Diego Capel

Diego Ángel Capel Trinidad (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo kaˈpel]; born 16 February 1988) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Maltese club Birkirkara F.C. as a left winger.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Capel and the second or maternal family name is Trinidad.

Diego Capel
Capel warming up for Sporting in 2012
Personal information
Full name Diego Ángel Capel Trinidad
Date of birth (1988-02-16) 16 February 1988
Place of birth Albox, Spain
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Birkirkara
Number 16
Youth career
1998–2000 Olula CF
2000 Barcelona
2001–2002 Olula CF
2002–2003 CD Oriente[1]
2003–2004 Sevilla
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Sevilla B 84 (7)
2004–2011 Sevilla 126 (6)
2011–2015 Sporting CP 99 (10)
2015–2016 Genoa 21 (0)
2016–2017 Anderlecht 15 (1)
2018–2019 Extremadura 14 (0)
2020– Birkirkara 2 (1)
National team
2004 Spain U16 3 (0)
2004–2005 Spain U17 14 (2)
2006–2007 Spain U19 12 (0)
2007 Spain U20 6 (2)
2007–2011 Spain U21 25 (5)
2012 Spain U23 1 (0)
2008 Spain 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 March 2020

He made his senior debut with Sevilla at 16, going on to appear in 173 competitive matches for the club during seven La Liga seasons (12 goals) and win six major trophies, including two UEFA Cups.[2] In 2011, he signed for Sporting in Portugal.

Capel earned 60 caps for Spain all youth categories comprised, representing the under-21s in two European Championships.

Club career

Sevilla

Groomed in Sevilla FC's youth system (after a brief spell at FC Barcelona),[3][4] Capel was born in Albox, Province of Almería, and he made his first professional appearance aged only 16, playing three minutes in a 2–1 home win over Atlético Madrid on 24 October 2004.[5] In the following seasons he would alternate between the A and B-teams, playing four further games in 2005–06 with the main squad; on 1 December 2005 he appeared 18 minutes in the Andalusians' 3–1 win against Vitória de Guimarães also at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium,[6] in an eventually victorious campaign in the UEFA Cup.

Capel with Sevilla in 2010

Capel became first-choice in the 2007–08 season due to the death of another left-footed winger, Antonio Puerta, in late August. He scored his first goal in La Liga against Barcelona on 9 February 2008, in a 1–1 home draw.[7] The previous month, he had netted in a Copa del Rey tie, against the same opponent (also 1–1 and in Seville).[8]

In June 2008, Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur were linked with a £12.5 million bid for Capel. He admitted he would consider leaving Sevilla to "grow as a footballer", if the clubs could agree on a signing fee,[9] but nothing came of it. Also at the end of the league campaign, Barcelona-based daily Sport further speculated that Real Madrid were considering Capel as a potential replacement for the recently departed Robinho,[10] but no move ever materialized.

In the 2009–10 campaign, Capel lost his position to Argentine Diego Perotti,[11] but still managed to feature in 29 matches – one goal in a 5–1 win at Racing de Santander[12]– as Sevilla edged RCD Mallorca for the fourth position, with the subsequent Champions League qualification; additionally, on 19 May 2010, he opened the score at the Camp Nou, in a 2–0 win against Atlético for the final of the domestic cup.[13]

Capel appeared again regularly for Sevilla in 2010–11, playing in 27 league games and starting in 17 as the team finished in fifth position.

Sporting

On 18 July 2011, Capel's uncle Carioca acknowledged negotiations between Sevilla and Sporting CP for the transfer of the player for €6 million and a five-year contract,[14] although the fee agreed was eventually €3.5 million with a €30 million release clause.[15] He made his debut for his new club on the 30th, playing the second half of a 0–3 friendly home loss to Valencia CF.

Capel scored his first goal for Sporting on 2 October 2011, in a 1–0 Primeira Liga away win against Vitória de Guimarães.[16] On the 24th, for the same competition, he netted twice in a 6–1 home success over Gil Vicente FC, in what was the Lions' ninth straight official win.[17]

On 19 April 2012, Capel scored his seventh official goal of the season, helping hosts Sporting come from behind to win it 2–1 against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-finals first leg.[18]

Genoa and Anderlecht

On 18 August 2015, as his minutes at Sporting were dwindling dramatically,[19][20] Capel signed for Genoa C.F.C. in Italy[21] for a reported fee of €1.3 million,[22] as the former retained 50% of his rights regarding any future transfer fee the latter received.[23] The following 4 August 2016 he switched countries again, signing a two-year deal with the option for a third at R.S.C. Anderlecht in the Belgian First Division A;[24] in the winter transfer window the former were looking to transfer him,[25] and he was eventually released in August 2017 having made 25 competitive appearances and scored two goals.[26]

Extremadura

On 4 August 2018, after more than a year without a club, 30-year-old Capel moved to Segunda División side Extremadura UD on a two-year contract.[27] He was joined there by his former Sevilla teammate José Antonio Reyes, who died in a car crash in June 2019;[28] the following month, he left the team from Almendralejo having played just 382 minutes.[29]

International career

After having helped Spain win the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship,[30] Capel played in the 2007 FIFA World Cup with the under-20 team, scoring in injury time in the first game against Uruguay for the final 2–2.[31] He helped the country progress to the quarter-finals where they were knocked out by the Czech Republic, and subsequently moved to the under-21s.[32]

On 20 August 2008, Capel made his debut for the senior side, playing the second half of a friendly with Denmark and setting up two goals in the 3–0 away win.[33]

Career statistics

Club
As of 29 August 2017[34][35]
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sevilla 2004–05 La Liga 3000—30
2005–06 La Liga 4000—1[lower-alpha 3]0—50
2006–07 La Liga 0000—1[lower-alpha 3]0—10
2007–08 La Liga 31331—8[lower-alpha 4]01[lower-alpha 5]0434
2008–09 La Liga 32260—3[lower-alpha 3]1—413
2009–10 La Liga 29173—6[lower-alpha 4]0—424
2010–11 La Liga 27041—6[lower-alpha 4]01[lower-alpha 5]0381
Total 1266205002512017312
Sporting 2011–12 Primeira Liga 264713113[lower-alpha 3]1—497
2012–13 Primeira Liga 26510207[lower-alpha 3]0—365
2013–14 Primeira Liga 2612230—313
2014–15 Primeira Liga 21010004[lower-alpha 4]0—260
Total 9910113812410014215
Genoa 2015–16 Serie A 21000—210
Anderlecht 2016–17 Belgian First Division A 15120008100252
Career total 26117338815732036129
  1. Includes Copa del Rey and Taça de Portugal matches.
  2. Includes Taça da Liga matches.
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. Appearances in UEFA Super Cup

Honours

Club

Sevilla[36]

Sporting[36]

Anderlecht[36]

International

Spain U21[36]

Spain U19[30]

Individual

References
  1. "Entrevista a Diego Capel: "Sería un sueño terminar mi carrera en el Almería"" [Interview with Diego Capel: "It would be a dream to finish my career in Almería"] (in Spanish). La Triangulación. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  2. "Capel debutó en Primera con 16 años" [Capel made Primera debut at 16] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 25 October 2004. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  3. "El sevillista Diego Capel está en la órbita del Barça" [Sevillista Diego Capel is in the orbit of Barça] (in Spanish). Sport. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  4. "El gol del nostálgico de Albox" [Albox's nostalgic goal] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  5. "El Sevilla confirma su potencial y condena al Atlético" [Sevilla confirm their potential and condemn Atlético] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 24 October 2004. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  6. "El Sevilla sentencia ante el Vitoria de Guimaraes su pase a dieciseisavos" [Sevilla seal qualification to last-32 against Vitoria de Guimaraes] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 1 December 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  7. Barcelona bid held up by Sevilla; UEFA, 9 February 2008
  8. Capel keeps Sevilla dream alive; UEFA, 9 January 2008
  9. Diego Capel could still move to Tottenham; The Daily Telegraph, 19 March 2009
  10. Capel favourite to replace Robinho?; Goal, 19 March 2009
  11. "Capel sobre Perotti: "Va a haber muchos partidos y podremos repatirlos" (ver video)" [Capel on Perotti: "There will be many games and we can share them" (watch video)] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 3 August 2010. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  12. "Una mano al cuello" [Hand to throat] (in Spanish). Marca. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  13. "Cup glory for Sevilla". ESPN Soccernet. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  14. "Diego Capel's uncle confirms midfielder is set to sign for Sporting Lisbon". Goal. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  15. "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Securities Market Commission. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  16. "Capel fires Sporting to victory in Guimaraes as Braga are surprised by Leiria". PortuGOAL. 2 October 2011. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  17. "Dazzling Sporting hit Gil for six". PortuGOAL. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  18. "Capel caps Sporting comeback against Athletic". UEFA. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  19. "A menor preponderância de Diego Capel" [Diego Capel's lesser importance] (in Portuguese). Camarote Leonino. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  20. "Swansea atento à situação de Diego Capel" [Swansea keeping an eye on situation of Diego Capel] (in Portuguese). Record. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  21. "Colpo Genoa, fatta per Diego Capel" [Genoa strike, Diego Capel deal done] (in Italian). Genoa C.F.C. 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  22. "Sporting confirma saída de Diego Capel para o Génova" [Sporting confirm departure of Diego Capel to Genoa] (in Portuguese). Público. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  23. "Sporting oficializa Capel no Génova" [Sporting make Capel official at Genoa] (in Portuguese). TSF. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  24. "Diego Capel firma dos años con el Anderlecht" [Diego Capel signs for two years at Anderlecht] (in Spanish). Marca. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  25. "El Anderlecht busca equipo para Diego Capel" [Anderlecht look for team for Diego Capel] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  26. "Hoy se cierra mi etapa en el RSC Anderlecht. Es hora de buscar nuevos retos. Gracias por todo. Gracias afición" [Today my spell at RSC Anderlecht comes to an end. It's time to look for new challenges. Thanks for everything. Thanks fans.] (in Spanish). Twitter. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  27. "Oficial: el Extremadura sorprende y ficha a Diego Capel" [Official: Extremadura surprise and sign Diego Capel] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  28. "La dedicatoria de Capel a Reyes: "Ganamos por ti, hermano"" [Capel's dedication to Reyes: "We won for you, brother"] (in Spanish). ABC. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  29. "Diego Capel deja el Extremadura" [Diego Capel leaves Extremadura] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  30. Bueno double gives Spain glory Archived 10 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine; UEFA, 29 July 2006
  31. Capel comes to Spain's rescue; UEFA, 2 July 2007
  32. Norway hit back to hold Spain; UEFA, 10 February 2009
  33. "España mantiene la inercia de la Eurocopa" [Spain maintain Eurocup momentum] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 21 August 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  34. "Capel: Diego Capel Trinidad". BDFutbol. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  35. "Capel". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  36. "Capel – Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  37. "Capel feliz pelo prémio do jogador do mês de Outubro" [Capel happy with October Player of the Month award] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
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