Javi Guerra (footballer, born 1982)

Not to be confused with Javi Guerrero or Javi Guerra (footballer, born 2003).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Guerra and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.

Javi Guerra
Guerra playing for Cardiff City in 2014
Personal information
Full name Javier Guerra Rodríguez[1]
Date of birth (1982-03-15) 15 March 1982 (age 42)[1]
Place of birth Vélez-Málaga, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Vilassar Mar
2002–2003 Motril 27 (7)
2003–2004 Cádiz 2 (0)
2004 Varzim 5 (0)
2004–2007 Valencia B 105 (55)
2007 Valencia 2 (0)
2007–2008 Granada 74 39 (8)
2008–2010 Mallorca 0 (0)
2008–2009 → Alavés (loan) 40 (9)
2009–2010 → Levante (loan) 37 (12)
2010–2014 Valladolid 144 (68)
2014–2015 Cardiff City 3 (0)
2015 → Málaga (loan) 13 (5)
2015–2019 Rayo Vallecano 90 (24)
Total 507 (188)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Javier "Javi" Guerra Rodríguez (Spanish pronunciation: [xaˈβjeɾ ˈxaβi ˈɣera roˈðɾiɣeθ];[a] born 15 March 1982) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a striker.

He amassed Segunda División totals of 247 games and 86 goals over eight seasons, representing in the competition Cádiz, Granada 74, Alavés, Levante, Valladolid and Rayo Vallecano. He added 120 matches and 40 goals in La Liga, with Valencia, Valladolid, Málaga and Rayo.

Club career

Early years and Valencia

Guerra was born in Vélez-Málaga, Andalusia. After beginning professionally with lowly Motril CF in the Segunda División B, he appeared sporadically for neighbouring Cádiz CF in the following season, after which he moved to La Liga with Valencia CF.[2]

Guerra's stay with the Che would be quite unassuming, as he only managed to appear twice in the league in three years, totalling slightly more than ten minutes in a 3–0 loss at Getafe CF[3] and a 3–2 home win against RCD Espanyol.[4][5]

Released in June 2007, Guerra resumed his career in the Segunda División, with consecutive relegations with Granada 74 CF and Deportivo Alavés (the latter already owned by RCD Mallorca, which also loaned the player for the 2009–10 campaign, to Levante UD).[6]

Valladolid

In August 2010, after greatly helping the Valencian Community team return to the top division, scoring 12 league goals which was second-best in the squad and joint-11th in the competition, Guerra left Mallorca permanently, signing a four-year contract with another side in the second tier, Real Valladolid, for free – the Balearic Islands club would only have to be paid if his new team promoted or decided to sell again.[7] He had a breakthrough season in his first year, bettering his previous best by 12 goals and finishing second in the top scorers' list:[8] highlights included braces against Recreativo de Huelva (2–0, at home),[9] SD Huesca (2–0, home),[10] SD Ponferradina (2–1, home),[11] UD Salamanca (5–0, away),[12] FC Barcelona B (2–1 home)[13] and AD Alcorcón (2–0, home),[14] and a hat-trick against CD Numancia (4–5 defeat, home).[15]

Guerra continued with his fine form in the promotion playoffs, scoring the game's only goal in the first leg with Elche CF at the Estadio Nuevo José Zorrilla, in an eventual 3–2 aggregate loss.[16] He netted significantly less in 2011–12, but two of his 17 goals included one in each leg of the promotion playoffs against Alcorcón, with Valladolid winning 2–1 on aggregate and returning to the top flight after two years.[17][18]

On 16 December 2013, Guerra took his season tally to ten after scoring all of his team's goals in a 3–0 home defeat of RC Celta de Vigo.[19] On 5 February of the following year, he signed a pre-contract agreement with Premier League club Cardiff City, with the deal being made effective in the summer after his link expired.[20]

Cardiff City

Guerra was officially presented as a new Cardiff City player on 21 May 2014, signing a three-year contract.[21] He made his debut for the club on 16 August, coming on as a substitute for Kenwyne Jones for the last 22 minutes of a 3–1 victory over Huddersfield Town at Cardiff City Stadium.[22]

Having made only three bench appearances during the season, Guerra was loaned to Málaga CF on 15 January 2015, until June.[23]

Rayo Vallecano

On 31 August 2015, Guerra joined Rayo Vallecano on a two-year deal.[24] With 12 goals, he was the team's top scorer in his first season as they suffered relegation;[25] this included two in the first ten minutes of a 2–1 home victory against Granada CF on 7 November.[26]

Guerra extended his contract on 11 July 2016 to remain in Vallecas until 2019.[27] His input was more limited as they won the 2017–18 Segunda División and were instantly demoted back, and on 30 June 2019 his link expired.[28]

Personal life

Guerra's twin brother, Emilio, was also a footballer and a forward. He spent the vast majority of his career in the Spanish lower leagues.[29]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[30][31]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Motril 2002–03 Segunda División B 27 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 7
Cádiz 2003–04 Segunda División B 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Varzim 2004–05 Segunda Liga 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Valencia B 2004–05 Tercera División 34 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 19
2005–06 37 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 21
2006–07 Segunda División B 34 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 15
Total 105 55 0 0 0 0 0 0 105 55
Valencia 2006–07 La Liga 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Granada 74 2007–08 Segunda División 39 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 41 8
Mallorca 2008–09 La Liga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009–10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Alavés (loan) 2008–09 Segunda División 40 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 9
Levante (loan) 2009–10 Segunda División 37 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 38 12
Valladolid 2010–11 Segunda División 41 28 1 0 0 0 2 1 44 29
2011–12 36 17 0 0 0 0 4 3 40 20
2012–13 La Liga 30 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 32 8
2013–14 La Liga 37 15 2 1 0 0 0 0 39 16
Total 144 68 5 1 0 0 6 4 155 73
Cardiff City 2014–15 Championship 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 0
Málaga (loan) 2014–15 La Liga 13 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 14 5
Rayo Vallecano 2015–16 La Liga 30 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 31 12
2016–17 Segunda División 34 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 35 9
2017–18 18 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 19 3
2018–19 La Liga 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Total 90 24 3 0 0 0 0 0 93 24
Career total 507 188 12 1 2 0 6 4 527 193

Honours

Rayo Vallecano

Notes

  1. ^ In isolation, Guerra is pronounced [ˈɡera].

References

  1. ^ a b c "Javi Guerra". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Javi Guerra: el malagueño que amenaza al Málaga CF" [Javi Guerra: the Málaga native who threatens Málaga CF]. La Opinión de Málaga (in Spanish). 28 February 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  3. ^ "Getafe 3–0 Valencia". ESPN Soccernet. 11 February 2007. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  4. ^ "Valencia 3–2 Espanyol". ESPN Soccernet. 31 March 2007. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Javi Guerra, el mejor punta nacido en España: "Estoy en una nube"" [Javi Guerra, the best striker born in Spain: "I'm sky-high"]. Marca (in Spanish). 17 December 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  6. ^ "Javi Guerra se marcha cedido al Levante" [Javi Guerra goes on loan to Levante] (in Spanish). RCDM. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Javi Guerra ficha por el Real Valladolid" [Javi Guerra signs for Real Valladolid]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 24 July 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  8. ^ Marcet, Jaume (5 June 2011). "Soriano, el Pitxitxi: "No tengo decidido mi futuro"" [Soriano, the Pitxitxi: "My future has not been decided as of yet"] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Valladolid 4 Recreativo 0". Diario AS (in Spanish). 12 September 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Javi Guerra ofrece la primera victoria de la era Abel Resino" [Javi Guerra gives first win in Abel Resino era]. Marca (in Spanish). 15 January 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Guerra da alas al Valladolid y hunde a la Ponferradina" [Guerra gives wings to Valladolid and sinks Ponferradina]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 March 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Goleada sin brillo del Valladolid ante un Salamanca que acabó con nueve" [Lacklustre Valladolid rout against nine-man Salamanca]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 March 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  13. ^ Acedo, Diego (29 April 2011). "El reloj de Javi Guerra nunca se detiene" [Javi Guerra's watch never stops]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  14. ^ "Un efervescente Javi Guerra conduce al Valladolid a los 'playoffs' de ascenso" [Ebullient Javi Guerra leads Valladolid to promotion playoffs]. Marca (in Spanish). 4 June 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  15. ^ Bailador, Ignacio (12 December 2010). "Un gran Barkero decide el derbi" [Great Barkero decides derby]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  16. ^ Álamo, José Javier (9 June 2011). "El Real Valladolid gana el primer combate al Elche con un gol de Javi Guerra" [Real Valladolid win first round against Elche with goal by Javi Guerra]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  17. ^ Garteizgoxeascoa Gil, Aimara (14 June 2012). "Javi Guerra da ventaja al Valladolid hacia el ascenso" [Javi Guerra gives advantage to Valladolid en route to promotion]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  18. ^ "El Valladolid vuelve a Primera" [Valladolid return to Primera]. ABC (in Spanish). 16 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  19. ^ "Guerra gets three as Valladolid win". ESPN FC. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  20. ^ Phillips, Terry (5 February 2014). "Cardiff City sign pre-contract agreement with Spanish striker Javi Guerra". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Cardiff City sign striker Javi Guerra from Real Valladolid". BBC Sport. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  22. ^ Pope, Bruce (16 August 2014). "Cardiff City 3–1 Huddersfield Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  23. ^ "Cardiff City: Javi Guerra moves to Malaga on loan". BBC Sport. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  24. ^ "Deal done: Guerra departs". Cardiff City F.C. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  25. ^ Herrero, Nacho (11 July 2019). "Javi Guerra: de máximo goleador del Rayo a baja sin despedida" [Javi Guerra: from Rayo top scorer to release without farewell] (in Spanish). Unión Rayo. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  26. ^ Ramiro, David (8 November 2015). "Javi Guerra tumba a un Granada que continúa en descenso" [Javi Guerra downs a Granada who continue in relegation]. Málaga Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  27. ^ "Javi Guerra renueva por el Rayo Vallecano hasta 2019" [Javi Guerra renews for Rayo Vallecano until 2019] (in Spanish). EFE. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  28. ^ "Javi Guerra: "Veo lejano jugar en Segunda B"" [Javi Guerra: "I see playing in Segunda B as something distant"] (in Spanish). Unión Rayo. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  29. ^ Alonso, Pedro Luis (8 June 2011). "El récord de plata de Javi Guerra" [Javi Guerra's silver record]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  30. ^ Javi Guerra at WorldFootball.net
  31. ^ Javi Guerra at Soccerway
  32. ^ Ortega Marchamalo, Carlos (11 June 2018). "Resumen de la temporada 2017/2018: Rayo Vallecano, delanteros, artillería pesada" [2017/2018 season summary: Rayo Vallecano, forwards, heavy artillery] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 8 October 2020.