Sergio Asenjo

Sergio Asenjo Andrés (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈserxjo aˈseŋxo]; born 28 June 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Villarreal CF on loan from Atlético Madrid as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Born in Palencia, Castile and León, Asenjo began playing in Real Valladolid's junior teams, and soon emerged as one of the most talented players in the club. He started the 2007–08 season with the reserves in the third division, with the side having just barely avoided relegation the previous campaign; however, poor performances by both first-team goalkeepers, Ludovic Butelle and veteran Alberto, gave him a chance to make a debut in La Liga, and his first appearance was a successful one as he kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 home win over Villarreal CF on 2 December 2007.^[1]

Following solid displays where he conceded just one goal in his first five matches, Asenjo retained his starting job, becoming the youngest league goalkeeper that season. In January 2008 he signed his first professional contract, agreeing to extend his former youth link with Valladolid for another three years while also increasing his wage.

Asenjo eventually played in the remaining league games, retaining his position throughout the 2008–09 campaign. However, he also missed three months of action due to a knee injury.^[2]

On 8 July 2009 Asenjo transferred to Atlético Madrid for a fee of €5 million, signing a four-year deal.^[3] He started the season as first-choice but, after some costly mistakes – and a change of coach in November 2009 – lost his position to younger David de Gea.

On 8 May 2010, in one of his few appearances after being relegated to the bench, Asenjo suffered a serious knee injury which sidelined him until November. Late in the following month, after having found himself as third-choice with the Colchoneros, he was loaned to Málaga CF until the end of the season, with teammate Ignacio Camacho also making the move in a permanent deal.^[4]

On 6 February 2011, in the early minutes of a 0–0 draw at Sevilla FC, without being challenged, Asenjo suffered another injury in the same knee, being lost for the rest of the campaign.^[5][6]

International career

In 2006 Asenjo was selected to the Spanish under-17s, as they took home the bronze medal in the UEFA European Football Championship. He started in all of the matches except the third-place play-off.^[7]

Asenjo was again called up for the 2007 Under-19 European Championship: in the qualification rounds his role in the team was quite insignificant, but his status changed in the semifinal against France, replacing the injured starter and saving two penalties in the shootout, as the country progressed to the final,^[8] where he appeared against Greece with another excellent display for a 1–0 win.

Asenjo made his U-21 debut in August 2008, and was first-choice at the 2009 European Championships; he also played at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

Honours

Club

Atlético Madrid

• UEFA Europa League: 2009–10, 2011–12
• UEFA Super Cup: 2010, 2012
• Copa del Rey: 2012–13; Runner-up 2009–10

International

Spain U17

• UEFA U-17 Championship: Third-place 2006

Spain U19

• UEFA U-19 Championship: 2007

Club statistics

As of 6 June 2012

¹Including La Liga.

²Including Copa del Rey.

³Including UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

C.S. – Clean sheets.

References

External links

• Atlético Madrid official profile
• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)
• Sergio Asenjo – FIFA competition record
• Transfermarkt profile