filial perico juega, sufre, disfruta y vence. The reserve team perico play, suffer, enjoy and win. Diario La Grada. es. 14 January 2018. 12 July 2018.
  6. Web site: Álex López, Pipa y Puado, jugadores de Primera. Álex López, Pipa and Puado, Primera players. Marca. es. 28 May 2018. 12 July 2018.
  7. Web site: Pipa arriba cedit pel RCD Espanyol. Pipa arrives on loan from RCD Espanyol. Gimnàstic Tarragona. ca. 2 January 2019. 6 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190106030010/http://www.gimnasticdetarragona.cat/pipa-arriba-cedit-pel-rcd-espanyol/. 6 January 2019. dead.
  8. Web site: Un golazo de falta da tres puntos vitales a los tarraconenses. A great free kick goal gives three vital points to the Tarragona side. Marca. es. 6 January 2019. 7 January 2019.
  9. Web site: Wu Lei, el debutante Campuzano y la cantera arrasan a la morriña. Wu Lei, the debutant Campuzano and the cantera wash away the homesickness. Diario AS. es. 15 August 2019. 28 October 2019.
  10. Web site: Mina rescata al Celta en el minuto 95. Mina rescues Celta in the 95th minute. Marca. es. 26 September 2019. 28 October 2019.
  11. Web site: Transfer: Pipa joins from Espanyol!. Huddersfield Town AFC. 7 September 2020. 7 September 2020.
  12. Web site: Millwall 0-3 Huddersfield. 31 October 2020 . BBC. 31 October 2020.
  13. Web site: "Лудогорец" официално подписа с испанския защитник Пипа. bg . Dimova, Vyara . bgonair.bg. 1 February 2023 . 2 August 2023.