Rafa Navarro (footballer, born 1972) explained

Rafa Navarro
Full Name:Rafael Navarro Rivas
Birth Date:10 January 1972
Birth Place:Córdoba, Spain
Height:1.83 m
Position:Winger
Youthclubs1:Córdoba
Youthyears2:1989–1991
Youthclubs2:Sevilla
Years1:1991–1994
Caps1:46
Goals1:7
Years2:1994–1995
Caps2:24
Goals2:2
Years3:1995–1997
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:1996–1997
Clubs4:Villarreal (loan)
Caps4:8
Goals4:0
Years5:1997–1998
Caps5:32
Goals5:0
Years6:1998–2003
Caps6:91
Goals6:5
Years7:2003–2004
Caps7:42
Goals7:5
Years8:2004–2005
Caps8:10
Goals8:0
Years9:2005–2006
Caps9:26
Goals9:0
Years10:2006
Caps10:?
Goals10:0
Years11:2006–2007
Caps11:?
Goals11:5
Totalcaps:279
Totalgoals:24
Manageryears1:2008
Managerclubs1:Córdoba B (assistant)
Manageryears2:2008–2009
Managerclubs2:Córdoba (assistant)
Manageryears3:2010–2012
Managerclubs3:Córdoba (youth)
Manageryears4:2012–2013
Managerclubs4:Séneca (youth)
Manageryears5:2013–2018
Managerclubs5:Atlético Espeleño
Manageryears6:2019
Managerclubs6:Córdoba

Rafael "Rafa" Navarro Rivas (born 10 January 1972) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a winger, and is a manager.

Playing career

Born in Córdoba, Andalusia, Navarro joined Sevilla FC's youth setup at the age of 17, from Córdoba CF.[1] In 1991, after finishing his formation, he returned to his previous club and was assigned to the main squad in Segunda División B.

For the 1995–96 campaign, Navarro moved straight to La Liga, joining Sporting de Gijón after a one-year spell at Real Jaén in the third division.[2] However, he only featured in two Copa del Rey matches for the side before being loaned to Segunda División side Villarreal CF.[3]

After featuring sparingly, Navarro left the Rojiblancos and moved to Recreativo de Huelva in the third division, in 1997. The following year, he rejoined his first club Córdoba, featuring regularly and helping in the club's promotion to the second level in 1999.

In December 2002, after being deemed surplus to requirements at the Blanquiverdes, Navarro joined AD Ceuta in the third tier.[4] He went on to resume his career mainly in that division in the following years, representing CD Linares, CD Villanueva,[5] Lucena CF[6] and CD Iliturgi;[7] he retired with the latter in 2007, aged 35.

Managerial career

In 2008, shortly after his retirement, Navarro worked as an assistant coach of Córdoba's B and first teams.[8] [9] He left in 2009, but returned in the following year as manager of the youth categories.[10]

In 2013, Navarro took over CA Espeleño in the regional leagues, achieving promotion to Tercera División with the club in 2016. He left the club in June 2018, subsequently returning to Córdoba on 28 September of that year as a director of the youth setup.[11]

On 25 February 2019, Navarro was appointed at the helm of the Blanquiverdes' first team, replacing sacked Curro Torres.[12] He left at the end of the season following their relegation to Segunda B, but remained employed by the club.[13]

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecord
Atlético Espeleño1 July 20139 June 2018
Córdoba 25 February 201912 June 2019 [14]
Total

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Diez datos que debes conocer sobre Rafa Navarro. Ten facts you must know about Rafa Navarro. Cordópolis. es. 25 February 2019. 27 February 2019.
  2. Web site: Cuando Rafa Navarro fue de Primera. When Rafa Navarro was from Primera. Cordópolis. es. 24 October 2018. 27 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Rafa Navarro, del Sporting al Atlético Espeleño. Rafa Navarro, from Sporting to Atlético Espeleño. El Comercio. es. 25 April 2017. 27 February 2019.
  4. Web site: El Córdoba CF no pone trabas al fichaje de Rafa Navarro por el Ceuta. Córdoba CF do not put obstacles to the signing of Rafa Navarro for Ceuta. Diario de Córdoba. es. 11 December 2002. 27 February 2019.
  5. Web site: El Villanueva hablará con Rafa Navarro mañana para ficharle. Villanueva will talk with Rafa Navarro tomorrow to sign him. Diario de Córdoba. es. 25 January 2005. 27 February 2019.
  6. Web site: El Lucena indemnizará a Espejo, Rafa Navarro y Javier Pineda. Lucena will compensate Espejo, Rafa Navarro and Javier Pineda. Diario de Córdoba. es. 31 January 2007. 27 February 2019.
  7. Web site: Rafa Navarro firma por el Iliturgi tras su marcha del Lucena. Rafa Navarro signs for Iliturgi after his departure from Lucena. Diario de Córdoba. es. 11 November 2006. 27 February 2019.
  8. Web site: Y ahora, ¿cuál es el objetivo?. And now, what is the goal?. El Día de Córdoba. es. 18 December 2008. 27 February 2019.
  9. Web site: Rafa Navarro no podrá sentarse como segundo de Luna Eslava. Rafa Navarro will not be able to act as Luna Eslava's second. Diario de Córdoba. es. 18 December 2008. 27 February 2019.
  10. Web site: 'Zinedine' Navarro, el ambidiestro de oro. 'Zinedine' Navarro, the golden ambidextrous. Córdoba Deporte. es. 25 February 2019. 27 February 2019.
  11. Web site: Rafa Navarro, nuevo director de fútbol base. Rafa Navarro, new director of youth football. Córdoba CF. es. 28 September 2018. 27 February 2019.
  12. Web site: Rafa Navarro, nuevo entrenador del Córdoba CF tras la destitución de Curro Torres. Rafa Navarro, new manager of Córdoba CF after the sacking of Curro Torres. Córdoba CF. es. 25 February 2019. 27 February 2019.
  13. News: Rafa Navarro, reincorporado al Córdoba CF. Rafa Navarro, rehired at Córdoba CF . 7 August 2019 . Córdoba Deporte . 11 July 2019 . Spanish.
  14. Web site: Rafa Navarro: Rafael Navarro Rivas: Matches 2018–19. BDFutbol. 5 March 2019.