David Vílla

David Villa Sánchez (born December 3, 1981 in Langreo, Asturias, Spain), is nicknamed El Guaje (The Kid in Asturian language) he is a Spanish football (soccer) player, who currently plays for Valencia CF and the Spain national football team. He is well known for his lethal finishing and his intelligent off the ball runs. However he is not the most quickest player in the world, and his pace can sometimes be agonisingly slow.

Career

Early career

Born in the Asturias region in Northern Spain, he got his professional breakthrough at his local club Sporting de Gijón for whom he made his first-team debut in the 2000-01 season. The next season he was a first team regular, scoring 18 league goals, and scored 20 the next season. After over 50 goals in just three seasons at Gijón, he got his chance in Spain's top-flight the La Liga, when promoted Real Zaragoza bought him in the summer of 2003. He had no trouble adapting to the step up in class and scored 17 times in his first season at Zaragoza. Villa led Zaragoza to a Copa del Rey victory scoring the winning goal against Real Madrid.

Soon after he earned his first international call-up and cap, Valencia decided to take a chance on him and parted with £8.2 million to secure his services in the summer of 2005.

Valencia

In the 2005-06 season, he scored 25 goals in 35 league matches for Valencia, to finish one goal behind the leagues top scorer Samuel Eto'o of FC Barcelona. He scored his first hat-trick for Valencia against Athletic Bilbao on the 23 April 2006.

Villa's form continued into the 2006-07 season, with the striker forming a prolific partnership up front with former Real Madrid star Fernando Morientes. Together, Villa and Morientes netted around 40 goals in all competitions, and also ousted Raúl González from the Spanish national squad. He scored a brilliant free kick goal in the 2nd round of the champions league against Inter Milan which helped lead Valencia through to the quarter finals where they would meet Chelsea FC. Unfortunately for Villa he failed to fire and a last minute goal from Michael Essien knocked them out. At the conclusion of the 06/07 season there was much speculation of a moves to Chelsea and Liverpool but Villa announced his intentions to stay at Valencia and that he was going nowhere. On August 26 he was sent off for diving in a match against Villareal where Valencia lost 3-0. On August 29 he scored an injury time winner against Elfsborg in the champions league qualifying.

International career

Villa made his national debut on February 9, 2005 in Almeria. It was a match between Spain and San Marino in which Spain won 5-0.

Villa was included in Spain's 23 man squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, and was favoured over the more established striker Ra%C3%BAl_Gonz%C3%A1lez, to line up alongside Fernando Torres in the opening match against Ukraine national football team. Villa made his first World Cup finals appearance scoring twice against Ukraine. He added one more from the penalty spot in Spain national football team's 1-3 defeat to France national football team in a 2006 FIFA World Cup Knock-out stage match. He finished joint top goal scorer for Spain along with Fernando Torres in World Cup 2006 with 3 goals.

After the World Cup, Villa continues to be Spain's first choice striker, starting all 11 international matches during 2006-2007 season. He also scores an impressive 8 goals from those matches and currently Spain's top scorer in 2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifier with 7 goals.

Personal life

Villa is married to Patricia and has a daughter named Zaida who was born on December 7, 2005.

Childhood

At age 4 Villa broke his femur, almost leaving him with a permanent limp. That would have made it impossible to play football, however he made a full recovery.

Honours

Club
- Copa del Rey : 2004
- Spanish Super Cup : 2004

Individual
- Zarra Trophy : (2) 2005-06 2006-07

External links

-
-
-
-
-