Unai Vergara

Unai
Personal information
Full name	Unai Vergara Díez-Caballero
Date of birth	20 January 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth	Portugalete, Spain
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
	Masnou
	Ferrán Martorell
Senior career*
Years	Team
1996–1997	Sant Andreu
1997–1999	Gramenet
1999–2000	Mérida
2000–2004	Villarreal
2003–2004	→ Albacete (loan)
2004–2005	Elche
2005–2007	Lleida
2007–2008	Gavà
Total
International career
2000	Spain U21
2000	Spain U23
2001	Spain
Medal record
Representing Spain
Men's Football
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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

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

Summer Olympic silver medal: 2000

References

^ ^a ^b 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.
^ "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.
^ "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.
^ Segurola, Santiago (1 March 2001). "Inglaterra golea (3–0) a España" [England rout (3–0) Spain]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2013.
^ Unai Vergara – FIFA competition record (archived)

External links

Unai Vergara at BDFutbol
Unai Vergara at National-Football-Teams.com

[GG-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 (archived)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]