Ángel Lafita

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Ángel Lafita

Lafita training with Zaragoza
Personal information
Full nameÁngel Lafita Castillo
Date of birth (1984-08-07) 7 August 1984
Place of birthZaragoza, Spain
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionWinger
Club information
Current clubGetafe
Number7
Youth career
Zaragoza
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2005Zaragoza B63(6)
2005–2008Zaragoza41(1)
2007–2008→ Deportivo La Coruña (loan)24(3)
2008–2009Deportivo La Coruña33(8)
2009–2012Zaragoza91(10)
2012–Getafe26(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 May 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Lafita and the second or maternal family name is Castillo.

Ángel Lafita Castillo (born 7 August 1984 in Zaragoza, Aragon) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Getafe CF in La Liga. Usually a winger, being comfortable on both sides of the pitch, he can also appear as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

A product of hometown Real Zaragoza's youth system, Lafita was promoted from its B-side after stellar performances during the 2004–05 season, making his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 28 August 2005 in a 0–0 draw at Atlético Madrid and becoming an important element in 2006–07, helping the Aragonese outfit to a berth in the UEFA Cup after contributing with 28 games and one goal, in a 2–0 away win against Racing de Santander on 10 December 2006.

In August 2007 Lafita was loaned to Deportivo de La Coruña,[1] which had an option to buy at the end of the season. After helping the Galicians reach the UEFA Intertoto Cup (with the subsequent UEFA Cup qualification), scoring three consecutive goals in February–March 2008,[2][3][4] the clause was activated in July, for €2 million.[5]

After being troubled with physical problems at the start of 2008–09,[6] Lafita returned to Depor in late October 2008, netting four times in his first seven games, including a brace against Real Betis in a 3–0 away success on 2 November.[7]

In July 2009 Zaragoza paid the sum requested to rebuy the player, but Deportivo did not compel, claiming both clubs had agreed on a higher fee (€3.5 million). Lafita still played the first match of the new campaign, a 2–3 loss at Real Madrid but, in September, the Professional Football League deemed him a Zaragoza player.[8]

Lafita started throughout most of 2010–11, but also spent one month on the sidelines with a knee injury.[9] On 30 April 2011 he scored twice in a 3–2 away win over Real Madrid (being also involved in the other goal as he was brought down in the box by Ricardo Carvalho, which resulted in a converted penalty),[10] as Zaragoza finally escaped relegation.

On 29 May 2012, after failing to negotiate a new contract, Lafita agreed to join Getafe CF on a four-year deal.[11][12]

Club statistics

Season Club Competition Apps Goals
2005/06ZaragozaSpain Spanish League130
2006/07ZaragozaSpain Spanish League281
2007/08DeportivoSpain Spanish League243
2008/09DeportivoSpain Spanish League328
Total 97 12

Personal

Football runs in Lafita's family: his uncle, Francisco Villarroya, played professionally for Real Madrid, Deportivo and Zaragoza, appearing with Spain at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy; his father Juan played 19 times with Zaragoza's first team in the late 70's/early 80's,[13] also representing CD Castellón, and younger brother Ignacio played for Zaragoza B as well as neighbours SD Huesca.

References

  1. ↑ "Transfer information". 7m.cn. Retrieved 8 June 2012. 
  2. ↑ Deportivo La Coruña 2–0 Espanyol; ESPN Soccernet, 24 February 2008
  3. ↑ Deportivo La Coruña 2–1 Sevilla FC; ESPN Soccernet, 1 March 2008
  4. ↑ Valencia 2–2 Deportivo La Coruña; ESPN Soccernet, 9 March 2008
  5. ↑ El Deportivo paga la opción de compra por Lafita (Deportivo pays buying option for Lafita); El Periódico de Aragón, 4 July 2008 (Spanish)
  6. ↑ Lafita ruled out of Depor's Croatia trip; UEFA.com, 15 August 2008
  7. ↑ Real Betis 0–3 Deportivo La Coruña; ESPN Soccernet, 2 November 2008
  8. ↑ Lafita vuelve al Real Zaragoza rodeado de polémica (Lafita returns to Real Zaragoza surrounded by controversy); Cadena COPE, 1 September 2009 (Spanish)
  9. ↑ Un mes sin Lafita (One month without Lafita); El Periódico de Aragón, 17 February 2011 (Spanish)
  10. ↑ Zaragoza end Real title dream; ESPN Soccernet, 30 April 2011
  11. ↑ El Getafe hace oficiales los fichajes de Abraham y Lafita (Getafe makes Abraham and Lafita's signings official); Marca, 29 May 2012 (Spanish)
  12. ↑ Getafe sign Ángel Lafita from Real Zaragoza; Footballcracy, 4 June 2012
  13. ↑ Juan Lafita at BDFutbol

External links

Getafe CF – current squad
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