Unai Vergara

Unai Vergara Díez-Caballero (born 20 January 1977), known simply as Unai, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Vergara and the second or maternal family name is Díez-Caballero.

Unai
Personal information
Full name Unai Vergara Díez-Caballero
Date of birth (1977-01-20) 20 January 1977
Place of birth Portugalete, Spain
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Masnou
Ferrán Martorell
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1997 Sant Andreu 31 (2)
1997–1999 Gramenet 70 (7)
1999–2000 Mérida 38 (4)
2000–2004 Villarreal 60 (5)
2003–2004 → Albacete (loan) 14 (0)
2004–2005 Elche 15 (0)
2005–2007 Lleida 26 (1)
2007–2008 Gavà 34 (3)
Total 288 (22)
National team
2000 Spain U21 1 (0)
2000 Spain U23 3 (0)
2001 Spain 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only
Olympic medal record
Representing  Spain
Men's Football
2000 SydneyTeam Competition

He amassed La Liga totals of 74 matches and five goals over four seasons, almost exclusively with Villarreal. The owner of a powerful left-foot shot,[1] he also played in the competition with Albacete.

Club career

Unai in Portugalete, Biscay. After three seasons playing with modest sides in the Catalonia area, he represented CP Mérida in 1999–2000's second division, where he produced a fine individual campaign; however, although the Extremadura team finished sixth, the club was relegated for lack of payment to its players.

Subsequently, Unai joined Villarreal CF, which had just returned to La Liga. He was relatively used during three seasons, also adding three goals in his first. His first match in the competition took place on 28 October 2000, when he came from the bench in a 0–0 home draw against Athletic Bilbao.[2]

After a string of injuries (some serious), Unai had an unassuming loan spell at Albacete Balompié, being released in June 2004 and going on to represent Elche CF, UE Lleida (second level) and CF Gavà (third).[3]

International career

On 28 February 2001, Unai made his sole appearance for Spain, playing 90 minutes in a 0–3 friendly loss against England in Birmingham.[4] Previously, he represented the nation at the 2000 Summer Olympics, playing three times for the eventual silver medalists.[5]

Unai was the first-ever Villarreal player to be called up for either team.[1]

Honours

Spain U23

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References
  1. Ros, Cayetano (27 February 2001). "El 'bonachón' de potente zurda" [The 'good guy' with the powerful left foot]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  2. "Villarreal y Athletic empatan sin goles en un mal partido" [Villarreal and Athletic get goalless draw in poor match]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 28 October 2000. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  3. "Unai Vergara cuelga las botas con el Gavà" [Unai Vergara hangs up boots with Gavà]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). 16 July 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  4. Segurola, Santiago (1 March 2001). "Inglaterra golea (3–0) a España" [England rout (3–0) Spain]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  5. Unai Vergara – FIFA competition record
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