José Manuel Catalá Mazuecos (born 1 January 1985) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender or a left-back.
Club career Born in Villajoyosa, Province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Catalá emerged through local club Valencia CF's youth ranks, making his senior debut in the Segunda División B where he successively represented Villajoyosa CF, Valencia CF Mestalla and Alicante CF. In the 2007–08 season, he helped the latter to promote to Segunda División.Girona, Alicante y Huesca acompañan al Rayo a la División de Plata (Girona, Alicante and Huesca go with Rayo to Silver Division); Diario AS, 15 June 2008 (in Spanish)Catalá: «Al que tiene ilusión le da igual Primera que Segunda B» (Catalá: "He who is hungry does not care if he's in Primera or Segunda B"); La Voz de Galicia, 14 July 2015 (in Spanish)
After suffering immediate relegation with Alicante, Catalá continued in that level with Villarreal CF's reserves.Catalá: "En casa debemos seguir igual de fuertes" (Catalá: "We must remain as strong at home"); Diario AS, 10 December 2009 (in Spanish) He was instrumental as they avoided relegation in their first-ever year in the competition, totalling 2,444 minutes and scoring once.Las Palmas respira ante un Villarreal B que jugó casi 80 minutos (2–5) en inferioridad (Las Palmas breathe against Villarreal B who played nearly 80 minutes (2–5) undermanned); El Mundo, 8 May 2010 (in Spanish)
Catalá was promoted to the first team for the 2010–11 campaign, aged already 25.Catalá firma con el primer equipo para tres temporadas (Catalá signs with the first team for three seasons); Marca, 25 May 2010 (in Spanish) He managed to provide stiff competition to veteran Joan Capdevila, inclusively relegating the European and World Champion to the bench in some games.Catalá: "El partido contra el Barcelona hay que olvidarlo" (Catalá: "We have to forget about game against Barcelona"); Marca, 4 April 2011 (in Spanish) He finished his first year in La Liga with 30 competitive matches to his credit – 16 in the league, five in the Copa del Rey and nine in a semi-final run in the UEFA Europa LeagueEl Cádiz hace una oferta a Catalá, defensa del Murcia (Cádiz make an offer to Catalá, Murcia defender); El Desmarque, 12 July 2013 (in Spanish)– opening the 2–0 home win against UD Almería on 3 January 2011Villarreal ease to victory; ESPN Soccernet, 3 January 2011 as the side eventually finished fourth and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.Garrido: "Agradezco al Villarreal todo lo que me ha dado" (Garrido: "I thank Villarreal for everything they have given me"); RTVE, 22 December 2011 (in Spanish)
After leaving the Yellow Submarine, Catalá totalled just 27 appearances in two seasons for Real Murcia CF and Apollon Limassol FC, the latter in the Cypriot First Division. On 8 August 2014, he changed teams and countries again, joining Veria F.C. of Super League Greece.Παίκτης της Βέροιας ο Jose Manuel Catala Mazuecos (José Manuel Catalá Mazuecos a Veria player) ; Veria FC, 8 August 2014 (in Greek)
Catalá made his debut for his new team on 24 August 2014, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–2 home victory over Skoda Xanthi FC.Βέροια – Ξάνθη 3–2 (Veria – Xanthi 3–2); Sport 24, 24 August 2014 (in Greek) His first start occurred against Ergotelis FC, his two mistakes resulting in both of the opposition's goals in an eventual 2–2 away draw.Εργοτέλης – Βέροια 2–2 (Ergotelis – Veria 2–2); Sport 24, 8 November 2014 (in Greek) After failing to perform overall, player and club agreed to mutually terminate the contract on 26 May 2015.Αποδεσμεύσεις ποδοσφαιριστών (Terminated players) ; Veria FC, 26 May 2015 (in Greek)
In the following years, Catalá played in the Spanish third division.Catalá, la solución en el medio campo (Catalá, the midfield answer); La Voz de Galicia, 19 January 2017 (in Spanish)José Manuel Catalá se convierte en el octavo fichaje del FC Jumilla (José Manuel Catalá becomes FC Jumilla's eighth signing); Tele Jumilla, 21 July 2017 (in Spanish)
Career statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsValencia B2006–07Segunda División B190——190Villajoyosa (loan)2004–05Segunda División B50——502005–06Segunda División B13020—150Total18020—204Alicante2007–08Segunda División B15250402422008–09Segunda División28300—283Total4355040525Villarreal2009–10La Liga000000002010–11La Liga16150903012011–12La Liga1300040170Total29150130471Murcia2012–13Segunda División22000—220Apollon Limassol2013–14Cypriot First Division50002070Veria2014–15Super League Greece4050—90Racing Ferrol2015–16Segunda División B14010201702016–17Segunda División B30220—322Total4423020492Jumilla2017–18Segunda División B30100—301Career total21492002102559
References
External links