Sergio Matabuena

Sergio Matabuena Delgado (born 12 February 1979) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Matabuena and the second or maternal family name is Delgado.
Sergio Matabuena
Personal information
Full name Sergio Matabuena Delgado
Date of birth (1979-02-12) 12 February 1979
Place of birth Santander, Spain
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Racing Santander
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2002 Racing B
2000–2001 → Velarde (loan)
2002–2007 Racing Santander 74 (5)
2007–2011 Sporting Gijón 82 (2)
2011–2012 Valladolid 14 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Matabuena was born in Santander, Cantabria. A product of his hometown club Racing de Santander's youth system, he made his debut in La Liga on 17 November 2002 in a 1–2 home loss against RCD Mallorca,[1] and scored his first goals in the following season.[2][3]

Never an undisputed starter, Matabuena would be a mere training partner upon Gonzalo Colsa's return to Racing in 2006 and, after only five appearances during 2006–07, he moved to Sporting de Gijón in the second division, being instrumental in helping them achieve a 2008 top flight return. In a campaign in which he collected 14 yellow cards (also netting two late goals in a 2–2 draw at Córdoba CF),[4] he earned the affectionate nickname "Matabuena Gattuso".[5]

Matabuena appeared significantly less in the following top level seasons – 14 matches in 2009–10 – being only second or third-choice holding midfielder. On 13 January 2011, at nearly 32, he returned to the second level and signed for Real Valladolid.[6]

References
  1. El Mallorca agranda su récord (Mallorca extend record); El País, 18 November 2002 (in Spanish)
  2. Atlético, punto y seguido (Atlético, check please); Mundo Deportivo, 21 December 2003 (in Spanish)
  3. La 'bestia' Baptista se come al Racing ('Beast' Baptista eats Racing up); Mundo Deportivo, 19 April 2004 (in Spanish)
  4. Matabuena salva al Sporting en Córdoba (Matabuena rescues Sporting in Córdoba); Marca, 6 January 2008 (in Spanish)
  5. ´Gattuso´ logra el doctorado (´Gattuso´ gets Ph.D.); La Voz de Asturias, 16 May 2009 (in Spanish)
  6. Matabuena rescinde su contrato con el Sporting para fichar por el Valladolid (Matabuena terminates his contract with Sporting to sign for Valladolid); ABC, 13 January 2011 (in Spanish)
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