David Català Jiménez (born 3 May 1980) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender, currently manager of Cypriot club Apollon Limassol FC.
![]() Català as a Celta player in 2009 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | David Català Jiménez | ||
Date of birth | (1980-05-03) 3 May 1980 (age 42) | ||
Place of birth | Barcelona, Spain | ||
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Apollon Limassol (manager) | ||
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) | |
Teams managed | |||
2021–2022 | AEK Larnaca | ||
2022– | Apollon Limassol | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
After beginning his career at Espanyol, he spent most of it in Segunda División, representing six teams over nine seasons in the division, mostly Salamanca and Celta. He totalled 274 games and 15 goals in that tier.
Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Català began his career at hometown club RCD Espanyol. He made his senior debut on 16 May 1999, playing the entirety of the reserves' 3–0 home win over Palamós CF 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 CD Numancia.[1]
After leaving for Xerez CD of Segunda División in 2003, Català spent each of the next four seasons at a different team in that level, culminating in Lorca Deportiva CF's relegation in 2007. He remained for two years in the same league with UD Salamanca, before joining fellow league side RC Celta de Vigo on a three year-deal on 23 June 2009; he was recommended by Miguel Torrecilla, the sporting director who made the same move earlier in the summer, and was the second player to be acquired that window after Cristian Bustos.[2]
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 Balaídos.[3] The campaign nonetheless ended in top-flight promotion, with him contributing 18 games and two goals to the feat.[4]
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 FC of the Cypriot First Division.[5] He helped the side win the 2017–18 Cypriot Cup at the age of 38,[6] and retired the following year.[7]
Catalá was appointed manager of his last club in May 2021, replacing Sofronis Avgousti on a two-year contract.[8][9] On 12 August 2022, he continued in the same league by signing a one-year deal with Apollon Limassol FC.[10]
Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Espanyol | 1999–2000 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2001–02 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
Xerez | 2003–04 | Segunda División | 36 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 38 | 3 | |
Lleida | 2004–05 | Segunda División | 37 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 39 | 3 | |
Albacete | 2005–06 | Segunda División | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | |
Lorca Deportiva | 2006–07 | Segunda División | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | |
Salamanca | 2007–08 | Segunda División | 42 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 43 | 3 | |
2008–09 | Segunda División | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 42 | 0 | ||
Salamanca Total | 82 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 85 | 3 | |||
Celta | 2009–10 | Segunda División | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | |
2010–11 | Segunda División | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 39 | 2 | |
2011–12 | Segunda División | 18 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 22 | 2 | ||
Total | 77 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 5 | ||
AEK Larnaca | 2012–13 | Cypriot First Division | 28 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 33 | 1 | |
2013–14 | Cypriot First Division | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 33 | 2 | ||
2014–15 | Cypriot First Division | 30 | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | 36 | 5 | ||
2015–16 | Cypriot First Division | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
Total | 95 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 111 | 8 | ||
Career total | 370 | 21 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 400 | 22 |
AEK Larnaca
Apollon Limassol FC – current squad | |
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AEK Larnaca – managers | |
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Apollon Limassol FC – managers | |
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