Full name Javier Garcia Portillo 1994–2001 Real Madrid Weight 72 kg Place of birth Aranjuez, Spain Name Javier Portillo Position Forward | Playing position Role Footballer Current team Hercules CF Number 9 Height 1.82 m | |
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Date of birth (1982-03-30) 30 March 1982 (age 33) | ||
Javier portillo
Javier García Portillo (born 30 March 1982 in Aranjuez, Community of Madrid) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a forward.
Contents
- Javier portillo
- Javier portillo un ano desde su paso de futbolista a director deportivo
- Club career
- International career
- Club statistics
- Club
- Individual
- References
He started out at Real Madrid, but appeared in only 59 competitive games during his tenure (17 goals). In La Liga, he also played for Gimnàstic, Osasuna and Hércules for a total of 131 matches and 21 goals, and also competed professionally in Italy and Belgium.
During a 14-year senior career, Portillo represented Hércules in all three major levels of Spanish football.
Javier portillo un ano desde su paso de futbolista a director deportivo
Club career
In 1994, aged 12, Portillo entered Real Madrid's youth system. During seven seasons he was a prolific scorer, netting 150 goals and breaking a record previously held by Raúl. In 2002 he signed his first professional contract, running until 2007 with a release clause of €35 million.
On 6 October 2002, Portillo made his first La Liga appearance and second overall for the main squad, starting in a 5–2 home win against Deportivo Alavés and ending that season with five goals in only ten games. He also scored a vital last-minute equaliser against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League second group phase, a goal which ultimately proved to be crucial in the Merengues' making it into the knockout stages.
In July 2004, Portillo was loaned to Serie A side ACF Fiorentina, but was recalled by new manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who arrived midway through the 2004–05 campaign. However, the same coach deemed him surplus to requirements and another loan ensued, to Club Brugge KV in the Belgian Pro League.
At the end of this loan period, Portillo returned to Real under newly hired coach Fabio Capello. With new signing Ruud van Nistelrooy adding to already present Raúl, Antonio Cassano and Ronaldo, he was released from contract and signed a two-year contract with recently promoted Gimnàstic de Tarragona.
After a successful individual season (12 goals across all competitions, although the Catalans were relegated from the top flight), in July 2007 Portillo replaced at Osasuna Roberto Soldado, who returned from loan to Real Madrid. During his first two campaigns, he was used irregularly, and only netted three times in the league.
In late December 2009, Portillo – who was only fourth or fifth-choice striker for Osasuna coach José Antonio Camacho – finally moved clubs, signing until the end of the season plus two more with second division's Hércules CF. After some time to adjust he finished in the starting XI, netting vital goals in the final stretch, including one in the last round for a 2–0 win at Real Unión as the Alicante club returned to the first division after 13 years.
In 2010–11, Portillo returned to reserve status after Hércules signed David Trezeguet and Nelson Valdez in the off-season. He only started through injury or suspension to the pair, and only scored twice in official matches, one coming in a 3–1 away win against Real Sociedad on 3 April 2011, with Hércules being immediately relegated back.
On 2 August 2011, Portillo signed for three years with UD Las Palmas in the second level. For the 2012–13 season, however, he moved teams again, returning to Hércules on a three-year deal.
International career
During one year – shortly after his arrival at the Real Madrid senior setup – Portillo played ten times for Spain under-21s, and scored five goals.