Wikiwand AI

Javier Portillo (Spanish footballer)

Spanish former footballer (born 1982) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Javier García Portillo (born 30 March 1982) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Full name Javier García Portillo[1]
Date of birth (1982-03-30) 30 March 1982 (age 44)[1]
Place of birth Aranjuez, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Quick facts Personal information, Full name ...
Javier Portillo
Portillo in 2003
Personal information
Full name Javier García Portillo[1]
Date of birth (1982-03-30) 30 March 1982 (age 44)[1]
Place of birth Aranjuez, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position Forward
Youth career
1994–2001 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Real Madrid B 23 (15)
2002–2006 Real Madrid 31 (6)
2004Fiorentina (loan) 11 (1)
2005–2006Club Brugge (loan) 24 (8)
2006–2007 Gimnàstic 34 (11)
2007–2009 Osasuna 40 (3)
2010–2011 Hércules 42 (6)
2011–2012 Las Palmas 34 (8)
2012–2015 Hércules 124 (36)
Total 363 (94)
International career
2002–2003 Spain U21 10 (5)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
Close

He started out at Real Madrid and appeared in 59 competitive games during his tenure, scoring 17 goals. In La Liga, he also played for Gimnàstic, Osasuna and Hércules for a total of 131 matches and 21 goals, and also competed professionally in Italy and Belgium.[2]

In a 14-year senior career, Portillo represented Hércules in all three major levels of Spanish football.

Club career

Portillo was born in Aranjuez, Community of Madrid. In 1994, aged 12, he entered Real Madrid's youth system. Over seven seasons he was a prolific scorer, netting 370 goals and breaking a record previously held by Raúl.[3] In August 2002, he signed his first professional contract, running until 2006 with a buyout clause of 15 million.[4]

On 6 October 2002, Portillo made his first La Liga appearance and second overall for the main squad, starting in a 5–2 home win over Alavés[5] and ending that season with five goals in only ten games. He also scored a vital last-minute equaliser against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League second group phase, a goal which ultimately proved to be crucial to reach the knockout stages.[6]

Portillo was loaned to Serie A side Fiorentina in July 2004, but was recalled by new manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who arrived midway through the 2004–05 campaign.[7] However, the same coach deemed him surplus to requirements and another loan ensued, to Club Brugge of the Belgian Pro League.[8]

At the end of this loan period, Portillo returned to Real under newly hired coach Fabio Capello. With new signing Ruud van Nistelrooy adding to already present Raúl, Antonio Cassano and Ronaldo, he was released and signed a two-year contract with recently promoted Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[9]

After a successful individual season (12 goals in all competitions, although the Catalans were relegated from the top flight),[10] in July 2007 Portillo replaced at Osasuna Roberto Soldado, who returned from loan to Real Madrid.[11] He was used irregularly in his first two years, and only netted three times in the league.

In late December 2009, Portillo – who was only fourth or fifth-choice striker for Osasuna coach José Antonio Camacho[12]– finally moved clubs, signing until the end of the season plus two more with Segunda División's Hércules. After some time to adjust he finished in the starting XI, netting vital goals in the final stretch, including one in the last round for a 2–0 victory at Real Unión as the Alicante side returned to the first division after 13 years.[13]

Portillo returned to reserve status in 2010–11, after Hércules signed David Trezeguet and Nelson Valdez in the off-season.[14] He only started through injury or suspension to the pair, and scored just twice in official matches, one coming in a 3–1 away defeat of Real Sociedad on 3 April 2011,[15] with Hércules being immediately relegated.

On 2 August 2011, Portillo signed for three years with Las Palmas in the second tier.[16] For the 2012–13 season, however, he moved teams again, returning to Hércules on a three-year deal.[17]

In late December 2015, Portillo announced his retirement at the age of 33.[18] Subsequently, he worked as his last club's director of football.[19]

International career

Making his debut in 2002 – shortly after his arrival at the Real Madrid senior setup – Portillo played ten times for Spain under-21s, and scored five goals.[20][21][22]

Career statistics

More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[23][24]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Madrid 2001–02[25] La Liga 00001111
2002–03[25] 10568711[a]02414
2003–04[25] 18171401[b]0302
2004–05[25] 30100040
total 316149122205917
Real Madrid B 2001–02[25] Segunda División B 2315002315
Fiorentina (loan) 2004–05[26] Serie A 1117300184
Club Brugge (loan) 2005–06[26] Belgian Pro League 24800833211
Gimnàstic 2006–07[25] La Liga 341121003612
Osasuna 2007–08[25] La Liga 1822000202
2008–09[25] 2012000221
2009–10[25] 20100030
total 403500000453
Hércules 2009–10[25] Segunda División 1652000186
2010–11[25] La Liga 2612100282
total 426410000467
Las Palmas 2011–12[25] Segunda División 3481000358
Hércules 2012–13[25] Segunda División 401710004117
2013–14[25] 381000003810
2014–15[25] Segunda División B 33911003410
2015–16[25] 1301000140
total 1243631000012737
Career total 36394361520520421114
Close
  1. Appearance in UEFA Super Cup

Honours

References

Related Articles