Juan Elía

Spanish footballer
Juantxo Elía
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

Juan 'Juantxo' Elía Vallejo (born 24 January 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Club career

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]

International career

Elía represented Navarre in two matches.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ Elía renueva por Osasuna (Elía renews with Osasuna); UEFA, 13 December 2005 (in Spanish)
  2. ^ 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)
  3. ^ El Betis se adjudica la Copa del Rey tras ganar a Osasuna (2–1) (Betis take King's Cup after beating Osasuna (2–1)); Cadena SER, 11 June 2005 (in Spanish)
  4. ^ Elia y Campos, "ilusionados" por el proyecto deportivo del Real Murcia (Elia and Campos, "heartened" by Real Murcia's sporting project); Marca, 8 July 2008 (in Spanish)
  5. ^ Elía, el primer sacrificado (Elía, first one out); La Verdad, 10 November 2009 (in Spanish)
  6. ^ Elía dice adiós desde aquí (Elía says goodbye from here); Noticias de Navarra, 1 October 2010 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ El golf, la “enfermedad” de Juantxo Elía (Golf, Juantxo Elía's "sickness"); Diario de Navarra, 7 April 2022 (in Spanish)
  8. ^ Euskadi y Navarra ganan (Euskadi and Navarre win); Mundo Deportivo, 30 December 2004 (in Spanish)
  9. ^ 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)

External links

  • Juan Elía at BDFutbol
  • Juan Elía at Soccerway