David Villabona Echalecu (born 5 December 1969) is a Spanish retired footballer who played mostly as a central midfielder.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | David Villabona Echalecu | ||
Date of birth | (1969-12-05) 5 December 1969 (age 52) | ||
Place of birth | Irun, Spain | ||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
Real Sociedad | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1986–1989 | Real Sociedad B | 30 | (3) |
1987–1990 | Real Sociedad | 42 | (1) |
1990–1993 | Athletic Bilbao | 59 | (1) |
1993–2001 | Racing Santander | 120 | (11) |
Total | 251 | (16) | |
National team | |||
1987 | Spain U17 | 1 | (0) |
1986–1988 | Spain U18 | 10 | (1) |
1988–1989 | Spain U19 | 3 | (0) |
1989–1990 | Spain U20 | 5 | (1) |
1990–1991 | Spain U21 | 5 | (0) |
1991–1992 | Spain U23 | 5 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Olympic medal record | ||
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Representing ![]() | ||
Men's Football | ||
![]() | 1992 Barcelona | Team Competition |
During his professional career he played for both Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao, amassing La Liga totals of 221 matches and 13 goals over 15 seasons.
Villabona was a member of the Spanish side that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.[1]
Villabona was born in Irun, Gipuzkoa. In a career blighted by injuries, he started playing professionally with Real Sociedad, but only amassed seven La Liga appearances in his first three seasons, being an undisputed starter however in 1989–90 as he helped the Basques to a final fifth place.
Subsequently, Villabona joined neighbours Athletic Bilbao,[2] being regularly used at the beginning but very little in his final campaign, facing stiff competition from Josu Urrutia and youngster Julen Guerrero. His most steady period was lived at Racing de Santander, being a very important midfield element for the Cantabrians; due to recurrent injuries, however, he only appeared 12 times from 1997 to 2001 combined (none in the latter season as they finished second from the bottom), and retired at the age of 31.
Spain U23
Spain football squad – 1992 Summer Olympics – Gold medalists | ||
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