Mario Bermejo
Encyclopedia
Mario Bermejo Castanedo (born 7 October 1978 in Santander, Cantabria
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Celta de Vigo
in the Spanish second division
, as a striker.
with Racing de Santander
and Athletic de Bilbao
, and then went on to represent sides in the lower leagues, on loan. His official debut with the latter came in a 1997–98 UEFA Cup match at U.C. Sampdoria
, playing the final 30 minutes in the place of Ismael Urzaiz
, in an eventual 2–1 win; he was eligible to play for the Basque
due to his father's roots
.
In 2002–03, definitely released by Athletic, Bermejo returned to the top level, but struggled to find the net the entire season for Recreativo de Huelva
, which would befall again in next season's Segunda División
. However, in 2004–05, he was instrumental in helping Racing de Ferrol
maintain its league status, ending the season as the league's topscorer, at 25 - this included four past UD Almería
in a 6–1 away win, Ferrol's biggest win ever in the second level.
The following seasons were also spent in the second level, with Albacete Balompié
and Almería. With the latter, he scored five league goals, helping the Andalusia
outfit to its first ever top division promotion.
After a season-long loan spent with Polideportivo Ejido
, Bermejo was released and joined another side in the region, Xerez CD
. His first season was highly productive both collectively (promotion, also a first ever) and individually (12 league goals, third-best in the squad, to Momo's 17 and Antoñito's 13), and the player, aged 30, penned a new two-year link at the season's close.
In the 2009–10 season
, Xerez was immediately relegated back, but fought valliantly until the last rounds. Bermejo ranked amongst the league's topscorers at 12, namely netting in the last minute
against Almería (2–1 home win), on 1 May 2010.
Santander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
) 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 for Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
in the 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:...
, as a striker.
Football career
In his early years, Bermejo played one game each in La LigaLa 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...
with Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
and Athletic de Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
, and then went on to represent sides in the lower leagues, on loan. His official debut with the latter came in a 1997–98 UEFA Cup match at U.C. Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...
, playing the final 30 minutes in the place of Ismael Urzaiz
Ismael Urzaiz
Ismael Urzaiz Aranda is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a centre forward.Best known for his physical strength and aerial ability, the unsuccessful youth graduate at Real Madrid went on to represent seven other teams during his extensive professional career, mainly Athletic Bilbao...
, in an eventual 2–1 win; he was eligible to play for the Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
due to his father's roots
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
.
In 2002–03, definitely released by Athletic, Bermejo returned to the top level, but struggled to find the net the entire season for Recreativo de Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
, which would befall again in next season's Segunda División
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:...
. However, in 2004–05, he was instrumental in helping Racing de Ferrol
Racing de Ferrol
Racing Club de Ferrol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Ferrol in the province of A Coruña, in the autonomous community of Galicia.Founded in 1919, in currently plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Estadio de la Malata...
maintain its league status, ending the season as the league's topscorer, at 25 - this included four past UD Almería
UD Almería
Unión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1989 as Almería Club de Fútbol, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, with a 22,000-seat...
in a 6–1 away win, Ferrol's biggest win ever in the second level.
The following seasons were also spent in the second level, with Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded on August 2, 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a 17,300-seat capacity.-History:The club was founded...
and Almería. With the latter, he scored five league goals, helping the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
outfit to its first ever top division promotion.
After a season-long loan spent with Polideportivo Ejido
Polideportivo Ejido
Club Polideportivo Ejido, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in El Ejido, Province of Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1969, it currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 4....
, Bermejo was released and joined another side in the region, Xerez CD
Xerez CD
Xerez Club Deportivo, S.A.D., usually just Xerez, is a Spanish football team based in Jerez de la Frontera, Province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia...
. His first season was highly productive both collectively (promotion, also a first ever) and individually (12 league goals, third-best in the squad, to Momo's 17 and Antoñito's 13), and the player, aged 30, penned a new two-year link at the season's close.
In 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;"|...
, Xerez was immediately relegated back, but fought valliantly until the last rounds. Bermejo ranked amongst the league's topscorers at 12, namely netting in the last minute
Last-minute goal
The term "last-minute goal" is used in sport, primarily association football, to describe a goal scored very late in a game. It may not necessarily refer to a goal scored in the actual final minute...
against Almería (2–1 home win), on 1 May 2010.
Individual
- Second DivisionSegunda DivisiónThe 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:...
: Top scorer 2004–05