Xavi Roca Explained

Xavi Roca
Fullname:Francesc Xavier Roca Mateo
Birth Date:19 January 1974[1]
Birth Place:Barcelona, Spain
Position:Right-back
Youthyears1:1990–1993
Youthclubs1:Barcelona
Years1:1993–1995
Caps1:63
Goals1:0
Years2:1994–1997
Caps2:71
Goals2:0
Years3:1996–1999
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:1997–1998
Clubs4:Logroñés (loan)
Caps4:18
Goals4:0
Years5:1998–1999
Clubs5:Toledo (loan)
Caps5:25
Goals5:0
Years6:1999–2002
Caps6:81
Goals6:0
Years7:2002–2003
Caps7:1
Goals7:0
Years8:2003–2004
Caps8:3
Goals8:0
Years9:2004–2006
Caps9:46
Goals9:0
Years10:2006–2008
Caps10:54
Goals10:0
Years11:2008–2009
Caps11:17
Goals11:0
Years12:2009–2010
Caps12:9
Goals12:0
Totalcaps:389
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:1989–1990
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1990–1991
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1990–1991
Nationalcaps3:10
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:1995
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:0

Francesc Xavier 'Xavi' Roca Mateo (born 19 January 1974) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right-back.

Club career

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Roca joined FC Barcelona's academy at 16. He spent three professional seasons as captain of their reserves in the Segunda División,[2] and his input with the first team consisted of 90 minutes in La Liga in a 2–2 away draw against Deportivo de La Coruña on 26 May 1996;[3] additionally, for two consecutive years, he was loaned to CD Logroñés and CD Toledo in the second division.[4] [5]

Released in summer 1999, Roca remained in the second tier with Villarreal CF.[6] He was first-choice in his first season as the club returned to the top flight after one year,[7] then totalled 50 games over the next two as they managed to stay afloat.

Roca signed a two-year contract with top-division RCD Espanyol on 24 May 2002.[8] He left after only one and two competitive appearances, returning to division two with Rayo Vallecano on a three-year deal.[9]

Before retiring at the age of 36, Roca competed in the lower leagues and his native region, with CE L'Hospitalet, CE Sabadell FC and CE Europa.[10] [11] He also spent one year in the New Zealand Football Championship with Auckland City FC,[12] where he suffered a serious knee injury in his debut.[13]

Subsequently, Roca worked as sporting director at Sabadell,[14] [11] AEK Larnaca FC (Cypriot First Division)[15] [16] and Panathinaikos FC (Super League Greece).[17] [18]

Notes and References

  1. News: Xavier "XAVI" ROCA. El Mundo. es. 24 July 2022.
  2. News: Costas medita su respuesta al Celta. Costas thinking about what his reply to Celta will be. Mundo Deportivo. Antonio. Mínguez. es. 8 July 1997. 24 July 2022.
  3. News: Fiesta Bebeto, golazo de Pep. Bebeto party, Pep wonder goal. Mundo Deportivo. Alberto. Sanchis. es. 27 May 1996. 24 July 2022.
  4. News: La puerta sigue abierta. Door remains open. Mundo Deportivo. Jorge. Alacid. es. 27 July 1997. 24 July 2022.
  5. News: El Barça cede a Roca al Toledo. Barça loan Roca to Toledo. Mundo Deportivo. es. 1 July 1998. 24 July 2022.
  6. News: Firmaron Roca y López Vallejo. Roca and López Vallejo signed. Mundo Deportivo. José María. Arquimbau. es. 9 July 1999. 24 July 2022.
  7. Web site: Salto a Primera. Jump to Primera. Villarreal CF. es. 24 July 2022.
  8. News: Fichado el defensa Xavi Roca. Defender Xavi Roca signed. Diario AS. es. 24 May 2002. 24 July 2022.
  9. News: Xavi Roca firmará por tres años. Xavi Roca will sign for three years. Diario AS. Francisco José. Garrido. es. 31 July 2003. 24 July 2022.
  10. News: El Sabadell vuelve a ilusionar a la afición. Sabadell put fire back in hearts of faithful. Mundo Deportivo. Manuel. Ayala. es. 28 July 2006. 24 July 2022.
  11. News: Xavi Roca no es retira encara i fitxa per l'Europa. Xavi Roca does not retire yet and signs for Europa. El Punt. ca. 24 June 2009. 24 July 2022.
  12. Web site: La Liga defender signs with Auckland City. Stuff. 22 September 2008. 24 July 2022.
  13. News: Xavi Roca se 'rompe' en su debut en Nueva Zelanda. Xavi Roca 'breaks' in New Zealand debut. Marca. es. 3 November 2008. 24 July 2022.
  14. News: El Sabadell prescinde de su director deportivo, Xavi Roca. Sabadell release their sporting director, Xavi Roca. Sport. Toni. Quintana. es. 28 November 2013. 24 July 2022.
  15. Web site: Επίσημη ανακοίνωση. Official announcement. AEK Larnaca. el. 22 February 2014. 1 May 2014.
  16. News: Xavi Roca vuelve al AEK Laranca. Xavi Roca returns to AEK Laranca. Sport. es. 15 February 2021. 24 July 2022.
  17. News: Xavi Roca: "Lo más sensato ahora es apostar por gente de la casa". Xavi Roca: "The wisest thing to do now is bet on homegrown players". Diario AS. Martín. Manchón. es. 30 June 2020. 24 July 2022.
  18. Web site: Xavi Roca. Panathinaikos F.C.. 12 April 2021.