Germán Villa

Germán Villa Castañeda (locally [xeɾman biʝa kastaɲeða]; born April 2, 1973 in Mexico City) is a retired Mexican footballer, who has two children by the name of German Villa Jr. and América Villa. He is renowned for his rough style of play, great interceptions, and fearlessness on the pitch.

Germán Villa

Personal information
Full name	Germán Villa Castañeda
Date of birth	(1973-04-02) 2 April 1973
Place of birth	Mexico City, Mexico
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Central Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1991–2009	América	434	(14)
1998	→ Espanyol (loan)	12	(0)
1999	→ Necaxa (loan)	17	(1)
2008–2009	→ Necaxa (loan)	7	(0)
2010–2011	Querétaro	12	(0)
2010–2011	→ Irapuato (loan)	0	(0)
Total		482	(15)
National team
1996–2002	Mexico	67	(0)
Honours Representing  Mexico Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 1998 Winner FIFA Confederations Cup 1999
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

German made his debut in the 1991-92 season with América against Leon. Villa played regularly with América until 1998 when he decided to go to the Spanish league to play for Espanyol de Barcelona. Villa returned to Mexico for the Verano 1999 season to play with América. He then transferred to Necaxa where he played one tournament. Villa returned to América for the Verano 2000 season. Villa has won two championships, the first in Verano 2002 season and the second in Clausura 2005. He was a vital part of the Mexico national team that played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and also the 2002 FIFA World Cup tournament.

In November 2009, German Villa signed a contract with Querétaro to play at least one year.

German Villa is regarded as one of América's finest cantera players of all time, and ranks among the top tier of Mexico's footballers. He is one of the best defensive midfielders Mexico has had in the past decade.