Mario Gaspar
![]() Mario Gaspar playing with Villarreal in 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Mario Gaspar Pérez Martínez[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 24 November 1990||
Place of birth | Novelda, Spain | ||
Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Right-back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Elche | ||
Number | 2 | ||
Youth career | |||
Albacete | |||
2007 | Villarreal | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2007–2008 | Villarreal C | 15 | (1) |
2008–2011 | Villarreal B | 79 | (0) |
2009–2022 | Villarreal | 337 | (10) |
2022–2023 | Watford | 31 | (0) |
2023– | Elche | 32 | (3) |
International career | |||
2008–2009 | Spain U19 | 13 | (2) |
2009 | Spain U20 | 1 | (0) |
2011 | Spain U21 | 2 | (0) |
2015–2016 | Spain | 3 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 June 2024 |
Mario Gaspar Pérez Martínez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmaɾjo ɣasˈpaɾ ˈpeɾeθ maɾˈtineθ];[a] born 24 November 1990) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Segunda División club Elche.
He spent 15 years of his career at Villarreal, making 424 official appearances and winning the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League.[3][4] In July 2022, he signed with Watford.
Mario Gaspar played his first match with Spain in 2015, scoring on his debut.
Club career
[edit]Villarreal
[edit]Born in Novelda, Alicante, Valencian Community, Mario Gaspar finished his development at Villarreal CF after arriving from Albacete Balompié.[5] On 15 March 2009, aged just 18, he made his first-team – and La Liga – debut, in a game against Atlético Madrid: he replaced Giuseppe Rossi with roughly 25 minutes to play, with the score at 2–1, but the Yellow Submarine eventually lost 3–2 away.[6]
Mario Gaspar spent the entire 2009–10 season with the reserves. He started in all 31 games he appeared in, as they easily retained their newly-found Segunda División status.[7][8]
Midway through the following campaign, Mario Gaspar was definitely promoted to the main squad following Ángel López's severe knee injury, also making the starting XI.[9] On 16 January 2011, in his first start, he played the full 90 minutes in a 4–2 home win over CA Osasuna,[10] finishing with 22 appearances. He scored his first competitive goal on 1 May 2012, opening the 3–2 victory at Sporting de Gijón towards the end of a season which finished with relegation.[11] In May 2014, with a year remaining on his contract, it was extended for a further four.[12]
Mario Gaspar scored his first goal in European competition on 21 August 2014, concluding a 3–0 away defeat of FC Astana in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off (7–0 aggregate).[13] In January 2017, he signed a new deal to last until 2023.[14][15]
On 18 March 2018, Mario Gaspar played his 300th official match for Villarreal, in a 2–1 win at Atlético; only Cani, Marcos Senna and teammate Bruno Soriano had reached that figure before for the club.[16] He filled in as captain during the lengthy injuries of the last of those players,[17] and on 21 April 2021 with a 2–1 away loss to Deportivo Alavés he joined him at 400 matches.[18]
In 2021–22, still under manager Unai Emery, Mario Gaspar was kept out of the team by both Serge Aurier and Juan Foyth.[19]
Watford
[edit]On 29 July 2022, Mario Gaspar signed for EFL Championship club Watford.[20] He made his league debut on 8 August, a 77th-minute substitute for Hassane Kamara in the 1–1 draw at West Bromwich Albion.[21]
Mario Gaspar was released in July 2023, having reached an agreement to cancel his contract.[22]
Elche
[edit]On 31 July 2023, Mario Gaspar returned to Spain, joining second-tier Elche CF on a one-year contract with an option for a further year.[23]
International career
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Ukr-Spain2015_%2811%29.jpg/170px-Ukr-Spain2015_%2811%29.jpg)
Mario Gaspar earned 16 caps for Spain at youth level, including two for the under-21s. He received his first call up to the senior side in October 2015,[24] making his debut on the 12th by scoring the game's only goal in Ukraine – the last round, the nation had already secured the first position in its group – for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers.[25] He repeated the feat the following match, scoring an overhead kick to open a 2–0 friendly win against England in Alicante,[26] with the strike being nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award.[27]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]Club | Season | League | National cup[b] | League cup[c] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Villarreal B | 2007–08 | Segunda División B | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
2008–09 | 31 | 0 | — | — | — | 6[d] | 0 | 37 | 0 | |||||
2009–10 | Segunda División | 31 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 0 | |||||
2010–11 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||||
Total | 79 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | 85 | 0 | |||||
Villarreal | 2008–09 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
2010–11 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 11[e] | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | ||||
2011–12 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 5[f] | 0 | — | 29 | 1 | ||||
2012–13 | Segunda División | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 28 | 0 | ||||
2013–14 | La Liga | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 37 | 1 | ||||
2014–15 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | 11[e] | 1 | — | 51 | 4 | ||||
2015–16 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 10[e] | 0 | — | 44 | 2 | ||||
2016–17 | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 4[g] | 0 | — | 43 | 0 | ||||
2017–18 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 5[e] | 0 | — | 38 | 2 | ||||
2018–19 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 8[e] | 0 | — | 40 | 1 | ||||
2019–20 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 28 | 0 | |||||
2020–21 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4[e] | 0 | — | 29 | 0 | ||||
2021–22 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[f] | 0 | 1[h] | 0 | 18 | 0 | |||
Total | 337 | 10 | 26 | 0 | — | 60 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 424 | 11 | |||
Watford | 2022–23 | Championship | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 0 | ||
Career total | 447 | 10 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 542 | 11 |
- ^ In isolation, Gaspar is pronounced [ɡasˈpaɾ].
- ^ Includes Copa del Rey, FA Cup
- ^ Includes EFL Cup
- ^ Appearances in Segunda División B promotion play-offs
- ^ a b c d e f Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearance in UEFA Super Cup
International
[edit]- Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mario Gaspar goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 October 2015 | Olympic Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying[25] |
2 | 13 November 2015 | José Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain | ![]() |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly[26] |
Honours
[edit]Villarreal
References
[edit]- ^ "Mario Gaspar" (in Spanish). Villarreal CF. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- ^ a b Mario Gaspar at AS.com (in Spanish)
- ^ "Bruno Soriano, Manu Trigueros y Mario Gaspar, emblemas del Villarreal con más de 400 partidos a sus espaldas" [Bruno Soriano, Manu Trigueros and Mario Gaspar, Villarreal emblems with more than 400 matches to their credit] (in Spanish). Castellón Información. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- ^ "El Villarreal se despide de Mario Gaspar tras 15 temporadas y ficha a Kiko Femenía" [Villarreal say goodbye to Mario Gaspar after 15 seasons and sign Kiko Femenía] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- ^ Costarrosa, David (28 July 2022). "Mario Gaspar y el Villarreal separan sus caminos 15 años después" [Mario Gaspar and Villarreal part their ways 15 years later] (in Spanish). Castellón Plaza. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Anaut, Juan José (15 March 2009). "El fútbol fue justo con el Atlético" [Football was fair to Atlético]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 March 2014.
- ^ Mata, Javier (28 May 2010). ""Los del B tienen mucha calidad para dar el salto"" ["The B guys have what it takes to make the transition"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Julián, Rafa (27 December 2010). "Números de récord en el filial amarillo" [Record numbers at yellow reserves]. Diario Siglo XXI (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "Joao Pereira, en la agenda del Villarreal" [João Pereira, tracked by Villarreal]. Marca (in Spanish). 24 November 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "Cani inspires Villarreal". ESPN Soccernet. 15 January 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ Melero, Delfín (1 May 2012). "El Villarreal se declara inocente y condena al Sporting" [Villarreal plead not guilty and condemn Sporting]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ Lizarraga, José Luis (19 May 2014). "El club amarillo blinda a Mario con un contrato hasta el 2019" [The yellow club tie down Mario with a contract until 2019]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Astana-Villarreal: Eliminatoria sentenciada (0–3)" [Astana-Villarreal: Tie decided (0–3)] (in Spanish). Eurosport. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "El Villarreal renueva a Mario y Jaume Costa" [Villarreal renew Mario and Jaume Costa]. Marca (in Spanish). 11 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ Mata, Javier (11 January 2017). "Villarreal hand new deals to Mario Gaspar and Jaume Costa". Diario AS. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "Mario es unix als 300 del Villarreal" [Mario joins Villarreal's 300 club]. Super Deporte (in Catalan). 22 March 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ "La fuerza moral de Bruno Soriano" [Bruno Soriano's moral strength]. Diario de Burgos (in Spanish). 24 June 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Mario Gaspar alcanza a Bruno Soriano en el Villarreal" [Mario Gaspar closes in on Bruno Soriano at Villarreal]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 22 April 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ Mateu, Ismael (28 January 2022). "Los comodines de Emery frente a las adversidades" [Emery's jokers against adversities]. Super Deporte (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Official: Mario Gaspar signs on". Watford F.C. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Scott, Ged (8 August 2022). "West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ French, Andrew (1 July 2023). "Quina leaves Watford for Udinese and Gaspar also departs". Watford Observer. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ Manteca, Óscar (31 July 2023). "Mario Gaspar, nuevo futbolista del Elche" [Mario Gaspar, new Elche footballer] (in Spanish). Alicante Plaza. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ Farrell, Dom (5 October 2015). "Del Bosque reinforces Spain after injury setbacks". Goal. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Debutant Gaspar earns Spain victory in Ukraine". UEFA. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ a b McNulty, Phil (14 November 2015). "Spain 2–0 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
- ^ "Saúl, Neymar, Mario Gaspar and Messi up for Puskás Award". Diario AS. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ Mario Gaspar at BDFutbol
- ^ Mario Gaspar at Soccerway
- ^ Mario Gaspar at FBref.com
- ^ Stone, Simon (26 May 2021). "Villarreal 1–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Mario Gaspar at BDFutbol
- Mario Gaspar at National-Football-Teams.com
- Mario Gaspar at EU-Football.info
- 1990 births
- Living people
- People from Vinalopó Mitjà
- Spanish men's footballers
- Footballers from the Province of Alicante
- Men's association football fullbacks
- La Liga players
- Segunda División players
- Segunda División B players
- Tercera División players
- Villarreal CF C players
- Villarreal CF B players
- Villarreal CF players
- Elche CF players
- English Football League players
- Watford F.C. players
- UEFA Europa League winning players
- Spain men's youth international footballers
- Spain men's under-21 international footballers
- Spain men's international footballers
- Spanish expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in England
- Spanish expatriate sportspeople in England