David Català
Spanish footballer (born 1980)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Català Jiménez (born 3 May 1980) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who played as a central defender. He was recently the head coach of Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.
|
Català as a Celta player in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Català Jiménez[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 3 May 1980[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Barcelona, Spain[1] | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Espanyol | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2003 | Espanyol B | 102 | (3) |
| 2000–2003 | Espanyol | 7 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Xerez | 36 | (3) |
| 2004–2005 | Lleida | 37 | (3) |
| 2005–2006 | Albacete | 16 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Lorca Deportiva | 26 | (1) |
| 2007–2009 | Salamanca | 82 | (3) |
| 2009–2012 | Celta | 77 | (5) |
| 2012–2019 | AEK Larnaca | 204 | (18) |
| Total | 587 | (36) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2021–2022 | AEK Larnaca | ||
| 2022 | Apollon Limassol | ||
| 2023–2024 | Istra 1961 | ||
| 2024–2025 | Sabadell | ||
| 2025–2026 | Kerala Blasters | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
After beginning his career at Espanyol, he spent most of it in the Segunda División, representing six teams over nine seasons, mostly Salamanca and Celta. He totalled 274 games and 15 goals in that tier.
Català retired following a seven-year spell at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, where he began his managerial career.
Playing career
Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Català began his career at hometown club RCD Espanyol. He made his senior debut on 16 May 1999, playing the entirety of the reserves' 3–0 home win over Palamós CF in the Segunda División B. He first appeared in La Liga with the first team the following 6 May, as a 43rd-minute substitute for Cristóbal in a 2–0 away loss against CD Numancia.[2]
After leaving for Xerez CD of Segunda División in 2003, Català spent each of the next four seasons at a different team in that level, culminating in Lorca Deportiva CF's relegation in 2007.[3][4] He stayed for five years in the same league, with UD Salamanca and RC Celta de Vigo; he was recommended to the latter by Miguel Torrecilla, the sporting director who made the same move earlier, and was the second player to be acquired that window after Cristian Bustos, agreeing to a three-year deal on 23 June 2009.[5]
Català scored in the Galician derby on 15 April 2012 seven minutes after entering in place of Hugo Mallo, albeit in a 3–2 loss to Deportivo de La Coruña at Balaídos.[6] The campaign nonetheless ended in top-flight promotion, with him contributing 18 games and two goals to the feat.[7]
On 28 July 2012, after recently signing a new contract, Català rescinded it and moved abroad for the first time, signing a three-year deal at AEK Larnaca FC of the Cypriot First Division.[8] He helped the side win the 2017–18 Cypriot Cup at the age of 38,[9] and retired the following year.[10]
Coaching career
Català was appointed manager of his last club in May 2021, replacing Sofronis Avgousti on a two-year contract.[11][12] He was dismissed on 23 March 2022.[13]
On 12 August 2022, Català continued in the same league by signing a one-year deal with Apollon Limassol FC.[14] He was sacked three months later.[15]
On 14 August 2023, Català was hired at NK Istra 1961 of the Croatian Football League, for one season with the option of a further year; he took over from Mislav Karoglan, who had taken one point from three games.[16] He was relieved of his duties the following 7 February, with five wins from 19 matches.[17]
Català was appointed at CE Sabadell FC in Spain's Segunda Federación on 10 June 2024, on a one-year contract.[18] He was dismissed on 12 January 2025, after seven games without a win.[19][20]
On 25 March 2025, Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters FC announced the appointment of Català on a one-year deal.[21] He made his debut on 20 April, achieving a 2–0 win over defending champions East Bengal FC in the Super Cup.[22]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Espanyol | 1999–2000 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Xerez | 2003–04 | Segunda División | 36 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 38 | 3 | |
| Lleida | 2004–05 | Segunda División | 37 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 39 | 3 | |
| Albacete | 2005–06 | Segunda División | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | |
| Lorca Deportiva | 2006–07 | Segunda División | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | |
| Salamanca | 2007–08 | Segunda División | 42 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 43 | 3 | |
| 2008–09 | Segunda División | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 42 | 0 | ||
| Salamanca Total | 82 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 85 | 3 | |||
| Celta | 2009–10 | Segunda División | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | |
| 2010–11 | Segunda División | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 39 | 2 | |
| 2011–12 | Segunda División | 18 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 22 | 2 | ||
| Total | 77 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 5 | ||
| AEK Larnaca | 2012–13 | Cypriot First Division | 28 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 33 | 1 | |
| 2013–14 | Cypriot First Division | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 33 | 2 | ||
| 2014–15 | Cypriot First Division | 30 | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | 36 | 5 | ||
| 2015–16 | Cypriot First Division | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 95 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 111 | 8 | ||
| Career total | 370 | 21 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 400 | 22 | ||
- Appearance in La Liga play-offs
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 21 March 2026
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| AEK Larnaca |  |
21 May 2021 | 21 March 2022 | 29 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 50 | 25 | +25 | 44.83 | [24] |
| Apollon Limassol | |
13 August 2022 | 9 November 2022 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 33.33 | [25] |
| Istra 1961 |  |
13 August 2023 | 7 February 2024 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 27 | −10 | 26.32 | [26] |
| Sabadell |  |
10 June 2024 | 12 January 2025 | 23 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 31 | 20 | +11 | 39.13 | [27][28] |
| Kerala Blasters |  |
25 March 2025 | 21 March 2026 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 22.22 | [29] |
| Total | 98 | 35 | 34 | 29 | 125 | 93 | +32 | 35.71 | — | |||
Honours
Player
AEK Larnaca