ISLW

Bio

Joan Capdevila has spent most of his career playing in La Liga. In his 15 seasons in the Spanish top flight, the left-back made 432 appearances and scored 35 goals.

He started his professional career at Espanyol, rising through the ranks of the youth academy before making his first-team debut in 1998. After a season with the Barcelona-based club, he moved to Atlético Madrid for one year, before moving again, to Deportiva La Coruña, where he played until 2007. It was at Deportivo that Capdevila established himself as a world-class left back. He scored both goals in a famous victory against Villareal in September 2006.

After playing 179 matches for Deportivo he joined Villareal in 2007. At his first season in Villareal he played all but two games as the club qualified for the Champions League. His strong performances kept him in the starting eleven for majority of his time at the club.

In 2011, Capdevila moved away from Spain, and joined Portuguese giants Benfica. He played in Lisbon for a year, being a crucial part of the side’s Champions League campaign in the knockout stages. He returned to Espanyol at the end of the season, playing for his childhood club for two seasons.

Capdevila made his international debut for Spain’s senior side in 2002. However, it was in 2008 when he established himself as first-choice, and he was vital in Spain’s UEFA Euro 2008 success. He then played every minute of Spain’s 2010 FIFA World Cup-winning campaign. His performances at the left-back position were enhanced by the number of assists he delivered. He was solid at the back, and his decisively accurate final balls and overall support play were integral in Spain’s attacking play.