David Navarro (footballer)

David Navarro Pedrós (; born 25 May 1980) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender, and the current coordinator of the sports management team at Levante UD.

He amassed La Liga totals of 254 matches and ten goals over 15 seasons, representing in the competition Valencia, Mallorca and Levante. Often regarded by most pundits, as one of greatest defenders of his generation.

Club career

Valencia

Born in Sagunto, Valencian Community, Navarro was a product of local Valencia CF's youth ranks. During the course of six seasons he appeared sporadically for the 2002 and 2004 champions of La Liga; he added a rare goal on 26 February 2004, in a UEFA Cup win over Beşiktaş JK ( 3–2 home win, achieved in the last minute), as the ''Che'' eventually emerged victorious in the tournament.

On 6 March 2007, Navarro sparked an on-pitch melee that occurred during a UEFA Champions League tie against Inter Milan. Navarro, who had spent the match on the bench as an unused substitute, ran onto the pitch as the brawl began with an exchange of words and what appeared to be a kick by fellow defender Carlos Marchena at Inter counterpart Nicolás Burdisso. On the pitch he punched Burdisso in the face, breaking the Argentine's nose, while he was being held back by his teammates, then proceeded to run away, chased by opposing players Iván Córdoba, Julio Cruz and Maicon all the way to the tunnel.

As the scuffles continued on the field, Navarro sought refuge in the Valencia dressing room. Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo entered the Valencia dressing room to confront the Spaniard, while Inter players Esteban Cambiasso and Luís Figo argued with the security personnel that tried to prevent them from entering the Valencia dressing room too.

On 7 March 2007, UEFA charged Marchena and Navarro, as well as Burdisso, Córdoba and Maicon, with ''"gross unsporting conduct."'' Navarro later apologised for his involvement in the incident, stating he was ''"very sorry and ashamed"'' for his actions and also noted he would contact Burdisso to apologise. The following week, after reviewing video evidence of the brawl, UEFA suspended Navarro for seven months from European football (it was later reduced to six months); on the 20th, after several appeals to FIFA to allow the ban to cover both domestic and international games, he had his ban applied to all games, ending with the closure of the 2006–07 campaign.

In 2007–08, Navarro spent one year on loan at RCD Mallorca, where he was used as a backup, appearing in 18 games and returning to Valencia in June 2008 only to be immediately loaned again to the Balearic Islands side until the end of the following season, where he now featured prominently – 29 matches – scoring in a 2–3 home loss to Recreativo de Huelva on 7 December 2008.

Navarro subsequently returned to Valencia for 2009–10, going on to serve as club captain after replacing longtime incumbent David Albelda, but eventually being stripped of that honour by the same manager, Unai Emery. During the campaign he contributed with two goals in 19 games, all as starter, as the team finished third and qualified to the Champions League.

Later years

In summer 2011, aged 31, Navarro had his first abroad experience, joining compatriots Javier Arizmendi, Joaquín Caparrós (coach) and Víctor Sánchez at Neuchâtel Xamax and penning a 2+1 contract with the Swiss club. He was released in the following transfer window, however.

In early February 2012, Navarro returned to his homeland and signed with Levante UD from the top flight, until the end of the season. On 26 July 2016, after suffering relegation, the 36-year-old moved to second-tier side AD Alcorcón.

On 22 December 2017, Navarro announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37, and was immediately included in Alcorcón's backroom staff. On 19 June 2019, he returned to former club Levante as coordinator of the sports management team.

Style of play

In December 2013, Spanish football website ''El Gol Digital'' ranked Navarro at third in its list of the world's dirtiest footballers.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Navarro, David
1980 births
Living people
People from Sagunto
Sportspeople from the Province of Valencia
Spanish footballers
Footballers from the Valencian Community
Association football defenders
La Liga players
Segunda División players
Segunda División B players
Valencia CF Mestalla footballers
Valencia CF players
UEFA Cup winning players
RCD Mallorca players
Levante UD footballers
AD Alcorcón footballers
Swiss Super League players
Neuchâtel Xamax FCS players
Spanish expatriate footballers
Expatriate footballers in Switzerland
Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland