Francesc Arnau
Encyclopedia
Francesc Xavier Arnau Grabulosa (born 23 May 1975 in Les Planes, Girona, Catalonia
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
In a 16-year professional career, he only played for FC Barcelona
and Málaga CF
, appearing in 126 La Liga
games over the course of 12 seasons.
powerhouse FC Barcelona
, made his first-team debuts in 1996–97, in a 3–3 home draw against Atlético de Madrid, on November 9, 1996. During five seasons, he played second-fiddle to Ruud Hesp
and Pepe Reina, while also registered with the B side
.
In 2001–02, Arnau moved to Málaga CF
for €
2.1 million, also being second-choice until the departure of Pedro Contreras
to Real Betis
, in 2003. He would eventually become club captain, but lost his job in 2007–08 in the second division
, to Iñaki Goitia
.
In the 2009 summer, Goitia was sold to Real Betis
, but Málaga also acquired Gustavo Munúa
and Roberto Santamaría
, so Arnau was demoted to as low as third-choice for 2009–10
, eventually finishing backup to the Uruguay
an, even though he did not make one single official appearance.
After Munúa's departure, Arnau played the first game of the 2010–11 season
, a 1–3 home loss against Valencia CF
, as Rodrigo Galatto was not yet eligible. He continued appearing regularly for the club in the following weeks, after the Brazil
ian performed poorly and another new signing, Rubén
, went down with an injury.
On 21 May 2011, Arnau played his last game as a professional, replacing Wilfredo Caballero
in the last minutes of a 1–3 home defeat against his first club Barcelona, with Málaga finally retaining its top division status. After retiring at the age of 36, he continued working with his last team, as a youth coach, alongside former club teammate Salva.
at the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
, being named the tournament's MVP, as Spain emerged victorious.
Málaga
Spain U21
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
) is a retired 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 played as a goalkeeper.
In a 16-year professional career, he only played for FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
and 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...
, appearing in 126 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...
games over the course of 12 seasons.
Club career
Arnau, a youth graduate from La LigaLa 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...
powerhouse FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, made his first-team debuts in 1996–97, in a 3–3 home draw against Atlético de Madrid, on November 9, 1996. During five seasons, he played second-fiddle to Ruud Hesp
Ruud Hesp
Rudolfus 'Ruud' Hubertus Hesp is a retired Dutch footballer, who played as a goalkeeper. After his active career, he started working as a keeper trainer. Currently he works at FC Groningen and for the Dutch national team.-Club career:Hesp started his career in the 1985–86 season at HFC Haarlem...
and Pepe Reina, while also registered with the B side
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...
.
In 2001–02, Arnau moved to 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...
for €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
2.1 million, also being second-choice until the departure of Pedro Contreras
Pedro Contreras
Pedro Contreras González, nicknamed El Koke , is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Club career:...
to Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, in 2003. He would eventually become club captain, but lost his job in 2007–08 in the 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:...
, to Iñaki Goitia
Iñaki Goitia Peña
Iñaki Goitia Peña is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Betis as a goalkeeper.-Football career:Goitia was born in Barakaldo, Biscay. After starting with modest outfits in the Basque region, he moved in 2003–04 to Málaga CF, spending his first two seasons with its B side, by then in the second...
.
In the 2009 summer, Goitia was sold to Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, but Málaga also acquired Gustavo Munúa
Gustavo Munúa
Gustavo Adolfo Munúa Vera is an Uruguayan footballer who plays for Levante UD in the Spanish first division, as a goalkeeper....
and Roberto Santamaría
Roberto Santamaría Ciprián
Roberto Santamaría Ciprián is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Girona FC as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
, so Arnau was demoted to as low as third-choice for 2009–10
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, eventually finishing backup to the Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an, even though he did not make one single official appearance.
After Munúa's departure, Arnau played the first game of the 2010–11 season
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
, a 1–3 home loss against Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, as Rodrigo Galatto was not yet eligible. He continued appearing regularly for the club in the following weeks, after the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian performed poorly and another new signing, Rubén
Ruben Iván Martínez
Rubén Iván Martínez Andrade, simply Rubén , is a Spanish footballer who plays for Málaga CF in La Liga, as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
, went down with an injury.
On 21 May 2011, Arnau played his last game as a professional, replacing Wilfredo Caballero
Wilfredo Caballero
Wilfredo 'Willy' Daniel Caballero is an Argentine footballer who plays for Málaga CF in Spain, as a goalkeeper.-Club career:...
in the last minutes of a 1–3 home defeat against his first club Barcelona, with Málaga finally retaining its top division status. After retiring at the age of 36, he continued working with his last team, as a youth coach, alongside former club teammate Salva.
International career
Arnau appeared for SpainSpain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
at the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1998, which spanned two years , had 46 entrants. Before the quarter-finals stage, Romania were chosen as the hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....
, being named the tournament's MVP, as Spain emerged victorious.
Honours
Barcelona- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1996–97 - Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 1998–99 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1996–971996–97 Copa del Rey-External links:*...
Málaga
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: 2002
Spain U21
- European Under-21 ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
: 19981998 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 1998, which spanned two years , had 46 entrants. Before the quarter-finals stage, Romania were chosen as the hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....