FCBARCELONA.CAT

19.05.2010 13:56

A goal machine

Jordi Clos

David Villa has consistently been among the top goal scorers in his seven seasons in the first division, never scoring fewer than 15 a season. His ability to score with both feet, his work rate and his pace are his main virtues.

David Villa, 28, is a proven goal scorer at both national and international level. He spent two years in the top flight with Zaragoza (2003-05) before signing for Valencia (2005-10). In his seven seasons in the first division he has scored 140 goals in 239 matches.

With both feet

Villa is not the stereotyped tank of a centre forward, weighing in at 69 kg and measuring 1.75 m tall. His main talent is his ability to score with both feet. As a child, a problem with his right leg forced him to improve his control with his left foot and he soon became effective with both feet. He is also a good header of the ball.

Mobility and charisma

Apart from his ability to shoot with both feet, David is very fast and dangerous when moving into space and looking for the pass. He is a tireless worker off the ball and constantly pressures the opposing defenders. Added to his technical skills and determination to win, he is a charismatic player.

His background

Although Villa got his first division break with Zaragoza and consolidated his reputation with Valencia, he started his footballing career with his local club, Sporting Gijon in the north of Spain. He was born in Tuilla in Asturias (his father was a miner) and came up through the Sporting youth system, finally breaking through to the first team.