Alexandre Geijo
Encyclopedia
Alexandre "Álex" Geijo Pazos (born 5 September 1982) is a Swiss
-born Spanish
footballer who plays for Granada CF
on loan from Udinese Calcio
in the Italian first division
, as a striker.
who immigrated to Switzerland
, Geijo was born in Geneva
. He started his professional career in his country of birth, with Neuchâtel Xamax
, moving the following season to Spain
, where he began playing with Málaga CF
, with little individual success (15 matches in three seasons, playing mostly for the B team
), and being released in the 2005 summer.
For the next two years, Geijo played in the second level
, with another Andalusia
outfit, Xerez CD
, where he blossomed as a useful striker, with 13 goals in his first season
. In 2007–08, he joined Levante UD
. In a team severely hindered by financial problems, and eventually relegated from La Liga
, he finished the season as the side's second goal scorer at five, behind Mustapha Riga (eight).
Geijo started his second year strong, netting ten second division
goals before the end of 2008. However, he missed the remainder of the campaign due to a serious fibula injury, after an awkward fall in a training session.
On 28 July 2009, Geijo joined Racing de Santander
for four years. Still recovering from injury, he nonetheless completed a successful medical.
Geijo's first goal only arrived on 24 January 2010, but it was a crucial one, as the Cantabria
ns beat Sporting de Gijón
away, by a single goal. However, on 1 February, he signed with Udinese Calcio
in Italy
, rejoining former Levante coach Gianni De Biasi
.
In the 2010 summer, inserted in a partnership between Granada CF
and Udinese, Geijo was loaned to the Andalusia
ns by the Italians
, in a season
-long move. On 30 October, he put three past former team Xerez, in a 5–0 home win; on 13 November, he scored all of his team's goals, in a 4–1 home defeat of FC Barcelona B
. He finished the campaign with 24 goals (fourth-best in the competition), and his team achieved a second consecutive promotion, reaching the top level after 35 years.
Geijo started 2011–12
injured, with Granada languishing in the table's bottom three for most of the first months. On 31 October 2011, he scored his first goal of the season, equalizing in an eventual 2–1 away win against Sevilla FC
, in a local derby
.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
-born Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Granada CF
Granada CF
Granada Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 14 April 1931, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes....
on loan from Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
in the Italian first division
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
, as a striker.
Football career
The son of SpaniardsSpanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
who immigrated to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Geijo was born in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. He started his professional career in his country of birth, with Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club is a Swiss football club, based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between FC Cantonal and FC Xamax . The club plays in red shirts, black shorts and red socks and are currently in the Axpo Super League, the highest Swiss football league. They play...
, moving the following season to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where he began playing with Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
, with little individual success (15 matches in three seasons, playing mostly for the B team
Atlético Malagueño
Atlético Malagueño, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1990, it is the reserve team of Málaga CF, and currently plays in Tercera División - Group 9....
), and being released in the 2005 summer.
For the next two years, Geijo played in the second level
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, with another Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
outfit, Xerez CD
Xerez CD
Xerez Club Deportivo, S.A.D., usually just Xerez, is a Spanish football team based in Jerez de la Frontera, Province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia...
, where he blossomed as a useful striker, with 13 goals in his first season
2005–06 Segunda División
-Classification 2005–06:-Relegated to Segunda División B:* UE Lleida -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 3* Ferrol -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 1* Eibar -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 4...
. In 2007–08, he joined Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
. In a team severely hindered by financial problems, and eventually relegated from La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, he finished the season as the side's second goal scorer at five, behind Mustapha Riga (eight).
Geijo started his second year strong, netting ten second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
goals before the end of 2008. However, he missed the remainder of the campaign due to a serious fibula injury, after an awkward fall in a training session.
On 28 July 2009, Geijo joined Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
for four years. Still recovering from injury, he nonetheless completed a successful medical.
Geijo's first goal only arrived on 24 January 2010, but it was a crucial one, as the Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
ns beat Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
away, by a single goal. However, on 1 February, he signed with Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, rejoining former Levante coach Gianni De Biasi
Gianni De Biasi
Gianni De Biasi is an Italian football coach and former player, who last served as head coach of Udinese.-Playing career:...
.
In the 2010 summer, inserted in a partnership between Granada CF
Granada CF
Granada Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 14 April 1931, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes....
and Udinese, Geijo was loaned to the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns by the Italians
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in a season
2010–11 Segunda División
-Personnel and sponsorship:-Managerial changes:-League table:||style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=11 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-Positions by round:Source: -Results:...
-long move. On 30 October, he put three past former team Xerez, in a 5–0 home win; on 13 November, he scored all of his team's goals, in a 4–1 home defeat of FC Barcelona B
FC Barcelona B
Futbol Club Barcelona B is a Spanish football team. They are the reserve team of FC Barcelona. Reserve teams in the Spanish football league system play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their...
. He finished the campaign with 24 goals (fourth-best in the competition), and his team achieved a second consecutive promotion, reaching the top level after 35 years.
Geijo started 2011–12
2011–12 La Liga
The 2011–12 La Liga season is the 81st since its establishment. Barcelona are the defending champions, having won their 21st La Liga title in the previous season for the third time in a row. The campaign began on 27 August 2011, and will end on 13 May 2012...
injured, with Granada languishing in the table's bottom three for most of the first months. On 31 October 2011, he scored his first goal of the season, equalizing in an eventual 2–1 away win against Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
, in a local derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
.