Ángel Lafita

Ángel Lafita

File:Ángel Lafita 2009.jpg Lafita training with Zaragoza in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Ángel Imanol Lafita Castillo
Date of birth	(1984-08-07) 7 August 1984
Place of birth	Zaragoza, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Al Jazira
Number	97
Youth career
	Zaragoza
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2005	Zaragoza B	63	(6)
2005–2008	Zaragoza	41	(1)
2007–2008	→ Deportivo La Coruña (loan)	24	(3)
2008–2009	Deportivo La Coruña	33	(8)
2009–2012	Zaragoza	91	(10)
2012–2016	Getafe	84	(14)
2016–	Al Jazira	7	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 May 2016

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Lafita and the second or maternal family name is Castillo.

Ángel Imanol Lafita Castillo (born 7 August 1984) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Emirati club Al Jazira Club. Usually a winger, being comfortable on both sides of the pitch, he can also appear as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

A product of hometown Real Zaragoza's youth system, Lafita was born in Zaragoza, being promoted from its B-side after stellar performances during the 2004–05 season and making his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 28 August 2005 in a 0–0 draw at Atlético Madrid. He went on to become an important element in 2006–07, helping the Aragonese to a berth in the UEFA Cup after contributing with 28 games and one goal, in a 2–0 away win against Racing de Santander on 10 December 2006.

In August 2007, Lafita was loaned to Deportivo de La Coruña which had an option to buy at the end of the campaign. After helping the Galician side reach the UEFA Intertoto Cup (with the subsequent UEFA Cup qualification), scoring three consecutive goals in February–March 2008, the clause was activated in July for €2 million.

After being troubled with physical problems at the start of 2008–09, Lafita returned to Depor in late October 2008. He netted four times in his first seven games, including a brace against Real Betis in a 3–0 away success on 2 November.

In July 2009, Zaragoza paid the sum requested to rebuy the player but Deportivo did not compel, claiming both clubs had agreed on a higher fee (€3.5 million). Lafita still played the first match of the new season, a 2–3 loss at Real Madrid but, in September, the Professional Football League deemed him a Zaragoza player.

Lafita started throughout most of the 2010–11 campaign, but also spent one month on the sidelines with a knee injury. On 30 April 2011, he scored twice in a 3–2 away win over Real Madrid, being also involved in the other goal as he was brought down in the box by Ricardo Carvalho, which resulted in a converted penalty, as Zaragoza finally escaped relegation.

On 29 May 2012, after failing to negotiate a new contract, Lafita agreed to join Getafe CF on a four-year deal. His first goal for his new team arrived on 18 November, in a 2–1 home win over Real Valladolid.

Lafita scored his sixth and seventh goals of 2013–14 on 3 May 2014, helping the Madrid outskirts side to a 2–2 away draw against FC Barcelona – his second in that game came in the 92nd minute. On 21 December, early into the second half of an eventual 1–1 draw at Granada CF, he suffered cruciate ligament damage to his right knee, being sidelined for the rest of the season.

In January 2016, Lafita moved abroad for the first time, signing a two-and-a-half year deal at Al Jazira Club in the United Arab Emirates. He made his debut for the team from Dubai on the 8th, in a 2–2 draw at Al-Wasl FC.

Personal life

Football runs in Lafita's family: his uncle, Francisco Villarroya, played professionally for Real Madrid, Deportivo and Zaragoza, also being a Spanish international; his father Juan played 19 times with Zaragoza's first team in the late 70's/early 80's, also representing CD Castellón, and younger brother Ignacio played for Zaragoza B as well as neighbours SD Huesca.

External links

• Ángel Lafita profile at BDFutbol
• Ángel Lafita profile at Futbolme (Spanish)
• Ángel Lafita at Soccerway