Wikipedia

David Català

David Català Jiménez (born 3 May 1980) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender. He is currently a manager.

David Català
Català as a Celta player in 2009
Personal information
Full name David Català Jiménez[1]
Date of birth (1980-05-03) 3 May 1980 (age 46)[1]
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain[1]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position Centre-back
Youth career
Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2003 Espanyol B 102 (3)
2000–2003 Espanyol 7 (0)
2003–2004 Xerez 36 (3)
2004–2005 Lleida 37 (3)
2005–2006 Albacete 16 (0)
2006–2007 Lorca Deportiva 26 (1)
2007–2009 Salamanca 82 (3)
2009–2012 Celta 77 (5)
2012–2019 AEK Larnaca 204 (18)
Total 587 (36)
Managerial career
2021–2022 AEK Larnaca
2022-2023 Apollon Limassol
2023–2024 Istra 1961
2024–2025 Sabadell
2025–2026 Kerala Blasters
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

After beginning his career at Espanyol, he spent most of it in the Segunda División, representing six teams over nine seasons, mostly Salamanca and Celta. He totalled 274 games and 15 goals in that tier.

Català retired following a seven-year spell at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, where he began his managerial career.

Playing career

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Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Català began his career at hometown club Espanyol. He made his senior debut on 16 May 1999, playing the entirety of the reserves' 3–0 home win over Palamós in the Segunda División B. He first appeared in La Liga with the first team the following 6 May, as a 43rd-minute substitute for Cristóbal in a 2–0 away loss against Numancia.[2]

After leaving for Xerez of Segunda División in 2003, Català spent each of the next four seasons at a different team in that level, culminating in Lorca Deportiva's relegation in 2007.[3][4] He stayed for five years in the same league, with Salamanca and Celta de Vigo; he was recommended to the latter by Miguel Torrecilla, the sporting director who made the same move earlier, and was the second player to be acquired that window after Cristian Bustos, agreeing to a three-year deal on 23 June 2009.[5]

Català scored in the Galician derby on 15 April 2012 seven minutes after entering in place of Hugo Mallo, albeit in a 3–2 loss to Deportivo de La Coruña at the Balaídos Stadium.[6] The campaign nonetheless ended in top-flight promotion, with him contributing 18 games and two goals to the feat.[7]

On 28 July 2012, after recently signing a new contract, Català rescinded it and moved abroad for the first time, signing a three-year deal at AEK Larnaca of the Cypriot First Division.[8] He helped the side win the 2017–18 Cypriot Cup at the age of 38,[9] and retired the following year.[10]

Coaching career

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Català was appointed manager of his last club in May 2021, replacing Sofronis Avgousti on a two-year contract.[11][12] He was dismissed on 23 March 2022.[13]

On 12 August 2022, Català continued in the same league by signing a one-year deal with Apollon Limassol.[14] He was sacked three months later.[15]

On 14 August 2023, Català was hired at Istra 1961 of the Croatian Football League, for one season with the option of a further year; he took over from Mislav Karoglan, who had taken one point from three games.[16] He was relieved of his duties the following 7 February, with five wins from 19 matches.[17]

Català was appointed at Sabadell in Spain's Segunda Federación on 10 June 2024, on a one-year contract.[18] He was dismissed on 12 January 2025, after seven games without a win.[19][20]

On 25 March 2025, Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters announced the appointment of Català on a one-year deal.[21] He made his debut on 20 April, achieving a 2–0 victory over defending champions East Bengal in the Super Cup.[22] He was sacked in March 2026 after only one point in six league matches, becoming the first manager in the competition's history to be shown the door without a win.[23]

Career statistics

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As of 4 October 2015[24][1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Espanyol 1999–2000 La Liga 10000010
2001–02 La Liga 60000060
Total 70000070
Xerez 2003–04 Segunda División 36320—383
Lleida 2004–05 Segunda División 37320—393
Albacete 2005–06 Segunda División 16020—180
Lorca Deportiva 2006–07 Segunda División 26110—271
Salamanca 2007–08 Segunda División 42310—433
2008–09 Segunda División 40020—420
Salamanca Total 82330—853
Celta 2009–10 Segunda División 22100—221
2010–11 Segunda División 372101[a]0392
2011–12 Segunda División 18240—222
Total 7755010635
AEK Larnaca 2012–13 Cypriot First Division 28150—331
2013–14 Cypriot First Division 31230—332
2014–15 Cypriot First Division 30461—365
2015–16 Cypriot First Division 60002[b]080
Total 957141201118
Career total 370212713040022
  1. ↑ Appearance in La Liga play-offs
  2. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 21 March 2026
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
AEK Larnaca Cyprus 21 May 2021 21 March 2022 29131155025+25044.83 [25]
Apollon Limassol Cyprus 13 August 2022 9 November 2022 186751618−2033.33 [26]
Istra 1961 Croatia 13 August 2023 7 February 2024 1954101727−10026.32 [27]
Sabadell Spain 10 June 2024 12 January 2025 2391133120+11039.13 [28][29]
Kerala Blasters India 25 March 2025 27 March 2026 9216711−4022.22 [30]
Total 9835342912593+32035.71 —

Honours

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 David Català at WorldFootball.net
  2. ↑ Romero, Carmelo (7 May 2000). "El Numancia acaricia la salvación tras ganar al Espanyol" [Numancia caress survival after defeating Espanyol]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Liga BBVA: El Lorca certifica su descenso a Segunda B tras caer goleado en casa contra el Castellón" [BBVA League: Lorca confirm their relegation to Segunda B after home thrashing by Castellón]. Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 26 May 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  4. ↑ Arroyo, Adrián (10 June 2024). "Qui és David Català, el nou entrenador del Sabadell?" [Who is David Català, Sabadell's new manager?] (in Catalan). Ràdio Sabadell. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Catalá: "Creo en este nuevo proyecto"" [Català: "I believe in this new project"]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 June 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Piñeiro, Miguel (16 April 2012). "El Deportivo vence al Celta en un derbi gallego para el recuerdo" [Deportivo defeat Celta in a Galician derby to remember]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  7. ↑ Ereaga, Txema (9 November 2012). "Catalá: Un defensa central goleador" [Catalá: A scoring centre-back.] (in Spanish). Fame Celeste. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  8. ↑ Bernardo, Julio (28 July 2012). "Catalá se va sorprendido y decepcionado" [Català leaves surprised and disappointed]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  9. ↑ Manchón, Martín (16 May 2018). "El AEK Larnaca de Imanol Idiakez, campeón de la Copa chipriota" [Imanol Idiakez's AEK Larnaca, Cypriot Cup champions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  10. ↑ "El excéltico David Catalá cuelga las botas" [Former Celta man David Catalá hangs up his boots]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 25 May 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "AEK Larnaca, David Català es el nuevo entrenador" [AEK Larnaca, David Català is the new manager] (in Spanish). Todo Mercado Web. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  12. ↑ Manchón, Martín (11 November 2021). "Catalá: "Cuando pasas de jugar a entrenar te das cuenta de lo desagradecido que es el banquillo"" [Catalá: "When you go from playing to coaching you realise how ungrateful the bench is"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "Απόφαση για λύση της συνεργασίας με David Catala" [Decision to terminate the partnership with David Catala] (in Greek). AEK Larnaca. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  14. ↑ "David Catala is the new head coach of Apollon". Apollon Limassol. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "Apollon and Catala part ways". Apollon Limassol. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "David Catalá, nuevo entrenador del Istra 1961 croata" [David Català, new manager of Croatia's Istra 1961]. Infobae (in Spanish). 14 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "David Catala is no longer on the bench of Istra 1961". NK Istra 1961. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "David Català, nuevo entrenador del CE Sabadell" [David Català, new manager of CE Sabadell] (in Spanish). CE Sabadell FC. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  19. ↑ "David Català deja de ser entrenador del CE Sabadell" [David Català is no longer CE Sabadell manager] (in Spanish). CE Sabadell FC. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  20. ↑ "El Sabadell busca técnico" [Sabadell are looking for a manager]. Sport (in Spanish). 13 January 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  21. ↑ "Who is David Catala? Meet Kerala Blasters' new head coach". Sportstar. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  22. ↑ "Defending champions East Bengal sent packing by Kerala Blasters in Kalinga Super Cup 2025 opener". All India Football Federation. 20 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  23. ↑ "Kerala Blasters sack Catala, Spaniard departs as first head coach without a win in ISL". Onmanorama. 27 March 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 David Català at Soccerway
  25. ↑ "AEK Larnaca FC: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  26. ↑ "Apollon Limassol FC: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  27. ↑ "NK Istra 1961: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  28. ↑ "Matches David Català, 2024–25 season". BDFutbol.
  29. ↑ "CE Sabadell: matches". Be Soccer. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  30. ↑ "Kerala Blasters » Fixtures & Results 2024/2025". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
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