Damià Abella

Damià

Personal information
Full name	Damià Abella Pérez
Date of birth	15 April 1982 (1982-04-15) (age 29)
Place of birth	Olot, Spain
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder / Defender
Club information
Current club	Osasuna
Number	24
Youth career
1998–2000	Ferran Martorell
2000–2001	UD Caprabo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–2002	Peralada
2002–2003	Valencia C
2003–2004	Figueres	19	(3)
2004–2005	Barcelona B	22	(0)
2004–2006	Barcelona	9	(0)
2006	→ Racing Santander (loan)	18	(3)
2006–2010	Betis	79	(2)
2010–	Osasuna	35	(0)
National team
2004–	Catalonia	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Abella and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.

Damià Abella Pérez (born 15 April 1982 in Olot, Girona, Catalonia), simply Damià, is a Spanish footballer who plays for CA Osasuna in La Liga.

Mainly a midfielder, he can also operate as a defender, always on the right side of the pitch.

Club career

Damià's first professional club was local UE Figueres, for whom he played for during 2003–04, with 19 league matches and three goals. He was subsequently snapped by Catalonia giants FC Barcelona, being incorporated to its B side.

Due to many first-team injuries, Damià made his La Liga debut for Barça's first-team against Athletic Bilbao, on 30 October 2004, playing 90 minutes of a 1–1 away draw, as right back.^[1] However, he could never brake into the main squad, finishing the season with nine top flight appearances, adding 21 for the B-team.

In January 2006, Damià joined Racing de Santander on a one 1/2-year loan deal. He mainly operated at the position he knew from Barcelona B, right midfielder, and scored his first top level goal on 12 February, in a 2–0 success at RCD Espanyol; he finished the season with three goals.

During the summer of 2006, Real Betis signed Damià on a five-year contract for €1.0 million. Although Racing had agreed with Barcelona that the player would stay with them for the duration of the loan arrangement, the Cantabria side decided not to block the move.

However, a serious hip injury, while still with Racing,^[2] meant that Damià would be unregistered for the entire length of 2006–07.^[3] He made his Betis debut on 30 September 2007, playing as right defender in a 3–0 win over RCD Mallorca, after having successfully undergone surgery in the United States.

Damià scored his first goals for the Andalusians in the 2008–09 season, in consecutive matches early into the campaign (1–2 loss at Villarreal CF,^[4] 3–0 home win against Mallorca^[5]), but Betis suffered relegation after nine years. In late July 2010, after the club's unsuccessful attempt in regaining its top division status, the player signed with CA Osasuna.

Honours

Barcelona

• Spanish League: 2004–05

References

1. ^ Barcelona protect unbeaten start; UEFA.com, 30 October 2004
2. ^ La recuperación de Damià, viento en popa (Damià's recovery, at full steam); FC Barcelona official website, 8 July 2006 (Spanish)
3. ^ Damià, tras un año parado, empezará la pretemporada con normalidad (Damià, after one year out, will begin season normally); Marca, 12 July 2007 (Spanish)
4. ^ Villarreal 2-1 Real Betis; ESPN Soccernet, 4 October 2008
5. ^ Real Betis 3-0 Mallorca; ESPN Soccernet, 19 October 2008

External links

• Osasuna official profile (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)
• Transfermarkt profile

Persondata
Name	Damia Abella
Alternative names	Damia
Short description	Footballer
Date of birth	15 April 1982
Place of birth	Olot, Spain
Date of death
Place of death