Sergio Matabuena facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sergio Matabuena Delgado | ||
| Date of birth | 12 February 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Santander, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Racing Santander | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2002 | Racing B | ||
| 2000–2001 | → Velarde (loan) | ||
| 2002–2007 | Racing Santander | 74 | (5) |
| 2007–2011 | Sporting Gijón | 82 | (2) |
| 2011–2012 | Valladolid | 14 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Sergio Matabuena Delgado was a Spanish footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He was born on February 12, 1979, in Santander, Spain. A defensive midfielder is a player who helps protect the team's goal and breaks up the opponent's attacks. Sergio Matabuena retired from playing professional football.
Contents
Sergio Matabuena's Football Journey
Starting Out in Santander
Sergio Matabuena began his football journey in his hometown. He joined the youth academy of Racing de Santander, a well-known club in Spain. This is where he learned the skills and teamwork needed to become a professional player.
Playing in La Liga
Matabuena made his first appearance in La Liga, which is Spain's top football league, on November 17, 2002. His team, Racing de Santander, played against RCD Mallorca. He scored his first goals for the club in the season that followed, during 2003–04.
While he was a valuable player, Matabuena was not always a regular starter for Racing de Santander. After playing only five matches in the 2006–07 season, he decided to move to a new team.
Moving to Sporting Gijón
In 2007, Sergio Matabuena joined Sporting de Gijón. This team played in the Segunda División, which is Spain's second-highest football league. He played a very important role in helping Sporting Gijón achieve promotion back to La Liga in 2008.
During this successful season, Matabuena was known for his tough and determined style of play. He received 14 yellow cards (a warning from the referee) and even scored two late goals in a 2–2 draw against Córdoba CF. Because of his strong playing style, fans affectionately nicknamed him "Matabuena Gattuso", comparing him to a famous tough midfielder.
Later Career
In the following seasons, Matabuena played less often in La Liga. For example, he appeared in 14 matches during the 2009–10 season. He was often the second or third choice for the defensive midfielder position.
On January 13, 2011, when he was 32 years old, Matabuena returned to the second division. He signed with Real Valladolid, where he continued his professional career.
See also
In Spanish: Sergio Matabuena para niños
