Asier del Horno

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Asier del Horno bigraphy, stories - Spanish footballer

Asier del Horno : biography

19 January 1981 –

Asier del Horno Cosgaya (born 19 January 1981) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left defender.

After solid displays in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao, for which he appeared in 126 official games in five years scoring 17 goals, he moved to Chelsea in England, where he spent the 2005–06 season.

Subsequently, del Horno – who missed the 2006 World Cup with Spain due to a last-minute injury – returned to his country with Valencia, who would loan him to several clubs for the duration of his contract.

Honours

Chelsea
  • Premier League: 2005–06
  • FA Community Shield: 2005

Club career

Athletic Bilbao

Born in Barakaldo, Biscay, del Horno began his career at Athletic Bilbao in 1999, where his combative tackling and strength in the air saw him rise through the ranks as a stout left-footed centre-back. However, his pace and ability to contribute to the attack led to his being switched to left-back by the time he had arrived in the seniors for both club and country.

Del Horno made his main squad debut in the 2000–01 opener at only 19, and eventually scored 13 goals in 108 La Liga appearances for the Basque giants.

Chelsea

In June 2005, del Horno moved to Chelsea for a fee of £8 million.; UEFA.com, 24 June 2005 He won the first league championship of his career with the Blues, as part of the squad that conquered the season’s Premier League title.

Del Horno played 34 matches overall for Chelsea, scoring one goal against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Valencia

On 21 June 2006, del Horno returned to Spain to sign for Valencia CF, on a six-year contract, for €8 million,; BBC Sport, 22 July 2006 seen as a natural replacement for Amedeo Carboni, who had retired at 41. Athletic Bilbao had expressed interest, but withdrew from further negotiations, forfeiting any further financial advantage. Following surgery on his injured Achilles heel, which kept him off the pitches for most of the season, he made his debut for his new club on 3 March 2007, in a 1–0 home win over Celta de Vigo.

Del Horno was placed on the transfer list by Valencia manager Quique Flores, as the coach announced that the defender would not retain his position in the team for 2007–08.; 20 Minutos, 4 July 2007 ; The Star, 30 August 2007

In the last day of the transfer window, del Horno agreed to join his former team Athletic Bilbao on a one-year loan deal, returning to Valencia after an injury-filled campaign. At the Che his physical problems persisted and, after an unassuming first half of 2009–10 – only played in the season’s Copa del Rey and only when Valencia faced rivals of smaller entity – he was loaned to Real Valladolid until the end of the season, on 30 January;; Ontheminute, 31 January 2010 an undisputed starter since his arrival, he could not however prevent the Castile and León club from returning to Segunda División, after a three-year stay in the top division.

For the 2010–11 season, 29-year old del Horno was loaned once again, joining freshly promoted Levante UD.; Goal.com, 21 August 2010 He was used regularly in both defensive positions as the Valencian Community side eventually retained its top division status, but also missed the campaign’s final stretch due to physical ailments which had been bothering him since early into the season.; Sky Sports, 9 November 2010; Diario AS, 6 May 2011

Later years

Upon returning to Valencia, del Horno’s contract was immediately terminated. In early August 2011, he re-joined Levante on a permanent deal.; Diario AS, 2 August 2011 After again suffering from physical ailments throughout the campaign, where he was not able to dislodge 35-year-old Juanfran from the left-back position, he was released.

Club statistics

Season Club League Apps Goals Cup Apps Goals Supercup Apps Goals Continental Apps Goals International Apps Goals
2000–01 Spain}} Athletic Bilbao 14 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Spain}} Athletic Bilbao 10 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2002–03 Spain}} Athletic Bilbao 24 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003–04 Spain}} Athletic Bilbao 31 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004–05 Spain}} Athletic Bilbao 29 3 6 1 0 0 8 3 7 2
2005–06 ENG}} Chelsea 25 1 4 0 1 0 4 0 3 0
2006–07 Spain}} Valencia 6 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
2007–08 Spain}} Athletic Bilbao 16 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
2008–09 Spain}} Valencia 9 0 4 0 0 0 8 2 0 0
2009–10 Spain}} Valencia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009–10 Spain}} Valladolid 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 177 14 Total 23 2 Total 1 0 Total 22 5 Total 10 2

International career

Del Horno made his Spain debut against Scotland on 3 September 2004. He scored the winner in a 1–0 friendly with England played in Madrid, two months later.; BBC Sport, 17 November 2004

An ankle injury forced del Horno to withdraw from the 23-man team named by Luis Aragonés for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.; BBC Sport, 30 May 2006 Medical staff in the Royal Spanish Football Federation alleged that Chelsea had prior knowledge of del Horno’s injury, but allowed him to continue playing; subsequently, his vacant position was controversially filled in by naturalised Argentinian Mariano Pernía, of Getafe CF.

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 17 November 2004 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain ENG}} 1–0 1–0 Friendly
2. 9 February 2005 Mediterráneo, Almería, Spain SMR}} 5–0 5–0 2006 World Cup qualification