Juan_Elía
Juan Elía
Spanish footballer
Juan 'Juantxo' Elía Vallejo (born 24 January 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Elía Vallejo | ||
| Date of birth | (1979-01-24) 24 January 1979 (age 45) | ||
| Place of birth | Pamplona, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993–1997 | Osasuna | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–2002 | Osasuna B | 109 | (0) |
| 2002–2008 | Osasuna | 40 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | → Ourense (loan) | 36 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Murcia | 61 | (0) |
| Total | 246 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1997 | Spain U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 1996–1998 | Spain U18 | 10 | (0) |
| 1998 | Spain U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | Navarre | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Elía spent the bulk of his professional career with his hometown side CA Osasuna, save for a loan at modest CD Ourense. In the 2004–05 campaign he played a personal-best in La Liga 22 games, but served mostly as a backup during his spell with his main club, 15 years including his formative ones;[1][2] he was also in goal in the 2005 Copa del Rey final, lost 2–1 against Real Betis at the Vicente Calderón Stadium.[3]
In August 2008, Elía joined Real Murcia CF, recently relegated to the Segunda División.[4] He was first choice in his debut season but the team only finished in mid-table, being relegated in the following with him appearing in 24 matches.[5]
Elía announced his retirement in September 2010 at the age of 31, due to persistent back problems.[6] Subsequently, he took up golf.[7]
- Elía renueva por Osasuna (Elía renews with Osasuna); UEFA, 13 December 2005 (in Spanish)
- Osasuna: 16 años sin un portero titular de la cantera (Osasuna: 16 years without a starting goalkeeper from the youth system); Noticias de Navarra, 19 March 2021 (in Spanish)
- Elía, el primer sacrificado (Elía, first one out); La Verdad, 10 November 2009 (in Spanish)
- Elía dice adiós desde aquí (Elía says goodbye from here); Noticias de Navarra, 1 October 2010 (in Spanish)
- El golf, la “enfermedad” de Juantxo Elía (Golf, Juantxo Elía's "sickness"); Diario de Navarra, 7 April 2022 (in Spanish)
- Euskadi y Navarra ganan (Euskadi and Navarre win); Mundo Deportivo, 30 December 2004 (in Spanish)
- Orbaiz y Gurpegi participan en la victoria de Navarra ante China (Orbaiz and Gurpegi take part in Navarre win against China); Mundo Deportivo, 27 December 2005 (in Spanish)