Iago Aspas
 Aspas training with Celta in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Iago Aspas Juncal[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 August 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Moaña, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Liverpool | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Moaña | |||
| 1995–2006 | Celta | ||
| 2004–2005 | → Rápido Bouzas (loan) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2006–2009 | Celta B | 84 | (11) |
| 2008–2013 | Celta | 136 | (46) |
| 2013– | Liverpool | 10 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 January 2014. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Iago Aspas Juncal (Galician pronunciation: [iˈaɣo ˈaspas]; born 1 August 1987) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Premier League club Liverpool as a forward.
He spent most of his career with Celta de Vigo, appearing in 153 official games over the course of six seasons and scoring 50 goals.[2] He made his La Liga debut with the club in 2012, and moved to Liverpool the following year.
Club career
Celta
Aspas was born in Moaña, Pontevedra. Brought through the youth ranks of local club Celta de Vigo, he made his first-team debuts in the 2007–08 season with the side in Segunda División,[3][4] then played his second game on 6 June 2009: brought on as a 59th-minute substitute against Alavés he scored both of his team's goals in a 2–1 home win, being essential as it eventually escaped relegation.[5] When he was 17 he was loaned to neighbouring Rápido de Bouzas, where he spent his penultimate year as a junior.[6]
Aspas was definitely promoted from the reserves for 2009–10, going on to appear in several more campaigns in the second tier with the Galicians. In the 2011–12 season he netted a career-best 23 league goals, second-best in the competition behind Almería's Leonardo Ulloa,[7] as Celta returned to La Liga after a five-year absence.[8] As a result of his performances, he was voted the best forward and Zarra Trophy winner for the category.[9]
Aspas made his top flight debut on 18 August 2012, starting in a 0–1 home loss against Málaga.[10] He scored his first goal in the competition the following month, contributing to a 2–0 win over Osasuna also at Balaídos,[11] and added a further 11 during the campaign to help Celta escape relegation in the final matchday.[12][13] .
Liverpool
In May 2013, it was widely rumoured that a fee from £7.7m had been agreed for Aspas to join Premier League club Liverpool, pending personal terms and a medical.[14][15] On 13 June both teams agreed a deal in principle to sign the player, subject to completion of documentation, but this was delayed when his former agent requested the Royal Spanish Football Federation withheld international clearance because of a dispute over his representation;[16][17][18] the deal was finally completed on 23 June, and he was awarded the number 9 shirt.[19]
On 13 July Aspas made his Liverpool debut, scoring his first goal as well as assisting Raheem Sterling in a 4–0 pre-season friendly win against Preston North End.[20] He made his league debut on 17 August, providing an assist for Daniel Sturridge in a 1–0 victory over Stoke City at Anfield.[21] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup on 5 January 2014.[22]
Honours
Individual
- Zarra Trophy (Segunda División): 2011–12
- Best Forward (Segunda División): 2011–12
Club statistics
- As of 5 January 2014[23]
| League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 2006–07 | Celta B | Segunda División B | 21 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 21 | 1 |
| 2007–08 | 32 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 32 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09 | 31 | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 31 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | Celta | Segunda División | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| 2008–09 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | 36 | 5 | 7 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 43 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 29 | 5 | ||
| 2011–12 | 35 | 23 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 38 | 25 | ||
| 2012–13 | La Liga | 34 | 12 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 37 | 12 | |
| Total | Spain | 221 | 57 | 14 | 4 | – | – | – | – | 235 | 61 | |
| 2013–14 | Liverpool | Premier League | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Total | England | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| Career total | 231 | 57 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 246 | 62 | ||
Personal
Aspas' older brother, Jonathan, is also a footballer. He too came through Celta's youth system.[24][25]
References
- ↑ "Barclays Premier League squad numbers 2013/14". Premier League. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ↑ "Iago Aspas, la perla del Celta" [Iago Aspas, Celta's gem]. El Periódico (in Spanish). 8 January 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ↑ "U.D. Salamanca SAD – R.C. Celta de Vigo SAD" (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ↑ "El Salamanca se da una fiesta a costa del Celta" [Salamanca throws party at Celta's expense]. El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 9 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ↑ "El Celta sufre para lograr la permanencia y empuja al Alavés al borde del abismo" [Celta suffers to stay afloat and pushes Alavés to abyss]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ↑ "La sangre azul (celeste) de Iago Aspas" [Iago Aspas' (sky) blue blood] (in Spanish). Historias de Segunda. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ↑ "Iago Aspas (Celta) se sitúa a cuatro goles de Ulloa (Almería)" [Iago Aspas (Celta) four goals behind Ulloa (Almería)]. ABC (in Spanish). 27 May 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ↑ "Iago Aspas, Oubiña y De Lucas, claves en el ascenso" [Iago Aspas, Oubiña and De Lucas, key to promotion] (in Spanish). Te Interesa. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ↑ "Iago Aspas y Álex López, galardonados como mejor delantero y centrocampista de la Liga Adelante" [Iago Aspas and Álex López, chosen best forward and midfielder in Liga Adelante]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 18 October 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ↑ "Olinga makes history". ESPN FC. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ↑ "First win for Celta". ESPN FC. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ↑ "Aspas, goleador gallego tras 30 años" [Aspas, Galician scorer after 30 years]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 12 November 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ↑ "Aspas recupera el olfato goleador" [Aspas regains scoring touch]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 26 February 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ↑ "Liverpool sign Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas for £9m". The Daily Telegraph. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ↑ "Liverpool will complete Aspas deal by end of week". ESPN FC. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ↑ "Reds agree Aspas deal in principle". Liverpool F.C. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ↑ Garrido, Clemente (14 June 2013). "Aspas transfer to Liverpool delayed due to rift with ex-agent". Diario AS. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ↑ "El representante de Aspas denuncia al jugador y bloquea su tránsfer" [Aspas' agent files complaint against the player and blocks his transfer]. El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). EFE. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ↑ "Aspas completes Liverpool switch". Liverpool FC. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
- ↑ "Reds hit Preston for four – report". Liverpool FC. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ↑ "Liverpool 1–0 Stoke". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ↑ "Liverpool 2-0 Oldham". BBC. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ↑ Iago Aspas at ESPN FC
- ↑ "La saga moañesa del Celta" [Celta's Moaña saga]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 11 June 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ↑ "Jonathan Aspas ve a Iago cerca del Valencia" [Jonathan Aspas sees Iago close to Valencia]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 26 March 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
External links
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