Javi Guerrero

Francisco Javier 'Javi' García Guerrero (born 22 October 1976) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a striker.

Not to be confused with Javi Guerra.
This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is García and the second or maternal family name is Guerrero.
Javi Guerrero
Guerrero training with Las Palmas in 2009
Personal information
Full name Francisco Javier García Guerrero
Date of birth (1976-10-22) 22 October 1976
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Youth career
Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1996 Real Madrid C 29 (21)
1996–1999 Real Madrid B 52 (12)
1997 → Jaén (loan) 6 (0)
1998 → Terrassa (loan) 6 (2)
1999–2001 Albacete 67 (20)
2001 Atlético Madrid 0 (0)
2001–2005 Racing Santander 133 (44)
2005–2007 Celta 20 (0)
2006–2007 → Recreativo (loan) 23 (7)
2007–2009 Recreativo 49 (7)
2009–2013 Las Palmas 123 (36)
Total 508 (149)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He amassed La Liga totals of 195 games and 48 goals over seven seasons, mainly in the representation of Racing de Santander and Recreativo (three years apiece). He added 251 matches and 72 goals in Segunda División, in a professional career which lasted 18 years.

Football career

Guerrero was born in Madrid. An unsuccessful youth graduate at Real Madrid, he also had loan stints with Real Jaén and Terrassa FC – respectively in the second and third divisions – before being released in the 1999 summer, after which he signed with Albacete Balompié in the former tier, scoring 20 league goals in two seasons combined.

In the 2001–02 campaign, Guerrero helped Racing de Santander achieve La Liga promotion, going on to establish as first-choice for the Cantabria club in the subsequent years and netting an average of 11 goals per season.[1] For 2005–06 he joined RC Celta de Vigo, although he would appear sparingly as the Galician team qualified to the UEFA Cup.

Guerrero moved in July 2006 to Recreativo de Huelva (initially on loan), making the move permanent for the 2007–08 season. On 18 May 2008, his last-minute goal in a 1–1 home game against Real Valladolid helped the Andalusians retain their top flight status.[2]

After a weak 2008–09 campaign (only two goals, team relegation), the 32-year-old Guerrero returned to the second level, signing a two-year deal with UD Las Palmas and being the Canary Islands side's top scorer in his first two seasons at 11 and 12 respectively.[3][4] In spite of still having one year left in his contract, he retired at the end of 2012–13 with Las Palmas still in division two, aged nearly 37.

Guerrero remained attached to his last club, as a match scout.[5]

References
  1. Goles sefardíes para el Racing (Sephardi goals for Racing); El País, 26 April 2005 (in Spanish)
  2. Recreativo Huelva 1–1 Valladolid; ESPN Soccernet, 18 May 2008
  3. Javi Guerrero recuperó su olfato goleador y la alegría (Javi Guerrero regained scoring touch and joy); Marca, 12 May 2010 (in Spanish)
  4. El último Guerrero (The last Warrior ("Guerrero" in English)); Vavel, 19 December 2012 (in Spanish)
  5. ´Me retiro como siempre soñé, sin arrastrarme por el terreno de juego´ (´I retire as i always dreamed of, without dragging myself on the pitch´); La Provincia, 21 June 2013 (in Spanish)
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