| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sergio Martínez Ballesteros | ||
| Date of birth | 4 September 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Burjassot, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Levante | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1995 | Levante | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1994–1996 | Levante | 26 | (4) |
| 1996 | → Tenerife (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 1996–2000 | Tenerife | 86 | (4) |
| 2000–2001 | Rayo Vallecano | 36 | (2) |
| 2001–2004 | Villarreal | 81 | (1) |
| 2004–2008 | Mallorca | 103 | (1) |
| 2008– | Levante | 122 | (3) |
| National team | |||
| 1996–1998 | Spain U21 | 12 | (0) |
| 1997 | Spain U23 | 3 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Sergio Martínez Ballesteros (born 4 September 1975) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Levante UD in La Liga, as a central defender.
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Born in Burjassot, Horta Nord, Valencian Community, Ballesteros came through the ranks of local Levante UD. In January 1996, he moved on loan to the Canary Islands' CD Tenerife, making his top flight debut on 3 January, in a 2–0 home win against Racing de Santander. After making the move permanent, he went on to become an important defensive player, also starting to garner a reputation as a tough, sometimes to excess, central defender (in 1998–99, as Tenerife ranked second from bottom, Ballesteros was sent off twice in just eight appearances).[1]
In 2001–02, Ballesteros moved to Madrid's Rayo Vallecano (10 yellow cards collected), subsequently spending three years at Villarreal CF, being an important defensive element as the Valencian outfit consolidated in the first division.
From 2004–08, he represented RCD Mallorca in the top flight, receiving six additional marching orders in over 100 first team appearances. In July 2008, the 33 year-old was deemed surplus to requirements and released, re-joining Levante (freshly relegated to the second division) after 13 years.
Veteran Ballesteros rarely missed a game for the Valencian in the following seasons, making 34 appearances in 2010–11 (one goal, against CA Osasuna in a 2–1 home win[2]) as the team finally retained its top division status.
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