Carlos Marchena

Carlos Marchena López (; born 31 July 1979) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Villarreal CF and the Spanish national team.

Mainly a central defender with an aggressive approach, he can also pitch in as a defensive midfielder. Most of his professional career was spent at Valencia CF (nine years), which he helped to five major titles, namely two La Liga championships.

A Spanish international for the better part of the 2000s, Marchena represented the nation in two World Cups and as many European Championships.

Club career

Early years

Born in Las Cabezas de San Juan, Province of Seville, Andalusia, Marchena started his professional career in hometown club Sevilla FC at the age of 18, when the club was playing in the Spanish second division. In 1999–2000, he made his top flight debut, playing the entire match in a 2–2 home draw with Real Sociedad on 22 August 1999.

When Sevilla was relegated again at the end of the season, Marchena earned a transfer to Portugal's S.L. Benfica, where he did sufficiently well to catch the eye of top club Valencia CF, who were in need to provide cover for aging centre-back Miroslav Đukić.

Valencia

Marchena signed a four-year contract, which involved a swap-deal, with Zlatko Zahovič moving in the opposite direction. While Marchena took a while in his first season to impress (16 appearances), as Valencia clinched their first league title in 30 years, he gradually became first-choice.

In the 2003–04 season, with...
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