David Belenguer
Encyclopedia
David Belenguer Reverte (born 17 December 1972 in Vilassar de Mar
, Barcelona, Catalonia
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays as a central defender.
During his extensive professional career, he was mainly associated with Getafe CF
- where he arrived already in his 30's - helping the club consolidate in La Liga
. Both major levels of Spanish football
combined, he appeared in 440 matches in 18 seasons.
, Catalan
-born Belenguer played in a host of Spanish second division
sides, before finally settling at Real Betis
in 2000–01, achieving La Liga
promotion that season. He previously made his debut in the competition on 30 August 1998, in a CF Extremadura
0–0 home draw against Real Valladolid
; the former would be relegated, with the player appearing in 36 league games.
In January 2004, Belenguer joined Madrid's Getafe CF
, also promoting from the second division at the end of the season. He went on to become an essential member of a side that consolidated its top flight status (he scored his first top flight goal on 18 September 2005, in a 4–3 win at Deportivo Alavés
), while also reaching the last-eight in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup.
Belenguer was sparingly used in his final two years, and left the club at the end of the 2009–10 season
, after seeing out his contract. In his final season he appeared in 13 matches, the last of which was a solid defensive performance at Atlético Madrid on May 15, 2010 (3–0 win), as Getafe clinched the sixth position at the expense of Villarreal CF
and qualified for the second time in the club's history for European competition.
In mid-July 2010, when retirement seemed like the most likely option, Belenguer returned to former club Betis after signing a one-year contract, five months short of his 38th birthday. Due to the many injuries that affected the back sector, he was able to appear in 20 league games as the Verdiblancos returned to the top division
after a two-year absence, as champions.
Vilassar de Mar
Vilassar de Mar is a municipality in the comarca of the Maresme in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the coast between Premià de Mar and Cabrera de Mar, to the north-east of Barcelona. The town is both a tourist centre and a dormitory town for Barcelona, and is also known for its horticulture...
, Barcelona, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays as a central defender.
During his extensive professional career, he was mainly associated with Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
- where he arrived already in his 30's - helping the club consolidate in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. Both major levels of Spanish football
Spanish football league system
The Spanish football league system refers to the system in Spanish club football that consists of several football leagues bound together hierarchically by promotion and relegation.-Primera División:...
combined, he appeared in 440 matches in 18 seasons.
Football career
An elegant defender that grew in the ranks of Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
-born Belenguer played in a host of Spanish second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
sides, before finally settling at Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
in 2000–01, achieving La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
promotion that season. He previously made his debut in the competition on 30 August 1998, in a CF Extremadura
CF Extremadura
Club de Fútbol Extremadura was a Spanish football team based in Almendralejo, in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1924, it played two seasons in La Liga, and held home games at Estadio Francisco de la Hera, with a capacity of 11,580 seats.-History:Extremadura was founded in 1924,...
0–0 home draw against Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
; the former would be relegated, with the player appearing in 36 league games.
In January 2004, Belenguer joined Madrid's Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
, also promoting from the second division at the end of the season. He went on to become an essential member of a side that consolidated its top flight status (he scored his first top flight goal on 18 September 2005, in a 4–3 win at Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
), while also reaching the last-eight in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup.
Belenguer was sparingly used in his final two years, and left the club at the end of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, after seeing out his contract. In his final season he appeared in 13 matches, the last of which was a solid defensive performance at Atlético Madrid on May 15, 2010 (3–0 win), as Getafe clinched the sixth position at the expense of Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
and qualified for the second time in the club's history for European competition.
In mid-July 2010, when retirement seemed like the most likely option, Belenguer returned to former club Betis after signing a one-year contract, five months short of his 38th birthday. Due to the many injuries that affected the back sector, he was able to appear in 20 league games as the Verdiblancos returned to the top division
2010–11 Segunda División
-Personnel and sponsorship:-Managerial changes:-League table:||style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=11 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-Positions by round:Source: -Results:...
after a two-year absence, as champions.