Emanuel Villa
Encyclopedia
Emanuel Alejandro "Tito" Villa (born 24 February 1982) is an Argentine
football
striker. He currently plays for Cruz Azul in Mexico.
in the Primera Division Argentina
in 2001. In 2003 he was transferred to Atlético Rafaela
but the club were relegated at the end of the 2003–2004 season after a losing a playoff with Huracán de Tres Arroyos
.
After the disappointment of relegation with Rafaela, Villa returned to the Primera the following season by joining Rosario Central
. In 2006 he was signed by Atlas in Guadalajara
. Villa stayed in Guadalajara, after he was transferred to Tecos UAG for the Clausura 2007 tournament.
on 4 January 2008 in a £2million deal. The move proved to be a controversial one as César Luis Menotti
, then coach of Tecos, was not informed of Villa being sold. He was then prevented from bringing in his preferred replacements and, as a result, quit the club and has not returned to coaching since. Villa signed a 3 and a half year contract with the Rams and made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat against Wigan Athletic
. He scored his first goal on the 2 February 2008, with a last minute headed equaliser from a Dean Leacock
cross, in a 1–1 draw away at Birmingham City
. His first home goals came with a brace in a 2–2 draw with Fulham
on 29 March 2008. His first a deflection from a Dean Leacock
shot, his second a header after Mile Sterjovski
crossed. However, a draw was not enough to help Derby survive relegation. It was the earliest a team had been relegated from the Premier League.
Villa's first goal of the 08/09 season came against QPR
as a substitute in a 2–0 away victory. On Sunday 2 November 2008, Villa scored an own-goal against Nottingham Forest, but exactly 10 minutes 12 seconds later Villa scored again, this time in the right goal, the game ended 1–1. Two days later Villa scored his first hat-trick for Derby; in a League Cup game against Brighton, becoming only the third player in 10 years to score three goals in one game for Derby. In the fourth round of the League Cup
he scored again to claim his sixth goal of the season this time against Leeds United. Derby won the match 2–1 to book themselves in the quarter finals on the competition. Despite this, Villa could not command a regular position in the Derby County line-up and, after Jewell was replaced by Nigel Clough
he was deemed surplus to requirements, and revealed his desire to return to Mexico due to his wife's homesickness. He left Derby for £1.7 million. He made 53 appearances and scored 9 goals for The Rams.
Villa enjoyed a successful start to his Cruz Azul career, his first goals of the Mexican Apertura season came in a 3–0 win at Pumas UNAM and a brace in a 2–0 win over CF Monterrey. His first goal in the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League in a 6–2 away victory at Herdiano.
On 22 August Villa played his first Mexico City Derby match "Clasico Joven", between Cruz Azul and Club America, the match ended 2–3 in favor of the visitors, but "Tito" scored the partial 1–1, at the 41 minutes, then easily put away the goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa
to score his 5th goal in 5 matches during his first season as a Cruz Azul player.
Villa scored 4 goals on 19 September 2009, in a game Cruz Azul won 4–2, over "Gladiadores" de San Luis. This was the first time he scored more than three goals in a game, the first three being for Derby County in a League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion.. After this game he has 10 goals in the tournament, and averages 1.1 goals per match. Villa scored 2 more goals against Atlante F.C.
making him the leader of the Apertura 2009 with 13 goals. On 7 November, he scored another couple of goals against Puebla FC with a 4–0 score, and in another match against Pachuca he scored once, having now 19 goals, above other players as Miguel Sabah
, Salvador Cabañas
, Humberto Suazo
, Héctor Mancilla
and Javier Hernández
Villa scored his first goal in el torneo Bicentenario against his former team Atlas in a 3–1 win. He then began his goal streak scoring in the next game against San Luis in a 2–1 win. He then scored his first pair against Toluca in a 3–2 win.
As of July 2011, Emanuel Villa has become one of the Top All-Time Scorers for Cruz Azul Team with 50 goals for the team.
Emanuel Villa's nickname "Tito", became from his grandfather.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker. He currently plays for Cruz Azul in Mexico.
Early career
Villa started his career at Club Atlético HuracánClub Atlético Huracán
Club Atlético Huracán is a sports club from the Parque Patricios neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second level of the Argentine football league system. Huracán home stadium is the Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó.Huracán was...
in the Primera Division Argentina
Primera División Argentina
The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...
in 2001. In 2003 he was transferred to Atlético Rafaela
A. M. S. y D. Atlético de Rafaela
Asociación Mutual Social y Deportiva Atlético de Rafaela is an institution from the city of Rafaela, in Argentina, which professional football team currently plays in the Argentine first division....
but the club were relegated at the end of the 2003–2004 season after a losing a playoff with Huracán de Tres Arroyos
Huracán de Tres Arroyos
Club Atlético Huracán is an Argentine football club based in the city of Tres Arroyos, in Buenos Aires Province.The club is the biggest of Tres Arroyos City, and one of the most big in Southern Buenos Aires Province...
.
After the disappointment of relegation with Rafaela, Villa returned to the Primera the following season by joining Rosario Central
Rosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....
. In 2006 he was signed by Atlas in Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
. Villa stayed in Guadalajara, after he was transferred to Tecos UAG for the Clausura 2007 tournament.
Derby County
Villa signed for Premier League side Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 4 January 2008 in a £2million deal. The move proved to be a controversial one as César Luis Menotti
César Luis Menotti
César Luis Menotti, known as El Flaco is an Argentine football coach and former player, who as coach, won the 1978 FIFA World Cup for Argentina.-Playing career:...
, then coach of Tecos, was not informed of Villa being sold. He was then prevented from bringing in his preferred replacements and, as a result, quit the club and has not returned to coaching since. Villa signed a 3 and a half year contract with the Rams and made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
. He scored his first goal on the 2 February 2008, with a last minute headed equaliser from a Dean Leacock
Dean Leacock
Dean Leacock is an English footballer of Barbadian descent. He currently plays for Championship side Derby County, primarily as a centre back, but he can also play as a right back or a defensive midfielder....
cross, in a 1–1 draw away at Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. His first home goals came with a brace in a 2–2 draw with Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
on 29 March 2008. His first a deflection from a Dean Leacock
Dean Leacock
Dean Leacock is an English footballer of Barbadian descent. He currently plays for Championship side Derby County, primarily as a centre back, but he can also play as a right back or a defensive midfielder....
shot, his second a header after Mile Sterjovski
Mile Sterjovski
Mile Sterjovski is an Australian football player, who currently plays for Perth Glory and played for the Australian national team from 2000 to 2010, before he retired from international football after his non-selection for the 2010 FIFA World Cup...
crossed. However, a draw was not enough to help Derby survive relegation. It was the earliest a team had been relegated from the Premier League.
Villa's first goal of the 08/09 season came against QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
as a substitute in a 2–0 away victory. On Sunday 2 November 2008, Villa scored an own-goal against Nottingham Forest, but exactly 10 minutes 12 seconds later Villa scored again, this time in the right goal, the game ended 1–1. Two days later Villa scored his first hat-trick for Derby; in a League Cup game against Brighton, becoming only the third player in 10 years to score three goals in one game for Derby. In the fourth round of the League Cup
League Cup
In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
he scored again to claim his sixth goal of the season this time against Leeds United. Derby won the match 2–1 to book themselves in the quarter finals on the competition. Despite this, Villa could not command a regular position in the Derby County line-up and, after Jewell was replaced by Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
he was deemed surplus to requirements, and revealed his desire to return to Mexico due to his wife's homesickness. He left Derby for £1.7 million. He made 53 appearances and scored 9 goals for The Rams.
Cruz Azul
On 30 June 2009 he was linked with a move to Mexican club Cruz Azul . and on 1 July it was revealed that a fee rumoured to be of £1.7m had been agreed for Villa, and he signed for the club on 2 July 2009.Villa enjoyed a successful start to his Cruz Azul career, his first goals of the Mexican Apertura season came in a 3–0 win at Pumas UNAM and a brace in a 2–0 win over CF Monterrey. His first goal in the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League in a 6–2 away victory at Herdiano.
On 22 August Villa played his first Mexico City Derby match "Clasico Joven", between Cruz Azul and Club America, the match ended 2–3 in favor of the visitors, but "Tito" scored the partial 1–1, at the 41 minutes, then easily put away the goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa
Guillermo Ochoa
Francisco Guillermo Ochoa Magaña is a Mexican goalkeeper who currently plays for French Ligue 1 club Ajaccio. He also plays for the Mexican national football team.-América:...
to score his 5th goal in 5 matches during his first season as a Cruz Azul player.
Villa scored 4 goals on 19 September 2009, in a game Cruz Azul won 4–2, over "Gladiadores" de San Luis. This was the first time he scored more than three goals in a game, the first three being for Derby County in a League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion.. After this game he has 10 goals in the tournament, and averages 1.1 goals per match. Villa scored 2 more goals against Atlante F.C.
Atlante F.C.
Club de Fútbol Atlante, is a Mexican professional football club, currently playing in the Mexican First Division League. The club is based in Cancún, Mexico as of the start of the 2007-08 season, when they relocated from Mexico City, and plays its home games in Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo.-Domestic...
making him the leader of the Apertura 2009 with 13 goals. On 7 November, he scored another couple of goals against Puebla FC with a 4–0 score, and in another match against Pachuca he scored once, having now 19 goals, above other players as Miguel Sabah
Miguel Sabah
Miguel Sabah Rodríguez is a Mexican footballer. He currently plays for Monarcas Morelia and the Mexican national team. Previously Sabah played with Guadalajara and Cruz Azul. Sabah made his debut in the Invierno 2000 with Guadalajara entering in the 46th minute. Sabah played five years with...
, Salvador Cabañas
Salvador Cabañas
Salvador Cabañas Ortega is a Paraguayan football striker who plays for the Paraguayan national team. A prolific and natural goalscorer, he is known for his array of skills on the field such as excellent heading, accurate shooting with either foot, receptions in tight spaces, and a combination of...
, Humberto Suazo
Humberto Suazo
Humberto Andrés Suazo Pontivo , nicknamed Chupete, is a Chilean football player, who currently plays as a striker in Monterrey. In 2006 he was awarded by IFFHS as the world's top goal scorer of the year....
, Héctor Mancilla
Héctor Mancilla
Héctor Raúl Mancilla Garcés is a Chilean Striker, who currently plays for the Mexican club Tigres....
and Javier Hernández
Javier Hernández (footballer)
Javier Hernández Balcázar is a Mexican footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United and the Mexican national team. Hernández plays with his nickname, Chicharito , on his shirt...
Villa scored his first goal in el torneo Bicentenario against his former team Atlas in a 3–1 win. He then began his goal streak scoring in the next game against San Luis in a 2–1 win. He then scored his first pair against Toluca in a 3–2 win.
As of July 2011, Emanuel Villa has become one of the Top All-Time Scorers for Cruz Azul Team with 50 goals for the team.
Personal life
Villa is married to his wife Virginia, the couple has one son, AlessandroEmanuel Villa's nickname "Tito", became from his grandfather.