Damià Abella

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Damià

| image =

| fullname = Damià Abella Pérez

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|4|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Olot, Spain

| height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Full-back, midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1998–2000 | youthclubs1 = Ferrán Martorell

| youthyears2 = 2000–2001 | youthclubs2 = Caprabo

| years1 = 2001–2002 | clubs1 = Peralada | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 2002–2003 | clubs2 = Valencia C | caps2 = | goals2 =

| years3 = 2003–2004 | clubs3 = Figueres | caps3 = 19 | goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2004–2005 | clubs4 = Barcelona B | caps4 = 22 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2004–2006 | clubs5 = Barcelona | caps5 = 9 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2006 | clubs6 = → Racing Santander (loan) | caps6 = 18 | goals6 = 3

| years7 = 2006–2010 | clubs7 = Betis | caps7 = 79 | goals7 = 2

| years8 = 2010–2014 | clubs8 = Osasuna | caps8 = 120 | goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2014–2016 | clubs9 = Middlesbrough | caps9 = 6 | goals9 = 0

| totalcaps = 273 | totalgoals = 8

| nationalyears1 = 2004 | nationalteam1 = Catalonia | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update =

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Damià Abella Pérez (born 15 April 1982), known simply as Damià, is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a full-back.

After starting out at Barcelona, he went on to amass La Liga totals of 198 matches and five goals over nine seasons, also representing in the competition Racing de Santander, Betis and Osasuna. He also spent two years in England, with Middlesbrough.

Club career

=Barcelona=

Born in Olot, Girona, Catalonia, Damià's first professional club was local Figueres, for whom he played during the 2003–04 season, in the Segunda División B. He was subsequently acquired by national giants Barcelona, being assigned to its B side.{{cite web|url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/news/story?id=503062|title=Debe ser el número 23|trans-title=Must be number 23|publisher=ESPN Deportes|language=Spanish|date=18 November 2006|accessdate=15 September 2015}}

Due to many injuries to the main squad, Damià made his La Liga debut for Barça's first team against Athletic Bilbao on 30 October 2004, playing 90 minutes in a 1–1 away draw as right-back.[https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01a2-0e6c5c76c417-7d8d62bd57d7-1000--barcelona-protect-unbeaten-start/ Barcelona protect unbeaten start]; UEFA, 30 October 2004 However, he could never break into the main squad, finishing the campaign with ten competitive games while continuing to appear for the reserves.{{cite news|url=https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noticias/deportes/futbol/osasuna/2020/11/24/damia-abella-animo-messi-no-mejor-709114-1027.html|title=Damià Abella: "El ánimo de Messi no es el mejor"|trans-title=Damià Abella: "Messi not in the best of moods"|publisher=Diario de Navarra|language=Spanish|date=24 November 2020|accessdate=13 October 2024}}

In January 2006, Damià joined Racing de Santander on a one-and-a-half-year loan. He mainly operated at the position he knew from Barcelona B, right midfielder, and scored his first top-flight goal on 12 February in a 2–0 away win over Espanyol,[http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/188389/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739 Espanyol 0–2 Racing Santander]; ESPN Soccernet, 12 February 2006 eventually helping the Cantabrians to narrowly avoid relegation while starting 15 matches.{{cite web|url=https://www.cope.es/blogs/yojugueenprimera/2018/04/02/damia-profesionalidad-por-bandera/|title=Damià: profesionalidad por bandera|trans-title=Damià: the consummate professional|publisher=Cadena COPE|language=Spanish|date=2 April 2018|accessdate=13 October 2024}}

=Betis=

In summer 2006, Real Betis signed Damià on a five-year contract for €1 million; although Racing had agreed with Barcelona that the player would stay with them for the duration of the loan arrangement, they decided not to block the move, but a serious hip injury, contracted while still with in Santander, Santander,[https://archive.today/20120524154948/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/castellano/historic_noticies/futbol/06/Juliol/n06070802.html La recuperación de Damià, viento en popa (Damià's recovery, at full steam)]; FC Barcelona, 8 July 2006 (in Spanish) meant that he would be unregistered for the entire length of 2006–07.{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/betis/es/desarrollo/734105.html|title=El Betis presenta a sus nuevos fichajes: Ilic y Caffa|trans-title=Betis present their new signings: Ilic and Caffa|publisher=Marca|language=Spanish|date=30 January 2007|accessdate=28 April 2016}}[http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/betis/es/desarrollo/1015905.html Damià, tras un año parado, empezará la pretemporada con normalidad (Damià, after one year out, will begin season normally)]; Marca, 12 July 2007 (in Spanish) He made his competitive debut on 30 September 2007, playing as right-back in a 3–0 home defeat of Mallorca{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2007/09/30/futbol/1191173547.html|title=El Betis firma su mejor partido de la temporada|trans-title=Betis sign their best game of the season|publisher=El Mundo|language=Spanish|date=30 September 2007|accessdate=16 June 2016}} after having successfully undergone surgery in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://sevilla.eldesmarque.com/real-betis/21794--sp-1299155869|title=Damiá es operado en EEUU|trans-title=Damiá has surgery in the US|publisher=El Desmarque|language=Spanish|date=1 December 2006|accessdate=16 June 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806081352/http://sevilla.eldesmarque.com/real-betis/21794--sp-1299155869|archive-date=6 August 2016}}

Damià netted his first goals for the Andalusians in 2008–09, in consecutive matches early into the campaign (2–1 loss at Villarreal, 3–0 home win against Mallorca),[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252956?cc=5739 Villarreal 2–1 Real Betis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026111644/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252956?cc=5739|date=26 October 2012}}; ESPN Soccernet, 4 October 2008[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252949?cc=5739 Real Betis 3–0 Mallorca] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026111718/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252949?cc=5739|date=26 October 2012}}; ESPN Soccernet, 19 October 2008 but the club suffered relegation after nine years.

=Osasuna=

In late July 2010, after Betis' unsuccessful attempt in regaining their lost status, Damià joined Osasuna.[http://www.marca.com/2010/07/21/futbol/equipos/osasuna/1279700140.html Damiá se incorpora a Osasuna para las próximas tres temporadas (Damiá added to Osasuna for the next three seasons)]; Marca, 21 July 2010 (in Spanish) He went on to spend several seasons in that tier, almost exclusively as a left-back in spite of being right-footed.{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2012/09/13/mas_futbol/1347517639_850215.html|title=Del maratón sólo hemos andado dos kilómetros|trans-title=We are only two miles into the marathon|publisher=Diario AS|language=Spanish|date=13 September 2012|accessdate=16 June 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/03/15/futbol/equipos/osasuna/1363360299.html|title=Damiá: "Diego Costa es un incordio"|trans-title=Damiá: "Diego Costa is a pain in the neck"|publisher=Marca|language=Spanish|date=15 March 2013|accessdate=16 June 2016}}

=Middlesbrough=

On 16 August 2014, Damià joined Middlesbrough of the Football League Championship on a free transfer, signed by his compatriot Aitor Karanka. He received international clearance just hours before his debut against Leeds United at Elland Road, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 defeat.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28820961|title=Middlesbrough: Aitor Karanka reveals Patrick Bamford interest|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 August 2014|accessdate=17 August 2014}}

Damià left the Riverside Stadium in May 2016, upon the expiration of his contract. He appeared in only seven competitive games during his spell,{{cite web|url=http://www.mfc.co.uk/news/article/2016/middlesbrough-fc-boro-jonathan-woodgate-damia-rhys-williams-3123592.aspx|title=Jonathan Woodgate and Damia join Rhys Williams in departing Boro|publisher=Middlesbrough F.C.|date=24 May 2016|accessdate=24 May 2016}} and decided to retire at 34 soon afterwards.

Honours

Barcelona

La Liga: 2004–05{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/noticias/1228882/damia-abella-silvinho-y-puyol-son-de-los-jugadores-mas-profesionales-que-he-visto-nunca|title=Damià Abella: "Silvinho y Puyol son de los jugadores más profesionales que he visto nunca"|trans-title=Damià Abella: "Silvinho and Puyol are two of the most professional players I have ever seen"|publisher=FC Barcelona|language=Spanish|date=8 November 2018|accessdate=13 October 2024}}