Javi Montero

Francisco Javier "Javi" Montero Rubio (born 14 January 1999) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Primeira Liga club Arouca on loan from Beşiktaş. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a left-back.

Javi Montero
Montero with Beşiktaş in 2023
Personal information
Full nameFrancisco Javier Montero Rubio[1]
Date of birth (1999-01-14) 14 January 1999 (age 25)[2]
Place of birthSeville, Spain
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s)Defender
Team information
Current team
Arouca
(on loan from Beşiktaş)
Number4
Youth career
Nervión
2014–2018Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2018–2019Atlético Madrid B17(0)
2018–2021Atlético Madrid9(0)
2019–2020Deportivo (loan)30(0)
2020–2021Beşiktaş (loan)13(0)
2021–Beşiktaş20(1)
2023Hamburger SV (loan)4(0)
2023–Arouca (loan)29(1)
International career
2019Spain U211(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:10, 12 May 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Atlético Madrid

Born in Seville, Andalusia, Montero joined Atlético Madrid's youth setup in 2014 at the age of 15, from hometown club AD Nervión.[3] In 2018, after finishing his development, he was called up to the first team by manager Diego Simeone for the pre-season, playing with protective glasses due to an eye injury suffered back in 2017.[4]

Montero made his senior debut with the reserves on 23 September 2018, starting in a 4–2 Segunda División B away win against CDA Navalcarnero.[5] He first appeared with the main squad on 30 October, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away defeat of UE Sant Andreu in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey.[6]

Montero's first UEFA Champions League match occurred on 6 November 2018, when he came on as a half-time substitute for injured José Giménez in a 2–0 home victory over Borussia Dortmund in the group stage.[7] He completed a trio of debuts four days later, when he started and was replaced by Gelson Martins early into the second half of an eventual 3–2 La Liga win against Athletic Bilbao also at the Metropolitano Stadium.[8]

On 2 September 2019, Montero renewed his contract until 2024,[9] and was immediately loaned to Deportivo de La Coruña for the season.[10] He started in all his appearances but one during his spell in Galicia, but his side suffered relegation from Segunda División.[11]

Beşiktaş

Montero joined Beşiktaş J.K. on a season-long loan on 2 September 2020.[12] One year later, he signed a permanent deal.[13][14]

On 15 January 2023, Montero was loaned to German 2. Bundesliga club Hamburger SV until the end of the campaign.[15] In August 2023, also on loan, he moved to F.C. Arouca of the Portuguese Primeira Liga; he was the fourth Spaniard to join the latter under new manager Daniel Ramos in a month, in a squad already with two other compatriots.[16]

International career

Montero won his only cap for Spain at under-21 level on 10 October 2019, featuring 17 minutes in a 1–1 friendly draw with Germany held in Córdoba.[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 May 2024[18][19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atlético Madrid B2018–19Segunda División B1702[a]0190
Atlético Madrid2018–19La Liga90302[b]0140
Deportivo (loan)2019–20Segunda División30010310
Beşiktaş (loan)2020–21Süper Lig130301[c]0170
Beşiktaş2021–22Süper Lig171304[b]11[d]0252
2022–23Süper Lig301040
Total331705110462
Hamburger SV (loan)2022–232. Bundesliga40001[e]050
Arouca (loan)2023–24Primeira Liga291302000341
Career total12221402071401493

Honours

Beşiktaş

References