Javier Camuñas Gallego
Encyclopedia
Javier Camuñas Gallego (born 17 July 1980 in Madrid
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Villarreal CF
in the Spanish first division
.
A versatile midfielder
(able to play as an attacking midfielder or in the wings), he can also appear as a second striker.
-based team Club Atlético de Pinto
, Camuñas switched to neighbours Rayo Vallecano
, first representing its B side
, then being loaned to another team from the capital, Getafe CF
(by that time in the third division
).
He returned to Rayo in 2002–03, making his top flight
debuts on 1 September 2002, in a 2–2 home draw to Deportivo Alavés
. Rayo finished the season last, and Camuñas went on to have four steady seasons in the second level
, with Ciudad de Murcia
and Xerez CD
, netting 18 league goals in his final two years combined.
Having been snapped by top level team Recreativo de Huelva
for 2007–08, Camuñas was one of the Andalusia
side's most important players as it barely avoided top division relegation. He played in all the matches save one (28 of those complete) and scored on five occasions.
In the following campaign, Camuñas scored even more (ten), but Recre finished last. In late August 2009, he signed a three-year contract with top-tier outfit CA Osasuna
. An everpresent figure in in his first year
, he scored his first goal on 24 January 2010, against former side Xerez (2–1 away triumph).
Camuñas was again an automatic first-choice for Osasuna in 2010–11
. On 30 January 2011, he scored the game's only goal in a home win against Real Madrid
, a club he also represented as a youth.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
) 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 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...
in the Spanish first division
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...
.
A versatile midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
(able to play as an attacking midfielder or in the wings), he can also appear as a second striker.
Football career
After a start with modest MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
-based team Club Atlético de Pinto
CA Pinto
Club Atlético de Pinto is a Spanish football team based in Pinto, in the autonomous community of Madrid. Founded in 1963, it plays in Tercera División - Group 7, holding home matches at Estadio Amelia del Castillo, which has a capacity of 2,500 spectators....
, Camuñas switched to neighbours Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
, first representing its B side
Rayo Vallecano B
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid B, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo B, is a Spanish football club based in the Madrid neighbourhood of Vallecas...
, then being loaned to another team from the capital, Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
(by that time in the third division
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...
).
He returned to Rayo in 2002–03, making his top flight
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...
debuts on 1 September 2002, in a 2–2 home draw to Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
. Rayo finished the season last, and Camuñas went on to have four steady seasons 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 Ciudad de Murcia
Ciudad de Murcia
Club de Fútbol Atlético Ciudad was a Spanish football club based in Murcia, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 2007, it played its last season in Segunda División B , holding home matches at Estadio Juan de la Cierva, with a 1,600-seat capacity.-History:On June 6, 2007, Ciudad de...
and 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...
, netting 18 league goals in his final two years combined.
Having been snapped by top level team 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...
for 2007–08, Camuñas was one of 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...
side's most important players as it barely avoided top division relegation. He played in all the matches save one (28 of those complete) and scored on five occasions.
In the following campaign, Camuñas scored even more (ten), but Recre finished last. In late August 2009, he signed a three-year contract with top-tier outfit CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
. An everpresent figure in in his first year
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;"|...
, he scored his first goal on 24 January 2010, against former side Xerez (2–1 away triumph).
Camuñas was again an automatic first-choice for Osasuna in 2010–11
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...
. On 30 January 2011, he scored the game's only goal in a home win against 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...
, a club he also represented as a youth.