Aitor Embela

Aitor Embela Gil (born 17 April 1996) is a Spanish-born Equatorial Guinean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Tercera División club Atlético Saguntino and the Equatorial Guinea national team.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Embela and the second or maternal family name is Gil.
Aitor Embela
Personal information
Full name Aitor Embela Gil
Date of birth (1996-04-17) 17 April 1996
Place of birth Figueres, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Atlético Saguntino
Number TBA
Youth career
2002–2004 Altura
2004–2012 Villarreal
2012–2015 Málaga
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Reus 0 (0)
2016–2017 Valladolid B 0 (0)
2017 Sabadell B 8 (0)
2017–2018 Jumilla 1 (0)
2018–2019 Logroñés Promesas 31 (0)
2019–2020 Figueres 12 (0)
2020– Atlético Saguntino 5 (0)
National team‡
2011 Equatorial Guinea U16
2015– Equatorial Guinea 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 January 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 June 2015

Club career

Born in Figueres, Girona, Catalonia and raised in Altura and Segorbe, Province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Embela joined Villarreal CF's youth setup in 2004, aged eight, after starting it out at locals CD Altura. In the 2012 summer he joined Málaga CF, being assigned to the Juvenil squad.[1][2]

On 14 July 2015 Embela signed a two-year deal with CF Reus Deportiu, in Segunda División B.[3] He terminated his contract with Reus on 29 August of the following year,[4] and two days later he signed a one-year deal with Real Valladolid B.[5]

International career

On 3 January 2015 Embela was included in Esteban Becker's Equatorial Guinea 23-men list for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.[6] Four days later he made his international debut, starting in a 1–1 non-FIFA friendly draw against Cape Verde.[7]

Embela served as a backup to Felipe Ovono during the tournament, as his side finished fourth. He made his full international debut on 26 March, starting in a 0–2 friendly loss against Egypt.[8]

Personal life

Embela's father, José Manuel, was also a footballer. A forward, he appeared mainly in Segunda División B before becoming a coach.[9] His paternal grandfather, Gustavo Chomé Mbela Bueneque, was born in Dibolo, Wele-Nzas, making him eligible to both Equatorial Guinea and Spain.

Career statistics

International
As of 6 June 2015[10]
Equatorial Guinea
YearAppsGoals
201520
Total20

References
  1. "¿Dónde está el fútbol base nacional?" [Where it is the national team's youth football?] (in Spanish). Nzalang Mundial. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  2. "El Málaga sí tendrá representante en la Copa África, el portero juvenil Embela" [Málaga will have a representative in Africa Cup, the juvenil goalkeeper Embela] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  3. "Aitor Embela, nou porter del CF Reus" [Aitor Embela, new goalkeeper of CF Reus] (in Catalan). Reus' official website. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  4. "Aitor Embela deixa de pertànyer a la disciplina del CF Reus" [Aitor Embela leaves CF Reus] (in Catalan). CF Reus Deportiu. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  5. "El Promesas ficha a Embela y cede a Sergio al Tordesillas" [Promesas sign Embela and loan Sergio to Tordesillas] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  6. "La Academia present in Africa Cup". Málaga's official website. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  7. "Hopeful tie of the Nzalang against Cape Verde". Equatorial Guinea. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  8. Nzalang Nacional pierde ante Egipto (Nzalang Nacional loses against Egypt); Guinea Ecuatorial Press, 27 March 2015 (in Spanish)
  9. "Guinea recluta al malaguista Embela" [Guinea recruits malaguista Embela] (in Spanish). Málaga Hoy. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  10. Aitor Embela at National-Football-Teams.com
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