Carlos Marchena

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Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Spain
Men's Football
Silver	2000 Sydney	Team Competition

Carlos Marchena López, popularly known as Marchena (born 31 July 1979 in Seville) is a Spanish footballer who currently plays centre back/defensive midfielder for Valencia CF and the Spain. He is a regular first-team choice for both squads.

He started his professional career in Sevilla FC by the age of 18 when at that time, the club was still playing in the Segunda División. At the age of 20, he capped his top-flight debut for his club against Real Sociedad in the 1999/2000 season.

When Sevilla was relegated again at the end of the 2000 season, Marchena sought a quick 12-month loan transfer to SL Benfica, where he did sufficiently well to catch the eye of top club Valencia CF, who were in need to provide cover for their aging centre-back Miroslav Djukić. Marchena signed a four-year contract, which involved a swap-deal with Zlatko Zahovic moving in the opposite direction. While Marchena took a while in his first season to impress as his new club clinched their first title in 30 years in the 2001/2002 season, with the eventual departure of Djukić, he was chosen as the natural replacement.

In the 2003/2004 season, with Valencia capturing a historic league and UEFA Cup double, he played a pivotal role in defense, teaming up well with Roberto Ayala. This polished performance led to his selection for the Spanish national team for the Euro 2004 tournament. He was, in fact, chosen at the last minute by then coach Iñaki Sáez as a strategic move to bolster his squad, with Sáez reasoning that good containing defenders were "hard to come by". While Spain did not do well in the tournament and bowed out in the early stages, he did manage 2 appearances, although he did also picked up 2 yellow cards while doing so.

The 2004/2005 season was not a very successful season for Valencia, as under new coach Claudio Ranieri, the team struggled both domestically and in European tournaments. In a UEFA Champions League first-round match against Werder Bremen at the Mestalla stadium, he was also given his marching orders in the final minutes of the match, and Valencia was eliminated from the elite competition. Marchena remained a regular at both defensive positions.

Marchena was part of the 2006 World Cup squad. However, he was not a regular starter and only featured in the last first-round game against Saudi Arabia.

[edit] Honors and awards

• FIFA World Youth Championship winner: 1999
• Spanish La Liga: 2002, 2004
• UEFA Cup: 2004
• European Super Cup: 2004
• Copa del Rey: 2007-08

[edit] External links

• Carlos Marchena FIFA competition record
• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional

v • d • e Spain squad - UEFA Euro 2004 1 Cañizares • 2 Capdevila • 3 Marchena • 4 Albelda • 5 Puyol • 6 Helguera • 7 Raúl • 8 Baraja • 9 Torres • 10 Morientes • 11 Luque • 12 Gabri • 13 Aranzubia • 14 Vicente • 15 Bravo • 16 Xabi Alonso • 17 Etxeberria • 18 César Martín • 19 Joaquín • 20 Xavi • 21 Valerón • 22 Juanito • 23 Casillas • Coach: Iñaki Sáez

v • d • e Spain squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Casillas • 2 Salgado • 3 Pernía • 4 Marchena • 5 Puyol • 6 Albelda • 7 Raúl • 8 Xavi • 9 Torres • 10 Reyes • 11 Luis García • 12 Antonio López • 13 Iniesta • 14 Xabi Alonso • 15 Ramos • 16 Senna • 17 Joaquín • 18 Cesc • 19 Cañizares • 20 Juanito • 21 Villa • 22 Pablo • 23 Reina • Coach: Aragonés

v • d • e Spain squad - UEFA Euro 2008 1 Casillas • 2 Albiol • 3 Navarro • 4 Marchena • 5 Puyol • 6 Iniesta • 7 David Villa • 8 Xavi • 9 F. Torres • 10 Fàbregas • 11 Capdevila • 12 Cazorla • 13 Palop • 14 Xabi Alonso • 15 Sergio Ramos • 16 Sergio García • 17 Dani Güiza • 18 Arbeloa • 19 Senna • 20 Juanito • 21 David Silva • 22 de la Red • 23 Reina • Coach: Aragonés