Ulises Dávila Explained

Ulises Dávila
Fullname:Ulises Alejandro Dávila Plascencia
Birth Date:1991 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Position:Attacking midfielder
Youthyears1:2001–2008
Youthclubs1:Guadalajara
Years1:2008–2011
Clubs1:Guadalajara
Caps1:15
Goals1:0
Years2:2008–2009
Clubs2:Tapatío (loan)
Caps2:17
Goals2:3
Years3:2011–2015
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2011–2012
Clubs4:Vitesse (loan)
Caps4:2
Goals4:0
Years5:2012–2013
Clubs5:Sabadell (loan)
Caps5:35
Goals5:4
Years6:2013–2014
Clubs6:Córdoba (loan)
Caps6:37
Goals6:7
Years7:2014–2015
Clubs7:Tenerife (loan)
Caps7:10
Goals7:1
Years8:2015
Clubs8:Vitória Setúbal (loan)
Caps8:14
Goals8:0
Years9:2016–2018
Clubs9:Santos Laguna
Caps9:38
Goals9:3
Years10:2019
Clubs10:Delhi Dynamos
Caps10:6
Goals10:1
Years11:2019–2021
Clubs11:Wellington Phoenix
Caps11:49
Goals11:19
Years12:2021–2024
Clubs12:Macarthur FC
Caps12:61
Goals12:19
Nationalyears1:2007
Nationalteam1:Mexico U17
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2011
Nationalteam2:Mexico U20
Nationalcaps2:14
Nationalgoals2:5
Nationalyears3:2011
Nationalteam3:Mexico U23
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Pcupdate:9 May 2024

Ulises Alejandro Dávila Plascencia (born 13 April 1991) is a Mexican professional footballer who last played as an attacking midfielder for A-League club Macarthur FC.

Club career

Guadalajara

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Dávila was champion with Guadalajara in the category 1990–91 in the National Youth Championship in July 2006, with a 1–0 win over Pachuca, where he scored the only goal. That same year, Chivas also won the Manchester United Premier Cup "Generation 1991", beating Arsenal by a score of 2-1. In the 2008–09 season, he was loaned to affiliate club Tapatio, scoring three goals in eighteen matches in the Primera División A.

He made his debut for Guadalajara in the Primera División on 29 August 2009, in a 2–2 draw against Pachuca. Dávila also featured in five matches in the Copa Libertadores tournament.

Chelsea

On 27 August 2011, it was announced that Dávila had signed for English club Chelsea, signing a five-year contract, making him the first Mexican to sign with Chelsea.[1]

Loan to Vitesse

On 30 August 2011, it was announced that Dávila joined Dutch football club Vitesse Arnhem on loan for the 2011–12 season. He was given the number 24 jersey. He made his club debut against Roda JC Kerkrade on 17 September 2011, with the game ending in a 5–0 win for Vitesse. Unlike his teammate from Chelsea, Tomáš Kalas, Dávila struggled to get into the starting XI and had been an unused substitute for a number of games. Playing for their reserve side, he had more success, scoring three goals in three games. On 19 February 2012, once again returned onto the bench against FC Twente but was an unused sub, the game ended in a 1–4 loss for Vitesse. On 28 April 2012, again returned onto the bench against Excelsior but again was an unused sub, the game ended in a 3–2 win for Vitesse. Dávila spent the majority of his time at Vitesse with the reserve squad.

Loan to Sabadell

On 13 July 2012 CE Sabadell announced that Dávila will join them on loan for the 2012–13 season. On 29 September 2012, Dávila scored his first league goal against Guadalajara, winning the game 2–1. On 18 November Dávila scored a brace against Recreativo de Huelva, and also hit the post almost scoring his first hat trick, Sabadell won the game 5–2 away.

Loan to Córdoba

On the last day of the 2013 Summer transfer window, Chelsea confirmed that Dávila was having a medical at Córdoba CF of the Spanish Segunda División. Later on that day he secured his deal on a season-long loan.

On 23 June, he scored an equaliser in injury time away to UD Las Palmas in the second leg of the play-off final, earning Córdoba's promotion to La Liga for the first time in 42 years.[2]

Loan to Vitória Setubal

On 23 January 2015, Dávila ended his loan with Tenerife to join the Portuguese side on loan for the rest of the season.[3] On 3 August 2015, it was announced that Dávila will remain with Vitória for the 2015–16 season.[4]

Santos Laguna

On 4 December 2015, Santos Laguna announced they had purchased Dávila from Chelsea and signed him to a three-year contract.[5]

Delhi Dynamos

In December 2018, Dávila signed with Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos,[6] and scored his only goal on 17 February 2019, against Bengaluru FC in a 3–2 win.[7]

Wellington Phoenix

In July 2019, Dávila signed with A-League side Wellington Phoenix on a two-year deal.[8] Dávila secured a fourth goal in six starts with a goal from outside the box against Brisbane Roar on 23 November 2019. The goal proved vital in their 2–1 victory, Wellington's first win of the 2019–20 A-League season.[9] Dávila helped the Phoenix to its best ever regular season finish, ending in third place for the League,[10] before the team lost 0–1 to Perth Glory FC in their first game of the elimination finals.[10] Dávila finished the season with 12 goals and five assists, winning the Johnny Warren Medal along with Miloš Ninković.[11]

Macarthur FC

On 17 May it was announced that Dávila had signed a three-year deal to join Macarthur FC for the 2021–22 season.[12] On 6 November 2021, Dávila was announced as the captain for the 2021–22 A-League Men season.[13] On 24 June 2024, the club announced that they agreed a mutual termination of contract with Dávila.[14] At the same time, Dávila was arrested for allegedly being involved in match fixing.[15]

International career

Youth

Dávila was part of the under-20 side that played the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, in which Mexico finished as champions. He also participated in the 2011 Toulon Tournament in France, where Mexico finished as fourth place losing to Italy in a penalty shoot-out. Dávila scored two goals during the 2011 Toulon Tournament, scoring against France and Hungary.

Dávila was part of the 20-man squad that participated in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia. Mexico would eventually finish third in the tournament by beating France 3–1, and he was able to score a goal against France.[16]

Senior

Dávila received his first call up to the senior national team to play the 2011 Copa América, to replace one of the five players that were suspended for having disciplinary problems in Quito, Ecuador. He did not play in any of Mexico's matches.

Personal life

In March 2020, Dávila's wife Lily Pacheco gave birth to a son. Lily died on 30 May 2022.[17]

Match fixing scandal

On 17 May 2024, Dávila along with two Macarthur FC teammates, Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis, were arrested by New South Wales Police Force over an alleged match fixing scandal.[18]

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOthersTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tapatío (loan)173173
Guadalajara2009–10Mexican Primera División7050120
2010–11Mexican Primera División8080
Total15050200
Vitesse (loan)2011–12Eredivisie201030
Sabadell (loan)2012–13Segunda División35421375
Córdoba (loan)2013–14Segunda División37710387
Tenerife (loan)2014–15Segunda División10110111
Vitória (loan)2014–15Primeira Liga11030140
2015–16Primeira Liga301040
Total14040180
Santos Laguna2015–16Liga MX15241193
2016–17Liga MX191103294
2017–18Liga MX404080
Total38314341567
Delhi Dynamos2018–19Indian Super League6161
2019–20A-League2612102712
2020–21A-League237237
Total4919105019
Macarthur FC2021–22A-League23710247
2022–23A-League13333166
2023–24A-League25910643213
Total611953647226
Career total284572871551032869

Honours

Santos Laguna

Clausura 2018

Macarthur FC

2022

Mexico U20

2011

Individual

2020–21

2022[22]

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.today/20130726224628/http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/2434327 "Chelsea signs Ulises Dávila"
  2. News: Las Palmas-Cordoba La Liga play-off ends with pitch invasion. 30 June 2014. Goal.com. 23 June 2014.
  3. News: Chelsea midfielder makes long-awaited exit. Express.co.uk. 23 January 2015.
  4. News: Victory and Chelsea renew yield Uli Davila . Vitoria Setubal . 3 August 2015 . 4 August 2015 . 28 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150828185551/http://vfc.pt/noticias/futebol/2015/08/03/7300/ . dead .
  5. News: Comunicado de Prensa – Contratación Ulises Alejandro Dávila . Santos Laguna . 4 December 2015 . 5 December 2015 . 8 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208224155/http://www.clubsantos.mx/noticias/840/comunicado-de-prensa-contratacin-ulises-alejandro-dvila#.VmIrLbgrIdU . dead .
  6. Web site: ISL 2018-19: All you need to know about Ulises Davila, Delhi Dynamos' new attacker. Roy. Akarshak. Sportskeeda. 1 December 2018.
  7. https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/bfc-crashes-to-disappointing-defeat/article26298040.ece/amp/ BFC Crashes To Disappointing Defeat
  8. News: New signing Ulises Davila brings Mexican flair to Wellington Phoenix. Phillip. Rollo. Stuff.co.nz. 5 July 2019.
  9. Web site: Wellington Phoenix vs Brisbane Roar - A-League Round 7, 2019. FOX SPORTS. en-AU. 2019-11-23.
  10. News: Lewis . Brad . Football: Wellington Phoenix preparing for worst-case scenario of 2021 season based in Australia . 11 October 2020 . . 28 August 2020 . en.
  11. Web site: Best of the contenders for the Johnny Warren Medal . Hyundai A-League . 11 October 2020 . en . 9 September 2020.
  12. News: Davila hits Bullseye with $2 million Macarthur move . 7 June 2021 . The World Game . en.
  13. Web site: 6 November 2021. The Bulls announce Ulises Dávila as Captain. Macarthur FC. 6 November 2021. 7 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211107233702/https://www.macarthurfc.com.au/news/bulls-announce-ulises-davila-captain. dead.
  14. mfcbulls. Macarthur FC. 1805134018779758792. The club and Ulises Davila have agreed on a mutual termination of his contract going forward.The club will not be making any further comment at this stage.. 24 June 2024.
  15. News: Colombian crime figure allegedly oversaw A-League betting scheme. Vince. Rugari. The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 June 2024.
  16. Web site: Mexico down France for bronze . https://web.archive.org/web/20130308081722/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20worldcup/colombia2011/news/newsid=1496000/index.html . dead . 8 March 2013 . 3 July 2014.
  17. Web site: ‘Devastating’: Shock as A-League captain’s wife tragically dies. News.com.au. 4 June 2022.
  18. Web site: NSW Police arrest three A-League players including Sydney's Macarthur FC captain Ulises Dávila over betting scandal. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Jesse. Hyland. 17 May 2024. 17 May 2024.
  19. Web site: Davila Wins PFA Player For The Month Award For December . Wellingtonphoenix.com. 11 October 2020 . en . 29 January 2020.
  20. News: PFA reveals LUCRF Super A-League Team of the Season. Pfa.net.au. 23 June 2021. 23 June 2021.
  21. Web site: PFA reveals player-voted Austraffic A-League Men Team of the Season on eve of Grand Final. Professional Footballers Australia. 27 May 2022. 27 May 2022.
  22. News: Rugari . Vince . 1 October 2022 . Macarthur FC dedicate Australia Cup trophy to grieving captain Davila . The Sydney Morning Herald . Nine Entertainment . live . registration . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221014080205/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/bulls-on-parade-macarthur-ends-sydney-united-s-giant-killing-run-to-win-first-trophy-20221001-p5bmhl.html . 14 October 2022.