Javi Gracia
Encyclopedia
Javier 'Javi' Gracia Carlos (born 1 May 1970 in Pamplona
, Navarre
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, who currently manages Greek
club Kerkyra.
, Athletic Bilbao
's reserves, never appearing officially for the first team during three years. In 1992–93, he achieved a career-best 13 goals in all 38 games as UE Lleida
returned to La Liga
after an absence of more than 40 years, as champions.
Gracia spent the following six seasons in the top flight, appearing regularly for both Real Valladolid
and Real Sociedad
, safe for his last year (15 games, one goal). In 1999, he returned to Segunda División
and signed for Villarreal CF
, helping the Valencian
promote to the top division after one year, and being regularly used in the following campaign (1,765 minutes) as the team easily maintained its division status.
In January 2003, after being scarcely played in his last one 1/2 seasons at Villarreal, 32-year old Gracia joined Córdoba CF
in the second level, closing out his career in June of the following year. He appeared in 229 Spanish top flight matches over the course of nine seasons, netting 17 goals.
, with Córdoba and Pontevedra CF
, finishing first and second with the latter club in the regular season, but always falling short in the promotion playoffs.
In 2008–09, still in division three, Gracia finally achieved promotion, now with Cádiz CF
, but he was fired midway through the following season
as the Andalusia
ns were immediately relegated back. He met the same fate in 2010–11
with Villarreal's B-team
, but the club managed to stay afloat in this case, also in the second level.
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
, Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
) 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 defensive midfielder, who currently manages Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
club Kerkyra.
Playing career
Gracia started playing professionally with Bilbao AthleticBilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
, Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
's reserves, never appearing officially for the first team during three years. In 1992–93, he achieved a career-best 13 goals in all 38 games as UE Lleida
UE Lleida
Club Lleida Esportiu is a Spanish football team based in Lleida, Catalonia. Founded in 2011, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Camp d'Esports, with a capacity of 13,500 seats.-History:...
returned to 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...
after an absence of more than 40 years, as champions.
Gracia spent the following six seasons in the top flight, appearing regularly for both Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
and Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, safe for his last year (15 games, one goal). In 1999, he returned to Segunda División
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:...
and signed for Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
, helping the Valencian
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
promote to the top division after one year, and being regularly used in the following campaign (1,765 minutes) as the team easily maintained its division status.
In January 2003, after being scarcely played in his last one 1/2 seasons at Villarreal, 32-year old Gracia joined Córdoba CF
Córdoba CF
Córdoba Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Córdoba, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1954, it plays in Segunda División, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Arcángel, with a capacity of 18,280 seats....
in the second level, closing out his career in June of the following year. He appeared in 229 Spanish top flight matches over the course of nine seasons, netting 17 goals.
Coaching career
After starting his manager career with former team Villarreal (youth teams), Gracia spent three years in Segunda División BSegunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, with Córdoba and Pontevedra CF
Pontevedra CF
Pontevedra Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Pontevedra, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It was founded in 1941, and currently plays in Tercera División - Group 1, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Pasarón, with a capacity of 12,000 seats.Having enjoyed...
, finishing first and second with the latter club in the regular season, but always falling short in the promotion playoffs.
In 2008–09, still in division three, Gracia finally achieved promotion, now with Cádiz CF
Cádiz CF
Cádiz Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1910, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Estadio Ramón de Carranza, with a 22,000-seat capacity.Salvadoran legend Mágico González, who...
, but he was fired midway through the following season
2009–10 Segunda División
The 2009–10 Segunda División was made up of the following teams:-League table:||rowspan=15 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-2009–10 Results:To read this table, the home team is listed in the left-hand column....
as 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 were immediately relegated back. He met the same fate in 2010–11
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:...
with Villarreal's B-team
Villarreal CF B
Villarreal Club de Fútbol B is a Spanish football team based in Villarreal, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1999, it is the reserve team of Villarreal CF, and plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Ciudad Deportiva Villarreal CF, with a 5,000-seat capacity.Unlike in...
, but the club managed to stay afloat in this case, also in the second level.