Rafa Navarro (footballer, born 1972)

For other people named Rafael Navarro, see Rafael Navarro (disambiguation).

Rafa Navarro

Personal information
Full name	Rafael Navarro Rivas
Date of birth	(1972-01-10) 10 January 1972 (age 52)
Place of birth	Córdoba, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
	Córdoba
1989–1991	Sevilla
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1991–1994	Córdoba	46	(7)
1994–1995	Jaén	24	(2)
1995–1997	Sporting Gijón	0	(0)
1996–1997	→ Villarreal (loan)	8	(0)
1997–1998	Recreativo	32	(0)
1998–2003	Córdoba	91	(5)
2003–2004	Ceuta	42	(5)
2004–2005	Linares	10	(0)
2005–2006	Villanueva	26	(0)
2006	Lucena	?	(0)
2006–2007	Iliturgi	?	(5)
Total		279	(24)
Managerial career
2008	Córdoba B (assistant)
2008–2009	Córdoba (assistant)
2010–2012	Córdoba (youth)
2012–2013	Séneca (youth)
2013–2018	Atlético Espeleño
2019	Córdoba
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Navarroand the second or maternal family name is Rivas.

Rafael "Rafa" Navarro Rivas (born 10 January 1972) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a winger, and is a manager.

Playing career

Born in Córdoba, Andalusia, Navarro joined Sevilla FC's youth setup at the age of 17, from Córdoba CF. ^[1] In 1991, after finishing his formation, he returned to his previous club and was assigned to the main squad in Segunda División B.

For the 1995–96 campaign, Navarro moved straight to La Liga, joining Sporting de Gijón after a one-year spell at Real Jaén in the third division. ^[2] However, he only featured in two Copa del Rey matches for the side before being loaned to Segunda División side Villarreal CF. ^[3]

After featuring sparingly, Navarro left the Rojiblancos and moved to Recreativo de Huelva in the third division, in 1997. The following year, he rejoined his first club Córdoba, featuring regularly and helping in the club's promotion to the second level in 1999.

In December 2002, after being deemed surplus to requirements at the Blanquiverdes, Navarro joined AD Ceuta in the third tier. ^[4] He went on to resume his career mainly in that division in the following years, representing CD Linares, CD Villanueva, ^[5] Lucena CF ^[6] and CD Iliturgi; ^[7] he retired with the latter in 2007, aged 35.

Managerial career

In 2008, shortly after his retirement, Navarro worked as an assistant coach of Córdoba's B and first teams. ^{[8] [9]} He left in 2009, but returned in the following year as manager of the youth categories. ^[10]

In 2013, Navarro took over CA Espeleño in the regional leagues, achieving promotion to Tercera División with the club in 2016. He left the club in June 2018, subsequently returning to Córdoba on 28 September of that year as a director of the youth setup. ^[11]

On 25 February 2019, Navarro was appointed at the helm of the Blanquiverdes' first team, replacing sacked Curro Torres. ^[12] He left at the end of the season following their relegation to Segunda B, but remained employed by the club. ^[13]

Managerial statistics

As of match played 8 June 2019

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Record								Ref
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Atlético Espeleño		1 July 2013	9 June 2018	178	91	44	43	306	190	+116	051.12
Córdoba		25 February 2019	12 June 2019	15	3	4	8	16	29	−13	020.00	[14]
Total				193	94	48	51	322	219	+103	048.70	—

References

1. "Diez datos que debes conocer sobre Rafa Navarro" [Ten facts you must know about Rafa Navarro] (in Spanish). Cordópolis. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
2. "Cuando Rafa Navarro fue de Primera" [When Rafa Navarro was from Primera] (in Spanish). Cordópolis. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
3. "Rafa Navarro, del Sporting al Atlético Espeleño" [Rafa Navarro, from Sporting to Atlético Espeleño] (in Spanish). El Comercio. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
4. "El Córdoba CF no pone trabas al fichaje de Rafa Navarro por el Ceuta" [Córdoba CF do not put obstacles to the signing of Rafa Navarro for Ceuta] (in Spanish). Diario de Córdoba. 11 December 2002. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
5. "El Villanueva hablará con Rafa Navarro mañana para ficharle" [Villanueva will talk with Rafa Navarro tomorrow to sign him] (in Spanish). Diario de Córdoba. 25 January 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
6. "El Lucena indemnizará a Espejo, Rafa Navarro y Javier Pineda" [Lucena will compensate Espejo, Rafa Navarro and Javier Pineda] (in Spanish). Diario de Córdoba. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
7. "Rafa Navarro firma por el Iliturgi tras su marcha del Lucena" [Rafa Navarro signs for Iliturgi after his departure from Lucena] (in Spanish). Diario de Córdoba. 11 November 2006. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
8. "Y ahora, ¿cuál es el objetivo?" [And now, what is the goal?] (in Spanish). El Día de Córdoba. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
9. "Rafa Navarro no podrá sentarse como segundo de Luna Eslava" [Rafa Navarro will not be able to act as Luna Eslava's second] (in Spanish). Diario de Córdoba. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
10. "'Zinedine' Navarro, el ambidiestro de oro" ['Zinedine' Navarro, the golden ambidextrous] (in Spanish). Córdoba Deporte. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
11. "Rafa Navarro, nuevo director de fútbol base" [Rafa Navarro, new director of youth football] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
12. "Rafa Navarro, nuevo entrenador del Córdoba CF tras la destitución de Curro Torres" [Rafa Navarro, new manager of Córdoba CF after the sacking of Curro Torres] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
13. "Rafa Navarro, reincorporado al Córdoba CF" [Rafa Navarro, rehired at Córdoba CF] (in Spanish). Córdoba Deporte. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
14. "Rafa Navarro: Rafael Navarro Rivas: Matches 2018–19". BDFutbol. Retrieved 5 March 2019.

External links

• Rafa Navarro at BDFutbol
• Rafa Navarro at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)