Javier González Gómez

Javi González
Personal information
Full nameJavier González Gómez
Date of birth22 March 1974
Place of birthBarakaldo, Spain
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Youth career
1991–1993Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1993–1994Bilbao Athletic15(0)
1994–1995Alavés
1995–1996Sestao30(8)
1996–1997Celta24(1)
1997–2007Athletic Bilbao220(9)
2006→ Ashdod (loan)11(0)
2007–2009Hércules12(0)
2009–2011Portugalete
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is González and the second or maternal family name is Gómez.

Javier 'Javi' González Gómez (born 22 March 1974) is a Spanish retired footballer. Mainly a midfielder, he could operate on either side of the pitch.

He spent most of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao, competing in ten La Liga seasons and playing in 249 official games.

Football career

González was born in Barakaldo, Biscay. After growing through the ranks of Athletic de Bilbao, he played one season each with Basque neighbours Deportivo Alavés (in the third division) and Sestao Sport Club (second level, relegated).

In 1997–98, after one year with fellow La Liga team Celta de Vigo, González returned to the local giants as a full member of the main squad, scoring five goals in 30 games as Athletic finished second and qualified for the UEFA Champions League. He even featured in some contests as an offensive right back.

After a serious knee injury in late 2004,[1] González's role in Bilbao gradually diminished – only 26 league matches in three seasons combined – and he also played during six months with Israeli Premier League's F.C. Ashdod, in a January 2006 loan.

In July 2007 González joined division two club Hércules CF, appearing sparingly in his first season. In the next, in which the Alicante side finished fourth, he was left without a squad number by manager Juan Carlos Mandiá.[2][3]

Aged 35, González moved in August 2009 to lowly Club Portugalete, thus returning to his native region.[4] He retired after two seasons in the fourth division.

References

  1. ↑ González faces knee surgery; UEFA.com, 20 October 2004
  2. ↑ Javi González se une a la lista de descartes de Mandiá (Javi González joins Mandiá's transfer list); Diario AS, 10 August 2008 (Spanish)
  3. ↑ Javi González: «Me han roto todas las ilusiones en sólo una mañana» (Javi González: «They have shattered all my illusions in only one morning»); La Verdad, 11 August 2008 (Spanish)
  4. ↑ Javi González ficha por el Portugalete de Tercera (Javi González signs with Portugalete from Tercera); Marca, 21 August 2009 (Spanish)

External links