David Villabona

David Villabona

Personal information
Full name	David Villabona Echalecu
Date of birth	December 5, 1969 (1969-12-05)
Place of birth	Irun, Spain
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
	Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1987–1990	Real Sociedad	42	(1)
1990–1993	Athletic Bilbao	59	(1)
1993–2001	Racing Santander	120	(11)
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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Olympic medal record
Competitor for Spain
Men's Football
Gold	1992 Barcelona	Team Competition

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Villabona and the second or maternal family name is Echalecu.

David Villabona Echalecu (born 5 December 1969 in Irun, Gipuzkoa) is a retired Spanish footballer who played mostly as a central midfielder.

During his professional career, he played for both Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao, and was also a member of the Spanish side that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Football career

In a career blighted by injuries, Villabona started playing professionally with Real Sociedad, but only amassed seven first division appearances in his first three seasons, being an undisputed starter however in 1989–90, as he helped the Basque to a final fifth place.

Subsequently, Villabona joined neighbours Athletic de Bilbao, being regularly used at the beginning, but very little in his final season, 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; however, due to recurrent injuries, he only appeared 12 times from 1997–2001 combined (none in the latter, as Racing finished second from the bottom), and retired at 31.

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• Athletic Bilbao profile
• David Villabona – FIFA competition record