Jaime Gavilan Martinez (Getafe)

Jaime Gavilan Martinez

Jaime Gavilan Martinez

Jaime Gavilan Martinez

Jaime Gavilan Martinez

Jaime Gavilan Martinez

Jaime Gavilan Martinez

Jaime Gavilan Martinez

Jaime Gavilan Martinez

Jaime Gavilán Martínez (born 12 May 1985 in Valencia) - Gavilán meaning sparrowhawk in Spanish - is a Spanish footballer who plays for Getafe CF, usually as a left midfielder.


Football career

At Valencia CF, youth product Gavilán made his first team - and La Liga - debut one month shy of his 18th birthday, playing 12 minutes in a 0–1 defeat at Real Valladolid, on 19 April 2003. He also played two years with the B side, then in the third division.

He was gradually breaking into the first team after two loans (CD Tenerife - second level - and Getafe CF), even though he had to battle for that position with the gifted (although tremendously injury-prone) Vicente. However, after the arrival of new boss Ronald Koeman in November 2007, Gavilán was deemed surplus to requirements and was loaned again to Getafe, until the end of the season. The previous campaign, he suffered a serious knee ligament injury which kept him out of action for a period of six months.[1]

In his second spell with the Madrid outskirts side, Gavilán appeared prominently during half-a-season, netting in a 2–1 home win over Racing de Santander, on 16 March 2008. He was also part of the club's quarterfinal run in the UEFA Cup, playing in three matches, all as a starter.

On 15 July 2008, Gavilán signed a four-year deal with Getafe, thus losing all ties to Valencia.[2] During his first full season, he was an everpresent midfield fixture. On 12 April 2009, he scored the game's only goal in an important win at Sevilla FC.

In 2009–10, Gavilán featured in 27 league games as Getafe qualified for the second time ever for Europe, after finishing in sixth position.