1. Overview
David Castedo Escudero (born 26 January 1974), often known simply as David, is a Spanish former professional footballer who primarily played as a left-back. Throughout his career, he was widely recognized for his tenacity on the field. He accumulated 255 appearances in La Liga over ten seasons, with the majority of his time spent at Sevilla FC, where he played a pivotal role in securing four major titles, including two UEFA Cups.
2. Early life and background
David Castedo's formative years laid the groundwork for his extensive professional football career.
2.1. Birth and childhood
Castedo was born on 26 January 1974, in Palma de Mallorca, which is located in the Balearic Islands of Spain.
2.2. Education and youth career
His football training and development began within the youth academy of RCD Mallorca. This period was crucial in shaping his skills and preparing him for professional play.
3. Club career
David Castedo's professional journey spanned several clubs, marked by significant contributions and title wins, particularly during his tenure at Sevilla FC.
3.1. RCD Mallorca
Castedo began his professional career as a product of RCD Mallorca's youth academy. He made his debut with the first team in the Segunda División during the 1993-94 season. By his third professional season, he had established himself as a regular player. In the 1996-97 season, he appeared in 33 league matches, playing a key role in the club's return to La Liga.
Following this success, Castedo had two loan spells. His first loan was with Hércules CF for the 1997-98 season, where he made 23 appearances. The second loan saw him move to CF Extremadura for the 1998-99 season, playing in the top division and appearing in 32 league matches. After these loan periods, David returned to the Balearic Islands for his second spell with Mallorca in the 1999-2000 La Liga season. During this time, his appearances were limited to only eight games, but he notably scored his first professional goal.
3.2. Sevilla FC
After his second stint at Mallorca, David Castedo signed with Sevilla FC in 2000. This period marked the most successful and stable years of his career. In his first season, he contributed significantly, making 39 appearances (or 40 matches according to some records) to help the Andalusian club achieve promotion from the 2000-01 Segunda División back to La Liga. Following this promotion, he became one of the team's most important players. His leadership qualities were recognized, and he was named captain, serving alongside Javi Navarro and José Luis Martí.
In the 2005-06 season, Castedo made 33 league appearances. He also played every match in that season's UEFA Cup campaign, with 11 of those appearances being full matches, as Sevilla ultimately lifted the trophy against Middlesbrough. In the subsequent year, the 2006-07 season, his playing time saw a reduction due to the emergence of youth graduate Antonio Puerta and the established presence of Ivica Dragutinović. Despite this, he still managed a total of 26 appearances, including seven in the UEFA Cup, as Sevilla successfully renewed their European title, winning it for the second consecutive time. Over his seven years at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, Castedo played a total of 269 official matches.
3.3. Levante UD
In August 2007, after a successful seven-year tenure at Sevilla, David Castedo moved to Levante UD. He played for one season with the club, which unfortunately resulted in their relegation from the main division at the end of the 2007-08 season. Before his retirement, Castedo reportedly received an offer from Elche CF, which he declined.
4. Playing style and characteristics
David Castedo was primarily known for his role as a left-back. Standing at 65 in (166 cm) and weighing 148 lb (67 kg), a defining attribute of his playing style was his remarkable tenacity, which was consistently highlighted throughout his career. He was also noted for being left-footed.
5. Honours
David Castedo achieved several significant team titles during his professional football career.
5.1. Titles
Sevilla
- Copa del Rey: 2006-07
- UEFA Cup: 2005-06, 2006-07
- UEFA Super Cup: 2006
- Segunda División: 2000-01
6. Retirement
David Castedo concluded his professional football career at the age of 34, having played a total of 511 games as a professional. His retirement came after spending one season with Levante UD.