Jesús Navas facts for kids
Navas playing for Sevilla in 2017
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Jesús Navas González | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 21 November 1985 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Los Palacios y Villafranca, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Right-back, winger | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2000 | Los Palacios | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2003 | Sevilla | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Sevilla B | 33 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2013 | Sevilla | 285 | (23) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2017 | Manchester City | 123 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2024 | Sevilla | 231 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 672 | (33) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Spain U21 | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2024 | Spain | 56 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jesús Navas González (born 21 November 1985) is a Spanish former professional footballer. He played as a right-back or right winger.
Jesús Navas spent most of his career playing for Sevilla in Spain. With Sevilla, he won eight major titles. These included four Europa Leagues and two Copas del Rey. In 2013, he moved to Manchester City in England. There, he helped them win the 2013–14 Premier League. He returned to Sevilla in 2017 and became the club's record holder for most games played, with 705 appearances.
Navas also played for the Spanish national team from 2009 to 2024. He helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup, two European Championships, and the 2022–23 Nations League. He played 56 games for his country and scored five goals.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Sevilla
Jesús Navas was born in Los Palacios y Villafranca, a town in Spain. He joined Sevilla's youth team when he was 15 years old. In the 2003–04 season, he played his first game for the main team. This was in a La Liga match on 23 November 2003. He played a few more games that season.
For the 2004–05 season, he became a full member of the main squad. He scored two goals in 22 games. In May 2005, he signed a contract to stay with Sevilla until 2010.
Winning Trophies with Sevilla
In the 2005–06 season, Navas played a key role. Sevilla won the UEFA Cup (now called the Europa League). He played in all 12 matches of the competition, including the final. He was often named one of the best players in the league.
Over the next three years, Navas continued to be a regular player for Sevilla. He was known for his assists. He also scored nine league goals in total. He helped Sevilla win the Copa del Rey in 2007.
In the 2009–10 season, Navas played in over 50 games. He was a top player for creating goals. On 19 May 2010, he scored a goal in the Copa del Rey final. Sevilla won the match 2–0 against Atlético Madrid.
The 2010–11 season was tough for Navas due to injuries. He played in less than half of Sevilla's matches.
Time at Manchester City
On 4 June 2013, Sevilla announced that Navas was leaving to join Premier League club Manchester City. The transfer was worth about £14.9 million. Navas said he was happy to take this new step in his career.
He played his first league game for Manchester City on 19 August 2013. He scored his first two goals for the club on 24 November. On 2 March 2014, Navas scored a goal in the League Cup final. Manchester City won 3–1 against Sunderland. In his first season, he played 48 games and scored six goals. He helped City win their fourth national championship.
Navas returned to his old stadium, the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, on 3 November 2015. This was for a UEFA Champions League match against Sevilla. In the League Cup final in 2016, he came on as a substitute. He scored a penalty in the shootout, helping City win against Liverpool.
Towards the end of the 2016–17 season, his manager, Pep Guardiola, started playing Navas as a right-back. On 25 May, Manchester City announced that Navas would be leaving the club.
Coming Back to Sevilla
On 1 August 2017, Sevilla announced that Jesús Navas was coming back. He signed a four-year contract. He was given the number 16 shirt, which was worn by his close friend, the late Antonio Puerta.
In his second time at Sevilla, Navas sometimes played as a right-back. On 20 September 2017, he played his 400th game for the club. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Las Palmas. He later broke Pablo Blanco's record for most games played for Sevilla.
Navas became the team captain before the 2018–19 season. On 18 October 2018, Sevilla renamed their training ground stadium Estadio Jesús Navas. This was to honor his amazing career.
On 3 January 2020, Navas became the first player to reach 500 games for Sevilla. On 21 August, he was the captain when Sevilla won the Europa League final. They beat Inter Milan 3–2. This was his third Europa League title with the club.
Navas signed a new three-year deal in June 2021. On 31 May 2023, at 37 years old, he started in the Europa League final. Sevilla won against Roma after a penalty shootout. Navas made a great cross that led to an own goal, tying the match. Because of his great performance, he was named the Player of the Season for the Europa League.
On 16 May 2024, Navas said he would leave Sevilla on 30 June. He later shared that the club had not offered him a new contract. After this, the club's chairman offered him a lifetime contract, which he accepted.
Navas scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Getafe on 14 September 2024. At 38 years and 298 days old, he became the oldest player to score for Sevilla in La Liga. On 14 December, he played his final match at the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium. It was a 1–0 win against Celta de Vigo. He left the field to hugs from his teammates and a standing ovation from the fans. His very last game was at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. He played for 30 minutes in a 4–2 loss to Real Madrid. Fans cheered him before and after the game.
International Career with Spain
After joining Sevilla's main team, Navas played for the Spain under-21 team. He scored in a 1–1 draw against France in August 2004. He was seen as a future star. However, he faced challenges with homesickness and anxiety. These issues sometimes made it hard for him to travel far from Seville.
In August 2009, he announced he wanted to overcome these challenges. He wanted to play for the national team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. On 9 November 2009, he was called up by coach Vicente del Bosque. He made his debut for Spain on 14 November in a 2–1 win against Argentina.
World Cup and European Championship Success
Navas was chosen for the World Cup in South Africa. He scored his first international goal on 3 June 2010 in a warm-up match against South Korea. He scored the only goal of the game. He played in three matches in the tournament. This included the last 30 minutes of the final against the Netherlands. Spain won their first World Cup trophy.
Navas was also part of the team for UEFA Euro 2012. He played in several games as a substitute. On 18 June, he scored the only goal in the last group stage game against Croatia. This goal helped Spain finish first in their group. Spain went on to win the tournament.
He was also picked for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Navas played three games as a substitute. In the semi-final against Italy, he scored the winning penalty in the shootout.
Later International Appearances
Navas was not chosen for the 2014 World Cup. However, on 15 March 2019, after almost six years, he returned to the national team. He played in Euro 2020 qualifying matches.
Three years after his last game, the 37-year-old Navas was selected for the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals. He played the full 90 minutes in a win against Italy in the semi-finals. At 37 years and 206 days old, he became the oldest player to play for the Spanish national team. Three days later, he started in the final against Croatia. Spain won after a shootout. This made him the first player ever to win a World Cup, a European Championship, and a Nations League title.
On 7 June 2024, Navas was named in the squad for Euro 2024. Seventeen days later, he was the captain in a 1–0 win against Albania. At 38 years and 216 days, he became the oldest Spanish player to play in a major tournament. Spain went on to win the tournament, beating England 2–1 in the final. After this, he announced his retirement from international football.
Playing Style
Navas was known for his incredible speed. He was also very good at dribbling the ball. His ability to run past opposing defenders was a key part of his game.
Personal Life
Navas had chronic homesickness. This meant he felt very anxious and unwell when he was far from Seville. He even left training camps in Spain because they were too far from his home. He initially did not want to travel with Sevilla for pre-season games in the United States. However, he later decided to go, hoping to overcome this challenge.
Navas' older brother, Marco, was also a footballer. He played as a midfielder. Marco also came through Sevilla's youth academy. Their family is of Gitano/Romani origin.
Career Statistics
Club Games
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sevilla Atlético | 2002–03 | Segunda División B | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2003–04 | Segunda División B | 23 | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | 29 | 3 | ||||
| 2004–05 | Segunda División B | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 33 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 3 | ||
| Sevilla | 2003–04 | La Liga | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 2004–05 | La Liga | 23 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 5 | 0 | — | 30 | 3 | |||
| 2005–06 | La Liga | 34 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | — | 48 | 2 | |||
| 2006–07 | La Liga | 29 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | La Liga | 36 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09 | La Liga | 35 | 4 | 8 | 1 | — | 6 | 0 | — | 49 | 5 | |||
| 2009–10 | La Liga | 34 | 4 | 9 | 4 | — | 8 | 2 | — | 51 | 10 | |||
| 2010–11 | La Liga | 15 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12 | La Liga | 37 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 43 | 5 | |||
| 2012–13 | La Liga | 37 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 44 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 285 | 23 | 46 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 393 | 34 | ||
| Manchester City | 2013–14 | Premier League | 30 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 0 | — | 48 | 6 | |
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 1 | |
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 1 | |
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | ||
| Total | 123 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 183 | 8 | ||
| Sevilla | 2017–18 | La Liga | 26 | 1 | 8 | 2 | — | 10 | 0 | — | 44 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19 | La Liga | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | La Liga | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | — | 47 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21 | La Liga | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | La Liga | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | La Liga | 32 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | — | 49 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24 | La Liga | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | La Liga | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 16 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 231 | 3 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 312 | 6 | ||
| Sevilla total | 516 | 26 | 68 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 112 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 705 | 40 | ||
| Career total | 672 | 33 | 81 | 10 | 15 | 4 | 143 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 927 | 51 | ||
International Games
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| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2009 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 56 | 5 | |
- Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Navas goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 June 2010 | Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria |  South Korea |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 18 June 2012 | PGE Arena, Gdańsk, Poland |  Croatia |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 |
| 3 | 10 September 2013 | Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland |  Chile |
2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 4 | 7 June 2019 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands |  Faroe Islands |
2–0 | 4–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 5 | 15 November 2019 | Ramón de Carranza, Cádiz, Spain |  Malta |
7–0 | 7–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
Honours and Awards
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Sevilla
- Copa del Rey: 2006–07, 2009–10
- Supercopa de España: 2007
- UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2019–20, 2022–23
- UEFA Super Cup: 2006; runner-up: 2023
Manchester City
- Premier League: 2013–14
- Football League Cup: 2013–14, 2015–16
Spain National Team
- FIFA World Cup: 2010
- UEFA European Championship: 2012, 2024
- UEFA Nations League: 2022–23
- FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 2013
Individual Awards
- La Liga Best Attacking Midfielder: 2009–10
- La Liga Team of The Season: 2018–19
- UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2019–20, 2022–23
- UEFA Europa League Player of the Season: 2022–23
Special Recognition
- Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit: 2011
See also
In Spanish: Jesús Navas para niños
- List of La Liga players (400+ appearances)
