Javier "Javi" Márquez Moreno (Spanish pronunciation: [xaˈβjeɾ ˈmaɾkeθ]; born 11 May 1986) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Javi Márquez
Márquez in 2009
Personal information
Full name Javier Márquez Moreno
Date of birth (1986-05-11) 11 May 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Youth career
Gramenet
1999–2005 Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2009 Espanyol B 86 (14)
2007–2012 Espanyol 53 (3)
2012–2014 Mallorca 25 (3)
2013–2014Elche (loan) 29 (2)
2014–2017 Granada 51 (0)
2017 New York Cosmos 27 (6)
2018–2020 Gimnàstic 46 (2)
Total 317 (30)
International career
2010–2015 Catalonia 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Márquez in action for Espanyol in 2009

Espanyol

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Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Márquez was a product of hometown RCD Espanyol's youth system.[1] He was promoted to the first team for the 2009–10 season, making his La Liga debut on 19 September by playing 30 minutes at Deportivo de La Coruña for a 3–2 win, after coming on as a substitute for Ben Sahar.[2]

Márquez quickly established himself in the first team and, on 20 December 2009, scored his first goal in a 2–0 home win against UD Almería.[3] However, his campaign ended prematurely in March 2010 after he broke his leg in a match with Sevilla FC.[4]

Márquez recovered fully for 2010–11, being an undisputed starter for the Mauricio Pochettino-led side while partnering another Espanyol youth graduate, Raúl Baena, in central midfield. However, after recovering from another injury, he was deemed surplus to requirements by the manager,[5] and chose not to renew his contract.[6]

Mallorca

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On 30 June 2012, Márquez joined RCD Mallorca as Sergio Tejera moved in the opposite direction.[7] He made his official debut precisely against his former side, starting and playing 54 minutes in the 2–1 home win.[8]

Márquez' spell at the Iberostar Stadium was curtailed by an injury to his left ankle,[9] and his team also suffered relegation.

Granada

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In the summer of 2014, Márquez signed a four-year contract for Granada CF after a season-long spell at fellow top-tier club Elche CF.[10] He appeared in 25 games – 15 starts – in his first year, as the Andalusians narrowly retained their status.

Márquez was released in late January 2017, aged 30.[11]

New York Cosmos

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On 24 February 2017, the New York Cosmos announced that they had signed Márquez for the 2017 campaign.[12] He scored his first goal for his new team on 22 April, in a 1–1 home draw against the Jacksonville Armada FC.[13]

Gimnàstic

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On 8 January 2018, free agent Márquez agreed to a two-and-a-half-year deal at Gimnàstic de Tarragona in the Segunda División.[14] In November 2020, the 34-year-old announced his retirement.[15]

Personal life

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In March 2016, Márquez became the father of a baby boy. As a deference to his wife, he named him Modric after the Croatian footballer.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Martínez, Abraham (25 February 2011). "Nunca destacó hasta 2008, cuando se salió con el filial" [He was never remarkable until 2008, when he shot the lights out with reserves]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Espanyol win at Depor". ESPN Soccernet. 19 September 2009. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Espanyol 2–0 Almeria". ESPN Star Sports. 21 December 2009. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  4. ^ Macdonald, Paul (21 March 2010). "Espanyol midfielder Javi Marquez out for season after leg break". Goal. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  5. ^ "Pochettino: "Javi Márquez es un jugador especial, le tengo muchísimo cariño"" [Pochettino: "Javi Márquez is a special player, i cherish him a lot"]. Marca (in Spanish). 28 March 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  6. ^ Román, Rogelio (13 June 2011). "Alerta Javi Márquez en el RCD Espanyol" [Javi Márquez alert in RCD Espanyol]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Trueque cerrado entre Mallorca y Espanyol por Javi Márquez y Tejera" [Mallorca and Espanyol swap for Javi Márquez and Tejera completed]. Sport (in Spanish). 30 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Hemed double guides Mallorca home". ESPN Soccernet. 18 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Lesión de Javi Márquez" [Javi Márquez injury] (in Spanish). UEFA. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Javi Márquez, rojiblanco para las próximas tres temporadas" [Javi Márquez, red-and-white for the next three seasons] (in Spanish). Granada CF. 4 July 2014. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Javi Márquez deja el Granada tras dos temporadas y media" [Javi Márquez leaves Granada after two and a half seasons] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  12. ^ "New York Cosmos sign La Liga's Espanyol product Javi Márquez". New York Cosmos. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Javi Márquez nets first Cosmos goal". New York Cosmos. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Javi Márquez refuerza el medio del campo grana" [Javi Márquez bolsters grana midfield] (in Spanish). Gimnàstic Tarragona. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  15. ^ Rodríguez, Fran (19 November 2020). "Javi Márquez se retira del fútbol" [Javi Márquez retires from football]. Ideal (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Javi Márquez llama a su hijo... ¡Modric!" [Javi Márquez names his son... Modric!]. Marca (in Spanish). 10 March 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
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