Iago Aspas

Iago Aspas
Aspas with Spain at the 2018 World Cup
Personal information
Full name Iago Aspas Juncal[1]
Date of birth (1987-08-01) 1 August 1987
Place of birth Moaña, Spain
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Celta
Number 10
Youth career
Moaña
1995–2006 Celta
2004–2005 → Rápido Bouzas (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Celta B 84 (11)
2008–2013 Celta 139 (46)
2013–2015 Liverpool 14 (0)
2014–2015 → Sevilla (loan) 16 (2)
2015– Celta 107 (59)
National team‡
2016– Spain 15 (6)
2016– Galicia 1 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 October 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2018

Iago Aspas Juncal (Galician pronunciation: [iˈaɣo ˈaspas]; born 1 August 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for RC Celta de Vigo and the Spain national team.

He has spent most of his career with Celta, appearing in 279 official games over nine seasons and scoring 117 goals.[3] He made his La Liga debut with the club in 2012 and moved to Liverpool the following year, returning to Celta in 2015.

Aspas first appeared with the Spain senior team in 2016. He represented the country at the 2018 World Cup.

Club career

Celta

Aspas playing for Celta in 2012

Aspas was born in Moaña, Province of Pontevedra, Galicia. Brought through the youth ranks of local club RC Celta de Vigo, he made his first-team debuts in the 2007–08 season with the side in Segunda División,[4][5] then played his second game on 6 June 2009: brought on as a 59th-minute substitute against Deportivo Alavés, he scored both of his team's goals in a 2–1 home win, being essential as it eventually escaped relegation.[6] When he was 17, he was loaned to neighbouring Rápido de Bouzas, where he spent his penultimate year as a junior.[7]

Aspas was definitely promoted from the reserves for 2009–10, going on to appear in several more campaigns in the second tier with the Galicians. In the 2011–12 season, he netted a career-best 23 league goals, second-best in the competition behind UD Almería's Leonardo Ulloa[8] as Celta returned to La Liga after a five-year absence.[9] As a result of his performances, he was voted the best forward and Zarra Trophy winner for the category.[10]

Aspas made his top flight debut on 18 August 2012, starting in a 0–1 home loss against Málaga CF.[11] He scored his first goal in the competition the following month, contributing to a 2–0 win over CA Osasuna also at Balaídos,[12] and added a further 11 during the campaign to help the side escape relegation in the final matchday.[13][14]

On 15 March 2013, during the 1–3 Galician derby away loss to Deportivo de La Coruña, Aspas was sent off after half an hour for headbutting Carlos Marchena.[15]

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers instructing Aspas in August 2013

In May 2013, it was widely rumoured that a fee estimated between £7–9 million had been agreed for Aspas to join Liverpool, pending personal terms and a medical.[16][17][18] On 13 June, both clubs agreed to a deal in principle to sign the player subject to completion of documentation, but this was delayed when his former agent requested the Royal Spanish Football Federation withhold international clearance because of a dispute over his representation;[19][20][21] the deal was finally completed on 23 June, and he was given the number 9 shirt.[22]

Aspas made his Liverpool debut on 13 July 2013, scoring his first goal as well as assisting Raheem Sterling in a 4–0 pre-season friendly win against Preston North End.[23] He made his Premier League debut on 17 August, providing an assist for Daniel Sturridge in a 1–0 victory over Stoke City at Anfield.[24]

Aspas scored his first competitive goal for the Reds on 5 January 2014, in a 2–0 win over Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup.[25] During his spell, he played second-fiddle to Philippe Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge and Luis Suárez as the Reds went on to finish second;[26] he also struggled with his limited knowledge of the English language.[27]

Sevilla

On 14 July 2014, Aspas returned to his homeland, being loaned to Sevilla FC in a season-long move and with a permanent three-year deal as an subsequent obligatory option.[28][29] He made his competitive debut on 12 August in the 2014 UEFA Super Cup at the Cardiff City Stadium, replacing fellow debutant Aleix Vidal after 66 minutes of an eventual 0–2 defeat to Real Madrid.[30]

On 14 September 2014, Aspas appeared in the league for the first time, coming on for Carlos Bacca for the final seven minutes of a 2–0 home win against Getafe CF.[31] His first goal for his new club came on 2 October, as he opened the score in a 2–2 draw at HNK Rijeka for the UEFA Europa League group stage;[32] late in that month he played the full 90 minutes and grabbed a hat-trick against CE Sabadell FC, helping to a 6–1 away routing for the season's Copa del Rey,[33] adding another treble within a four-minute spell in the second leg for a 5–1 win.[34] He and FC Barcelona's Neymar were the tournament's top scorers, with seven goals each.[35]

Aspas' first league goal for Sevilla came on 1 February 2015, the winner in a 3–2 victory over RCD Espanyol. Earlier in the game, he had taken a shot which was handled by Kiko Casilla outside of the penalty area, resulting in the goalkeeper's dismissal.[36]

Return to Celta

Aspas in action for Celta in 2017

On 12 June 2015, Sevilla signed Aspas from Liverpool as part of the agreement between the two clubs, then sold him straight back to Celta on the same day,[37][38] with the player agreeing to a five-year contract six days later for a €5 million fee.[39][40] On 23 September, he scored twice in a 4–1 home win over Barcelona.[41]

Aspas was the La Liga Player of the Month for October 2016 after scoring five goals, including braces in a 4–1 win against Deportivo and a 3–3 draw with UD Las Palmas, in addition to a goal and assist in a 4–3 victory over reigning champions Barcelona.[42] The following 23 February he scored a last-minute penalty in the Europa League last-32 second leg to force extra time at FC Shakhtar Donetsk, with the Spaniards emerging victorious.[43]

On 21 May 2017, in the last matchday of the campaign, Aspas scored through a penalty in a 2–2 home draw against Real Sociedad, reaching a personal-best 19 goals and winning the Zarra Trophy in the process.[44][45]

International career

In December 2012 Aspas, along with Michu, was poised to be called up by manager Vicente del Bosque for a debut with the Spanish national team on 6 February 2013, in an exhibition game with Uruguay in Doha, Qatar.[46] However, neither made the final squad for that match.[47]

Aspas finally earned his first cap on 15 November 2016, under new coach Julen Lopetegui, replacing Juan Mata for the second half of the 2–2 friendly draw against England, being booked and scoring his side's first goal.[48] His competitive debut came on 24 March of the following year, as he played the last six minutes of the 4–1 home win over Israel for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[49]

Aspas was included in the 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Russia.[50] He made his debut in the competition on 15 June 2018, replacing Diego Costa, who had scored twice, for the final 14 minutes of the 3–3 group-stage draw against Portugal;[51] ten days later, having come on for the same player, he scored a last-minute equaliser with a backheel to help his team draw 2–2 against Morocco and reach the knockout phase as group champions.[52]

On 1 July 2018, again after having taken the place of Costa, Aspas was one of two Spanish players to miss his attempt in the round-of-16 penalty shootout against Russia, a 3–4 loss in Moscow.[53]

Personal life

Aspas' older brother, Jonathan, was also a footballer. He too came through Celta's youth system.[54][55] Their cousin, Aitor, represented smaller teams in their native region.[56]

Career statistics

Club

As of 26 September 2018[57][58]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celta B 2006–07 Segunda División B 21100—211
2007–08 32400—324
2008–09 31600—316
Total 841100—8411
Celta 2007–08 Segunda División 1000—10
2008–09 3200—32
2009–10 36571—436
2010–11 30411—315
2011–12 352332—3825
2012–13 La Liga 341230—3712
Total 13946144—15350
Liverpool 2013–14 Premier League 14011—151
Sevilla 2014–15 La Liga 162575[lower-alpha 1]12610
Celta 2015–16 La Liga 351454—4018
2016–17 32195212[lower-alpha 2]54926
2017–18 342231003723
2018–19 44000044
Total 1055913712513071
Career total 3581183319176408143
  1. ↑ One appearance in UEFA Super Cup, three appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  2. ↑ All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 11 October 2018[59]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 201611
201762
201883
Total156

International goals

As of 25 June 2018 (Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Aspas goal)[59]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 November 2016Wembley Stadium, London, England England1–22–2Friendly
2.5 September 2017Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein Liechtenstein5–08–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.7–0
4.27 March 2018Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain Argentina5–16–1Friendly
5.9 June 2018Krasnodar Stadium, Krasnodar, Russia Tunisia1–01–0
6.25 June 2018Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia Morocco2–22–22018 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Sevilla[57]

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Barclays Premier League squad numbers 2013/14". Premier League. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Iago Aspas". Goal. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Iago Aspas, la perla del Celta" [Iago Aspas, Celta's gem]. El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 8 January 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "U.D. Salamanca SAD – R.C. Celta de Vigo SAD" (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "El Salamanca se da una fiesta a costa del Celta" [Salamanca throw party at Celta's expense]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 9 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "El Celta sufre para lograr la permanencia y empuja al Alavés al borde del abismo" [Celta suffer to stay afloat and push Alavés to abyss]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "La sangre azul (celeste) de Iago Aspas" [Iago Aspas' (sky) blue blood] (in Spanish). Historias de Segunda. 1 June 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Iago Aspas (Celta) se sitúa a cuatro goles de Ulloa (Almería)" [Iago Aspas (Celta) four goals behind Ulloa (Almería)]. ABC (in Spanish). 27 May 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Iago Aspas, Oubiña y De Lucas, claves en el ascenso" [Iago Aspas, Oubiña and De Lucas, key to promotion] (in Spanish). Te Interesa. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "Iago Aspas y Álex López, galardonados como mejor delantero y centrocampista de la Liga Adelante" [Iago Aspas and Álex López, chosen best forward and midfielder in Liga Adelante]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 18 October 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Olinga makes history". ESPN FC. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  12. ↑ "First win for Celta". ESPN FC. 1 September 2012. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  13. ↑ "Aspas, goleador gallego tras 30 años" [Aspas, Galician scorer after 30 years]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 12 November 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Aspas recupera el olfato goleador" [Aspas regains scoring touch]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 26 February 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "Aspas se ganó la expulsión por un cabezazo a Marchena" [Aspas earned himself an expulsion for a headbutt on Marchena]. Marca (in Spanish). 15 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Liverpool sign Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas for £9m". The Daily Telegraph. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "Liverpool will complete Aspas deal by end of week". ESPN FC. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "Liverpool: Striker Iago Aspas joins from Celta Vigo". BBC Sport. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  19. ↑ "Reds agree Aspas deal in principle". Liverpool F.C. 13 June 2013. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  20. ↑ Garrido, Clemente (14 June 2013). "Aspas transfer to Liverpool delayed due to rift with ex-agent". Diario AS. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "El representante de Aspas denuncia al jugador y bloquea su tránsfer" [Aspas' agent files complaint against the player and blocks his transfer]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 14 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "Aspas completes Liverpool switch". Liverpool F.C. 23 June 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "Reds hit Preston for four – report". Liverpool F.C. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "Liverpool 1–0 Stoke". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  25. ↑ "Liverpool 2–0 Oldham". BBC Sport. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  26. ↑ Malam, Charlie (20 June 2015). "Iago Aspas and Liverpool: What went wrong?". Vavel. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  27. ↑ "Yes, Iago Aspas embarrassed Barcelona... but that doesn't mean Liverpool should have kept him". Eurosport. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  28. ↑ "Liverpool striker Iago Aspas to join Sevilla on season-long loan deal". BBC Sport. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  29. ↑ "El Sevilla ficha a Aspas hasta junio de 2018" [Sevilla sign Aspas until June 2018]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 15 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  30. ↑ Phillips, Rob (12 August 2014). "Super Cup: Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice in Real Madrid win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  31. ↑ "Sevilla 2–0 Getafe". Goal. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  32. ↑ "Rijeka 2–2 Sevilla: Mbia rescues a point for 10-man Rojiblancos". Goal. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  33. ↑ "El Sevilla engrasa la máquina" [Sevilla tune machine up]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  34. ↑ "Aspas abusa de un valiente Sabadell" [Aspas abuses valiant Sabadell]. Marca (in Spanish). 3 December 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  35. ↑ "Neymar iguala a Aspas como máximo artillero en Copa" [Neymar equals Aspas as top scorer in the Cup]. Marca (in Spanish). 30 May 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  36. ↑ "Iago Aspas' late winner gives Sevilla vengeful win against Espanyol". Fox Sports. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  37. ↑ "Report: Sevilla sell Iago Aspas straight back to Celta Vigo". This Is Anfield. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  38. ↑ "El regreso más esperado: Iago Aspas vuelve a su casa" [The most awaited return: Iago Aspas returns home] (in Spanish). Celta de Vigo. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  39. ↑ "Iago Aspas ya es jugador del Celta tras firmar su contrato" [Iago Aspas already is a Celta player after signing his contract] (in Spanish). Celta de Vigo. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  40. ↑ "Iago Aspas vuelve al Celta" [Iago Aspas returns to Celta]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). 15 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  41. ↑ "Iago Aspas scores twice as Celta Vigo give Barcelona shock thrashing". The Guardian. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  42. 1 2 "Iago Aspas named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for October". La Liga. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  43. ↑ "Épica celeste en Ucrania" [Sky blue epic in Ukraine] (in Spanish). UEFA. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  44. ↑ "Un empate para despedir a Berizzo" [A draw to say goodbye to Berizzo]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 22 May 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  45. 1 2 "El gol de la Liga tiene color celeste" [The League's goal is coloured sky blue]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 22 May 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  46. ↑ "Free-scoring Swansea star Michu promised Spain call-up for February friendly". Daily Mail. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  47. ↑ "Del Bosque: "De momento no encontramos sitio a Michu y Aspas"" [Del Bosque: "No place for Michu and Aspas at the moment"]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 February 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  48. ↑ "England 2–2 Spain". BBC Sport. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  49. ↑ "Spain 4–1 Israel". BBC Sport. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  50. ↑ "Morata misses out on Spain's 23-man World Cup squad". Goal. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  51. ↑ "Cristiano Ronaldo scores sensational hat-trick as Portugal hold Spain in instant World Cup classic". The Daily Telegraph. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  52. ↑ Kevin Draper (25 June 2018). "Spain advances despite draw against Morocco". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  53. ↑ "Russia reach last eight thanks to penalty shoot-out win over sorry Spain". Jersey Evening Post. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  54. ↑ "La saga moañesa del Celta" [Celta's Moaña saga]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 11 June 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  55. ↑ "Jonathan Aspas ve a Iago cerca del Valencia" [Jonathan Aspas sees Iago close to Valencia]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 26 March 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  56. ↑ "Aitor Aspas emula con el Coruxo el gol de Messi contra el Getafe" [Aitor Aspas emulates Messi's goal against Getafe with Coruxo]. Marca (in Spanish). 20 January 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  57. 1 2 "Iago Aspas". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  58. ↑ Iago Aspas at ESPN FC
  59. 1 2 "Iago Aspas". European Football. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  60. ↑ Carlos I. Castrillón (21 May 2018). "Las razones que han llevado a Iago Aspas al Mundial de Rusia 2018" [The reasons that took Iago Aspas to the 2018 Russia World Cup] (in Spanish). Metropolitano. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  61. ↑ "Los Óscars de la Liga" [The League's Oscars]. Marca (in Spanish). 15 March 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  62. ↑ "Ganadores de las cuatro ediciones de premios de la LFP" [Winners of the PFL awards' four editions]. ABC (in Spanish). 13 November 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
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