Javier Oliva González
Encyclopedia
Javier 'Xavi' Oliva González (ˈʃaβi oˈliβa; born 29 May 1976 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
, Barcelona, Catalonia
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.
and Valencia CF
, but only with its B teams), Oliva's first professional spell was in 1999–2000, as he played five times with Recreativo de Huelva
in the second division
.
Oliva then had a stint with Catalonia
's Gimnàstic de Tarragona
, in both the second and third levels
, then moved to CD Castellón
in 2002. With the latter, he was instrumental in a 2005 promotion to division two.
In the last two seasons, Oliva lost the starting job to former Real Madrid
youth graduate Carlos Sánchez. After more than 200 overall appearances, he backed down on his decision to renew his contract and, in late June 2009, signed a two-year link with La Liga
outfit Villarreal CF
, also in the community
. He made his official debut for the club on 4 November 2009, replacing injured Diego López
during the 4–1 home win against S.S. Lazio
, for the season's UEFA Europa League.
Oliva left Villarreal as a free agent
in the summer of 2011, with no league appearances to his credit.
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat or briefly L'Hospitalet is a city to the immediate southwest of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain, and the second largest in Catalonia by population...
, Barcelona, Catalonia
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 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 as a goalkeeper.
Football career
After modest beginnings (he had stints with RCD EspanyolRCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
and 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...
, but only with its B teams), Oliva's first professional spell was in 1999–2000, as he played five times with Recreativo de Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
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:...
.
Oliva then had a stint with Catalonia
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...
's Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Club Gimnàstic de Tarragona, usually referred to as Nàstic, is a Spanish sports club based in Tarragona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Its football team currently plays in Segunda División....
, in both the second and third levels
Segunda 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...
, then moved to CD Castellón
CD Castellón
Club Deportivo Castellón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Castellón de la Plana, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home games at Nou Estadi Castalia, which has a capacity of 16,000.-History:Football first appeared in...
in 2002. With the latter, he was instrumental in a 2005 promotion to division two.
In the last two seasons, Oliva lost the starting job to former Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
youth graduate Carlos Sánchez. After more than 200 overall appearances, he backed down on his decision to renew his contract and, in late June 2009, signed a two-year link with 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...
outfit 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...
, also in the community
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...
. He made his official debut for the club on 4 November 2009, replacing injured Diego López
Diego López Rodríguez
Diego López Rodríguez |Lugo]], Galicia) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Villarreal CF as a goalkeeper.-Club career:A youth graduate from hometown's CD Lugo, López moved to Real Madrid at almost 19...
during the 4–1 home win against S.S. Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
, for the season's UEFA Europa League.
Oliva left Villarreal as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in the summer of 2011, with no league appearances to his credit.