Cala (footballer, born 1989)

For the midfielder, see Cala (footballer, born 1990).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Torres and the second or maternal family name is Ruiz.
Cala

Cala playing for AEK in 2011
Personal information
Full nameJuan Torres Ruiz
Date of birth26 November 1989
Place of birthLebrija, Spain
Height1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionCentre back
Club information
Current team
Granada
Number19
Youth career
Antoniano
2000–2008Sevilla
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2010Sevilla B34(1)
2010–2014Sevilla32(5)
2010–2011→ Cartagena (loan)25(3)
2011–2012→ AEK Athens (loan)21(1)
2014Cardiff City8(2)
2015–Granada6(0)
National team
2008Spain U191(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 1 May 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Juan Torres Ruiz (born 26 November 1989), commonly known as Cala, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Granada CF as a central defender.

Club career

Sevilla

Cala in action for Sevilla in 2013

Born in Lebrija, Seville, Andalusia, Cala finished his football formation at local giants Sevilla FC, making his professional debuts in the 2007–08 season for the reserve squad, Sevilla Atlético, which competed in Segunda División. On 9 December 2009 he made his first official appearance with the first team, playing 90 minutes against Rangers for the UEFA Champions League, in a 1–0 group stage home win.[1]

Cala would first appear in La Liga on 7 February 2010, again playing the entire game but now suffering a 1–2 loss at Real Zaragoza.[2] In a streak that started on 10 April at Málaga CF, he scored in three consecutive matches (two wins and one loss), which was a club record for a defender.[3][4][5]

For the 2010–11 campaign Cala was loaned to FC Cartagena.[6] He was regularly used by the second level team during his spell, making his official debut on 11 September in a 5–1 home success over FC Barcelona B and finding the net in the game.[7]

On 5 July 2011, Cala signed a one-year loan deal with AEK Athens FC.[8] At the Greek side he reunited with former Sevilla boss – main squad and reserves – Manuel Jiménez, as well as teammate José Carlos.[9]

In late January 2012 Cala was recalled by Sevilla, as a replacement for Juventus FC-bound Martín Cáceres. AEK received €60,000 in compensation.[10]

Cardiff City

On 7 February 2014 Cala signed for Premier League club Cardiff City on a two-and-a-half year contract, after terminating his link with Sevilla.[11] He made his debut for his new team eight days later, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–2 home loss against Wigan Athletic for the round-of-16 of the FA Cup;[12] his maiden appearance in the league took place on the 22nd, but in another defeat at the Cardiff City Stadium, now at the hands of Hull City (0–4).

Cala scored his first goal for the Bluebirds on 15 March 2014, but in a 1–2 loss at Everton.[13] His second came in an away triumph over Southampton on 12 April, as he hit from long range for the game's only goal;[14] fifteen days later he was sent off for the first time in his Cardiff career, during a 0–4 away defeat to Sunderland.[15]

Cala was released with immediate effect from his Cardiff contract on 3 December 2014, having only made one appearance in the Championship that season. He had previously complained via Twitter for being sent to train with the club's academy.[16]

Granada

After being strongly linked to Getafe CF, Cala signed a six-month contract with fellow league team Granada CF on 28 January 2015.[17]

Club statistics

As of 16 April 2015[18]
Club Season League League Cup League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sevilla B2007–08Segunda División5000000050
2008–09110000000110
Sevilla2009–10La Liga5320001080
Cartagena (loan)2010–11Segunda División254100000264
AEK Athens (loan)2011–12Superleague Greece131200060211
Sevilla2011–12La Liga81000000141
2012–13100310000131
2013–1491200080191
Total 485710090643
Cardiff City2013–14Premier League7210000082
2014–15Championship1000200030
Total 82102000112
Granada2014–15La Liga3000000030
Total 3000000030
Career Total 97121112015012513

Honours

Sevilla

References

  1. ↑ Gers' dismal campaign ends badly; ESPN Soccernet, 9 December 2009
  2. ↑ Zaragoza edge tempestuous clash; ESPN Soccernet, 7 February 2010
  3. ↑ Sevilla claim derby honours; ESPN Soccernet, 10 April 2010
  4. ↑ Valladolid boost survival hopes; ESPN Soccernet, 13 April 2010
  5. ↑ Nine-man Gijon thrashed; ESPN Soccernet, 17 April 2010
  6. ↑ Cala se va cedido al Cartagena (Cala goes on loan to Cartagena); Sevilla's official website, 31 August 2010 (Spanish)
  7. ↑ Betis y Rayo Vallecano siguen marcando el ritmo (Betis and Rayo Vallecano still in front); La Verdad, 11 September 2010 (Spanish)
  8. ↑ Announcement; AEK's official website, 5 July 2011
  9. ↑ El AEK de Atenas ficha a José Carlos y Juan Cala (AEK Athens signs José Carlos and Juan Cala); Diario AS, 5 July 2011 (Spanish)
  10. ↑ Cala vuelve al Sevilla para sustituir a Martín Cáceres (Cala returns to Sevilla to replace Martín Cáceres); Diario AS, 27 January 2012 (Spanish)
  11. ↑ "Deal done: Cala is a Bluebird". Cardiff City F.C. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "Cardiff 1–2 Wigan". BBC Sport. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  13. ↑ "Everton 2–1 Cardiff". BBC Sport. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  14. ↑ "Southampton 0–1 Cardiff". BBC Sport. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Sunderland 4–0 Cardiff". BBC Sport. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "Cardiff City: Juan Cala leaves Bluebirds". BBC Sport. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "Juan Cala, quinto refuerzo del Granada CF en el mercado de invierno" [Juan Cala, fifth addition of Granada CF in the winter transfer window] (in Spanish). Granada's official website. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "Juan Cala". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 May 2015.

External links