Javi Fuego

Javier "Javi" Fuego Martínez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxaβi ˈfweɣo]; born 4 January 1984) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Sporting de Gijón as a defensive midfielder.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Fuego and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.
Javi Fuego
Fuego as a Valencia player in 2015
Personal information
Full name Javier Fuego Martínez
Date of birth (1984-01-04) 4 January 1984
Place of birth Pola de Siero, Spain
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Sporting Gijón
Number 18
Youth career
Romanón
Sporting Gijón
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 Sporting B
2002–2007 Sporting Gijón 114 (4)
2007–2008 Levante 24 (1)
2008–2010 Recreativo 67 (6)
2010–2013 Rayo Vallecano 104 (1)
2013–2016 Valencia 88 (5)
2016–2018 Espanyol 48 (1)
2018–2019 Villarreal 16 (0)
2019– Sporting Gijón 0 (0)
National team
2002–2003 Spain U19 4 (0)
2003 Spain U20 1 (0)
2006 Spain U21 1 (0)
2005 Spain U23 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 May 2019

Club career

Early years / Recreativo

Fuego was born in Pola de Siero, Asturias. He started playing professional football for Sporting de Gijón, representing the local side during six second division seasons and being first-choice from 2004 to 2007.

In the 2007–08 campaign, Fuego joined La Liga strugglers Levante UD, but was one of many players to leave the squad upon relegation and serious financial problems. In August 2008, he signed a three-year deal worth €140.000 with Andalusia's Recreativo de Huelva,[1] appearing regularly as a starter during two years but being relegated from the top flight in his first.

Rayo Vallecano

For 2010–11, Fuego signed with second division's Rayo Vallecano, quickly establishing himself as first-choice for the Madrid club and helping it to a second-place finish and subsequent top level promotion. During his subsequent two-year spell in the top level he rarely missed a game, helping his team consecutively retain their division status.[2][3][4]

Valencia

In January 2013, months before the season was over, it was announced that Fuego would not renew his expiring contract with Rayo, agreeing to a three-year deal with fellow league club Valencia CF as of 1 July.[5] He made his official debut on 17 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Málaga CF.[6]

Fuego scored the first brace of his professional career on 23 March 2014, netting both of his team's goals in a 2–1 success over Villarreal CF also at the Mestalla Stadium.[7] On 1 April 2015, he renewed his link until 30 June 2017 with the option of a further season.[8]

Espanyol

On 13 August 2016, Fuego signed a three-year contract with RCD Espanyol.[9] He started in 29 of his 31 league appearances in his first season, scoring once[10] in an eventual eighth-place finish.

Villarreal

On 30 January 2018, aged 34, Fuego joined Villarreal on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[11] He featured rarely during his spell in the Valencian Community, due to injuries and a bacterial infection.[12][13]

Return to Sporting

Fuego returned to first club Sporting on 26 June 2019, after agreeing to a two-year contract.[14]

Honours

Spain U23

References
  1. El Recreativo ficha a Javi Fuego (Recreativo sign Javi Fuego); Marca, 12 August 2008 (in Spanish)
  2. Javi Fuego llega a los 100 partidos en Primera (Javi Fuego makes it 100 games in Primera); Marca, 10 November 2012 (in Spanish)
  3. Una ganga llamada Javi Fuego (A steal called Javi Fuego); Marca, 22 November 2012 (in Spanish)
  4. Adiós a Don Javi Fuego (Goodbye to Mr. Javi Fuego) Archived 2014-02-27 at the Wayback Machine; Rayo Herald, 30 May 2013 (in Spanish)
  5. Javi Fuego ficha por el Valencia CF (Javi Fuego signs for Valencia CF); Super Deporte, 10 January 2013 (in Spanish)
  6. Valencia edge victory; ESPN FC, 17 August 2013
  7. Valencia rediscover winning touch; ESPN FC, 23 March 2014
  8. Javi Fuego firma su renovación (Javi Fuego puts pen to paper on renewal); Levante-EMV, 1 April 2015 (in Spanish)
  9. "Javi Fuego es el séptimo" [Javi Fuego is the seventh one] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  10. "El alma de Reyes acaba con el Betis" [Reyes' heart finishes Betis] (in Spanish). Marca. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  11. "Oficial: Javi Fuego ya es futbolista del Villarreal" [Official: Javi Fuego is already a Villarreal player] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  12. "Javi Fuego está de vuelta siete meses después" [Javi Fuego returns seven months later] (in Spanish). Castellón Información. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  13. "Javi Fuego valora su salida con el Sporting en el horizonte" [Javi Fuego weighs in on his departure with Sporting on the horizon] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  14. "El Sporting cierra el fichaje de Javi Fuego" [Sporting complete signing of Javi Fuego] (in Spanish). El Comercio. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  15. "Mediterranean Games 2005 (Spain)". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
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