# Javi Chica

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**Francisco Javier "Javi" Chica Torres** (born 17 May 1985) is a Spanish former professional [footballer](/source/Association_football). Capable of appearing at either [right or left-back](/source/Defender_(association_football)#Full-back), his main asset was his physical strength.

He spent the better part of his professional career with [Espanyol](/source/RCD_Espanyol), appearing in 136 competitive matches over a five-year spell.[1] In [La Liga](/source/La_Liga), he also represented [Betis](/source/Real_Betis).

## Club career

### Espanyol

Born in [Barcelona](/source/Barcelona), [Catalonia](/source/Catalonia), Chica was a product of [RCD Espanyol](/source/RCD_Espanyol)'s youth system.[2] He made his first-team debut on 15 October 2006 in a 0–0 away draw against [Villarreal CF](/source/Villarreal_CF),[3] and appeared in 27 [La Liga](/source/La_Liga) games in his [first year](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_La_Liga), adding ten as the club [went all the way](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_UEFA_Cup) to [the final](/source/2007_UEFA_Cup_final) of the [UEFA Cup](/source/UEFA_Europa_League), losing it to fellow Spaniards [Sevilla FC](/source/Sevilla_FC) (he did not play the decisive match itself).[4]

Never an undisputed starter in the following seasons, Chica continued to be regularly used at Espanyol, featuring in an average of more than 20 matches per season as either a [right or left-back](/source/Defender_(association_football)#Full-back).

### Betis

In late May 2011, [free agent](/source/Free_agent) Chica signed a four-year contract with [Real Betis](/source/Real_Betis), [recently returned to the top division](/source/2010%E2%80%9311_Segunda_Divisi%C3%B3n).[5] He made his official debut on 27 August, starting at right-back in a 1–0 away win against [Granada CF](/source/Granada_CF).[6]

Chica scored his first goal as a senior on 20 April 2014, but it happened in a 3–1 loss at [Rayo Vallecano](/source/Rayo_Vallecano);[7] the [Andalusians](/source/Andalusia) also suffered relegation at the end of the campaign after [finishing last](/source/2013%E2%80%9314_La_Liga).[8]

### Valladolid

On 9 July 2014, despite having still one year left on his Betis contract, Chica agreed to a two-year deal with [Real Valladolid](/source/Real_Valladolid), also in the [Segunda División](/source/Segunda_Divisi%C3%B3n).[9] He totalled 60 games during his stint at the [Estadio José Zorrilla](/source/Estadio_Jos%C3%A9_Zorrilla).

### Later career

Chica returned to his native region in January 2017, joining [Segunda División B](/source/Segunda_Divisi%C3%B3n_B) side [UE Llagostera](/source/CF_Badalona_Futur).[10] Before retiring in 2019 at the age of 34, he spent one year with amateurs [FE Grama](/source/FE_Grama).[11]

In summer 2020, Chica returned to Espanyol as youth coach.[12]

## Honours

**Espanyol**

- [UEFA Cup](/source/UEFA_Europa_League) runner-up: [2006–07](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_UEFA_Cup)[4]

**Spain U19**

- [UEFA European Under-19 Championship](/source/UEFA_European_Under-19_Championship): [2004](/source/2004_UEFA_European_Under-19_Championship)[13]

## References

1. ["Javi Chica lamenta en su despedida el trato del club"](https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/05/30/barcelona/1306766871.html) [Javi Chica regrets treatment by club in his farewell] (in Spanish). *[El Mundo](/source/El_Mundo_(Spain))*. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2022.

1. M. Franquet, Álex (10 December 2010). [""El éxito del Espanyol no es flor de un día", asegura Javi Chica"](https://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/2010-12-10/exito-espanyol-flor-20101210.html) ["Espanyol's success is no fluke", states Javi Chica] (in Spanish). *[El Correo](/source/El_Correo)*. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

1. ["El Espanyol da señales de vida en el momento más crítico (0–0)"](https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/espanyol/espanyol-da-senales-vida-momento-5529892) [Espanyol show signs of life in most critical moment (0–0)] (in Spanish). *[Sport](/source/Sport_(Spanish_newspaper))*. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

1. Henderson, Charlie (16 May 2007). ["Espanyol 2–2 Sevilla"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6657065.stm). [BBC Sport](/source/BBC_Sport). Retrieved 10 December 2022.

1. Torrecillas, Mercedes (24 May 2011). ["Chica es el primer fichaje del Betis para Primera"](https://www.marca.com/2011/05/24/futbol/equipos/betis/1306242786.html) [Chica is Betis' first signing for *Primera*] (in Spanish). *[Marca](/source/Marca_(newspaper))*. Retrieved 10 January 2012.

1. ["Rubén Castro hace justicia"](https://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/Ruben/Castro/hace/justicia/elpepudep/20110828elpepudep_1/Tes) [Rubén Castro does justice] (in Spanish). *[El País](/source/El_Pa%C3%ADs)*. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.

1. ["Rayo win puts pressure on Betis"](http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/372883/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739). [ESPN FC](/source/ESPN_FC). 20 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.

1. Gutiérrez, Antonio (27 April 2014). ["El Betis se va a Segunda en otra noche de pesadilla"](https://www.diariodemallorca.es/deportes/2014/04/27/betis-segunda-noche-pesadilla-3835167.html) [Betis go to *Segunda* in another nightmarish evening] (in Spanish). *[Diario de Mallorca](/source/Diario_de_Mallorca)*. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

1. ["Javi Chica, apuesta segura para el lateral derecho"](https://www.realvalladolid.es/noticias/actualidad/09072014/Javi-Chica-apuesta-segura-para-el-lateral-derecho/) [Javi Chica, safe bet for the right flank] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2018.

1. Ciurana, Eduard (24 December 2016). ["Amb Javi Chica, més experiència"](https://www.lesportiudecatalunya.cat/article/1034778-amb-javi-chica-mes-experiencia.html) [With Javi Chica, more experience] (in Catalan). *[L'Esportiu](/source/L'Esportiu)*. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

1. ["Se retiró Chica, un histórico del Espanyol"](https://es.besoccer.com/noticia/se-retiro-chica-un-historico-del-espanyol-637526) [Retirement of Chica, Espanyol legend] (in Spanish). Be Soccer. 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

1. Cordovilla, Anna (25 July 2020). ["Javi Chica se estrena como 'primero'"](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/rcd-espanyol/20200725/482506353517/javi-chica-se-estrena-como-primero.html) [Javi Chica makes debut as 'head'] (in Spanish). *[Mundo Deportivo](/source/Mundo_Deportivo)*. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

1. ["Los Europeos sub 19 de España (II): el golazo de Borja Valero y algunas estrellas fugaces"](https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/seleccion/1328470-los-europeos-sub-19-de-espana-ii-el-golazo-de-borja-valero-y-algunas-estrellas-fugaces) [Spain's under 19 Euros (II): Borja Valero's wonder goal and some fleeting stars] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2022.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Javi Chica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javi_Chica) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javi_Chica?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.