AUCKLAND – Auckland City Football Club has signed former FC Barcelona defender, Xavi Roca, for the upcoming New Zealand Football Championship.
Roca, 34, a former Spanish age-group international, has played professional football in his homeland for the past 14 years.
He joined Barcelona as a twelve year old and spent eleven years with the Spanish superclub – one of the biggest and most successful teams in the world.
Unable to break into Barcelona’s much-vaunted top side and searching for more regular opportunities, he left the club after making only four first team appearances.
From 1999-2003 he represented world renowned club sides Villarreal and Espanyol in Spain’s top league, the Primera Division. During this period he regularly played with, and against, some of the biggest names in world football.
Having played the last five seasons in Spain’s second and third divisions, his decision to sign for Auckland City has surprised many football followers in his home country.
As Roca explains there are many reasons for his move:
"I have plenty of things motivating me in this new footballing adventure. Economic factors are certainly not one of them. The opportunity to play in a Champions League (the O-League) and also the Mundialito of Clubs (the FIFA Club World Cup) along with winning the New Zealand Football Championship are my main footballing goals.”
“Just as importantly though I am excited to learn about another culture, improve my English, which is not so good, and learn about a different style of football. All of these things will help me prepare for my future career as a coach."
"Playing-wise I still have plenty of football left in me and I am eager to demonstrate to the people of New Zealand why I have signed for Auckland City. I hope the many years of experience that I have in football, including playing in the Primera Division, can help assist with the development of the beautiful game in Oceania."
Auckland City’s Head Coach, Colin Tuaa, is naturally excited by the prospect of Roca joining his squad for the new season.
"Xavi is obviously a special player. He has competed at the very highest level against some of the finest footballers in the world."
"His vast experience and professionalism promises to be a huge asset for us this season. In this regard, all of our players, especially our youngsters, can learn so much from him."
"It’s also fantastic for the profile and growing reputation of the New Zealand Football Championship, along with the Oceania Champions League, that players like Xavi and Ivan Vicelich (Auckland’s newly appointed captain) will be starring in this summer’s competitions."
Xavi Roca (above) in his new Auckland City FC strip at the UEFA Champions League media backdrop at Nou Camp Stadium, Barcelona, where he began his professional career
Xavi Roca – Statistics
Full name: Javier Roca Mateo
Nickname: Xavi Roca (pronounced “Shavi Rocka”)
Date of Birth: 19 January 1974
Place of Birth: Barcelona
Country: Spain
Height / Weight: 1.77m / 74kg
Position: Defender / Midfield
International Caps: 30 (Spain U15 – U21)
Xavi Roca (left), captaining Villarreal, is about to dispossess Barcelona’s Dutch international Patrick Kluivert during a Primera Division match in 2001/02
Club Statistics:
FC Barcelona 1986-1997
Logrones 1997/8
Toledo 1998/9
Villarreal 1999-2002
Espanyol 2002/3
Rayo Vallecano 2003/4
CE Hospitalet 2004-2006
CE Sabadell 2006-2008 (Club Captain)
Primera Division debut: FC Barcelona vs Deportivo de La Coruna 1995/96
Matches played in Spanish Primera Division: 60
Club managers played under include: Carles Reixach, Javier Clemente, Juande Ramos & Victor Munoz.
Xavi Roca (right), pictured last week at Barcelona’s famous Nou Camp Stadium, with the Auckland City number 22 shirt he will wear this season.
Alongside him is good friend, Spanish international, Xavi, who was voted player of the tournament by UEFA at the recent EURO 2008.
Auckland City FC’s Foreign Legion
Xavi Roca joins a growing list of notable foreign football names from outside the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) that have worn the famous navy blue of Auckland City FC.
Former Korea Republic international Lee Ki-Hyung, South African international pair Keryn Jordan and Grant Young, Japanese star Teruo Iwamoto and former England U-21 international Dean Gordon have all graced Kiwitea Street in recent seasons.
Keryn JORDAN (SAF) – Arrived from cross-town rivals Waitakere United and made an instant impact helping Auckland City to two more NZFC titles. Played against Zinedine Zidane in the Christian Karembeu Jubilee match in May 2008.
Grant YOUNG (SAF) – Signed from a social football side on the North Shore, the former South African professional was an instant hit at Kiwitea Street as the club swept all before them. A host of medals and a FIFA Club World Cup appearance underhis belt, Young shows no signs of slowing down yet.
Teruo IWAMOTO (JAP) – Fulfilled a dream return to the football pitch with Auckland City FC after two years out withcruciate ligament damage. Played a key role for Auckland City at the FIFA Club World Cup – Japan 2006 and in the NZFC.
Lee KI-HYUNG (KOR) – The "cannon-shooter" was one of the star performers in Colin Tuaa’s side last season. Signed from FC Seoul, the free-kick specialist caught the eye with some polished displays in the NZFC.
Dean GORDON (ENG) – The former Middlesbrough defender made a brief appearance for Auckland City FC before departing for another brief stint with the now defunct New Zealand Knights.
Xavi ROCA (ESP) – Any football CV that boasts spells with Barcelona, Espanyol, Real Vallecano, Villarealis suggestive of a unique talent. This former Spanish age-group international joins a long list of foreign talent making a big impression at Auckland City FC.