Joan Golobart
Encyclopedia
Joan Golobart Serra is a retired Spanish
footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder.
, Catalonia
, Golobart did not start playing organized football until he was 17, making his senior debut for local CE L'Hospitalet, in the fourth division
. In 1985, after two seasons with neighbours CE Sabadell FC, helping to promotion to the second level
in his first year and scoring five goals in 30 games in his second - he signed for another club in the region, RCD Español
, who he supported as a child.
During his five-season spell, Golobart was successfully reconverted from central defender into defensive midfielder, but only had one solid season, in 1986–87 - 35 matches and four goals - as the Pericos finished third in La Liga
and qualified for the UEFA Cup, reaching and losing the subsequent final
to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Golobart scored a rare goal in the 1988–89 promotion/relegation
playoffs against RCD Mallorca
, but Español went down (1–2 on aggregate). After helping the club gain promotion back immediately (although he only appeared in eight matches), he did not have his contract renewed and chose to retire rather than represent another club than Español; he was only 29.
; additionally, he became a respected sports analyst, writing newspaper columns for La Vanguardia
. He also unsuccessfully ran for Espanyol's presidency.
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 mainly as a defensive midfielder.
Football career
Born in BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, 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...
, Golobart did not start playing organized football until he was 17, making his senior debut for local CE L'Hospitalet, in the fourth division
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
. In 1985, after two seasons with neighbours CE Sabadell FC, helping to promotion to 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:...
in his first year and scoring five goals in 30 games in his second - he signed for another club in the region, RCD Español
RCD 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...
, who he supported as a child.
During his five-season spell, Golobart was successfully reconverted from central defender into defensive midfielder, but only had one solid season, in 1986–87 - 35 matches and four goals - as the Pericos finished third in 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...
and qualified for the UEFA Cup, reaching and losing the subsequent final
1988 UEFA Cup Final
The 1988 UEFA Cup Final was a football tie played on May 4, 1988 and May 18, 1988 between RCD Espanyol of Spain and Bayer 04 Leverkusen of West Germany. Leverkusen won 3–2 on penalties after 3-3 on aggregate.-First leg:-Second leg:...
to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Golobart scored a rare goal in the 1988–89 promotion/relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
playoffs against RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
, but Español went down (1–2 on aggregate). After helping the club gain promotion back immediately (although he only appeared in eight matches), he did not have his contract renewed and chose to retire rather than represent another club than Español; he was only 29.
Post-retirement
After retiring, Golobart worked in dentistryDentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
; additionally, he became a respected sports analyst, writing newspaper columns for La Vanguardia
La Vanguardia
La Vanguardia is Catalonia's leading daily newspaper as well as the fourth best-selling in Spain. It has its headquarters in Barcelona, Catalonia's largest city....
. He also unsuccessfully ran for Espanyol's presidency.