Javi Varas

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Javi Varas

| image = Javi Varas - 01.JPG

| image_size = 230

| caption = Varas with Celta in 2012

| fullname = Javier Varas Herrera

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|9|10|df=y}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/javi-varas_prs88002/person.shtml|title=Javi Varas|publisher=Eurosport|accessdate=12 September 2020}}

| birth_place = Seville, Spain

| height = {{convert|1.82|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1993–1999 | youthclubs1 = Pablo Blanco

| youthyears2 = 1999–2001 | youthclubs2 = AD Nervión

| years1 = 2001–2003 | clubs1 = AD Nervión | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 2003–2008 | clubs2 = Sevilla B | caps2 = 86 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2003–2004 | clubs3 = → San José (loan) | caps3 = | goals3 =

| years4 = 2004–2005 | clubs4 = → Alcalá (loan) | caps4 = 20 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2008–2014 | clubs5 = Sevilla | caps5 = 60 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2012–2013 | clubs6 = → Celta (loan) | caps6 = 35 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2014–2015 | clubs7 = Valladolid | caps7 = 40 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2015–2017 | clubs8 = Las Palmas | caps8 = 56 | goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2017–2018 | clubs9 = Granada | caps9 = 38 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2019 | clubs10 = Huesca | caps10 = 0 | goals10 = 0

| totalcaps = 335 | totalgoals = 0

| club-update =

}}

Javier 'Javi' Varas Herrera (born 10 September 1982) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He played 151 La Liga matches over eight seasons, in representation of Sevilla, Celta and Las Palmas. He added 117 appearances in the Segunda División, in a 12-year professional career.

Club career

=Sevilla=

Born in Seville, Andalusia, Varas arrived at Sevilla FC aged 23 after having only played amateur football in his native region (although he had been bought by the club two years earlier). He spent his first three seasons with the B team, contributing 15 games in 2006–07 as they were promoted to Segunda División for the first time ever,{{cite news|url=https://www.farodevigo.es/deportes/2012/06/15/celta-quiere-portero-javi-varas-17646920.html|title=El Celta quiere al portero Javi Varas|trans-title=Celta want goalkeeper Javi Varas|newspaper=Faro de Vigo|first=J.|last=Conde|language=Spanish|date=15 June 2012|accessdate=11 January 2025}} and occasionally training with the main squad.{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2007/01/05/futbol/1167998221.html|title=Juande cree que el Sevilla ya no es ninguna sorpresa|trans-title=Juande believes Sevilla are no surprise anymore|newspaper=El Mundo|language=Spanish|date=5 January 2007|accessdate=22 November 2023}}

After David Cobeño moved to Rayo Vallecano, Varas became Andrés Palop's backup, making his La Liga debut on 17 January 2009 in a 1–0 home win against CD Numancia.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/marcador/futbol/2008_09/primera/jornada_19/sev_num/|title=Renato rescata un barco a la deriva|trans-title=Renato rescues drifting boat|newspaper=Marca|first=Enrique|last=Bernaola|language=Spanish|date=17 January 2009|accessdate=15 May 2014}} For a full month, following an injury to the latter in October, he was again called on for starting duties,{{cite news|url=http://sevilla.abc.es/20091023/deportes-futbol-sevilla/javi-varas-vueltas-vida-200910222121.html|title=Javi Varas y las vueltas que da la vida|trans-title=Javi Varas and the unpredictability of life|newspaper=ABC|first=Roberto|last=Arrocha|language=Spanish|date=23 October 2009|accessdate=21 May 2014}} only conceding once in four matches, in the 3–1 away victory over VfB Stuttgart for that campaign's UEFA Champions League.{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=283222&cc=5739|title=Squillaci nets brace|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=20 October 2009|accessdate=14 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106173859/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=283222&cc=5739|archive-date=6 November 2012}}

Varas became Sevilla's first choice midway through 2010–11, over the 37-year-old Palop. He appeared in 21 games as the side finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League.{{cite news|url=https://www.elcorreoweb.es/andalucia/2011/07/12/andres-palop-o-javi-varas-105115732.html|title=¿Andrés Palop o Javi Varas?|trans-title=Andrés Palop or Javi Varas?|newspaper=El Correo de Andalucía|first=Basilio|last=García|language=Spanish|date=12 July 2011|accessdate=11 January 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/2012/03/15/futbol/equipos/sevilla/1331816175.html|title=Manzano: "Si Monchi me mintió lo hizo al entrenador del Sevilla"|trans-title=Manzano: "If Monchi lied to me he did so to the manager of Sevilla"|newspaper=Marca|first=Daniel|last=Pinilla|language=Spanish|date=15 March 2012|accessdate=11 January 2025}}

Under new manager Marcelino García Toral, Varas continued as a regular starter.{{cite news|url=https://www.diariodesevilla.es/sevillafc/Huesca-Sevilla-FC-Javi-Varas-hombre-quito-titularidad-Palop_0_1332167138.html|title=Javi Varas: el hombre que quitó la titularidad a Palop|trans-title=Javi Varas: the man who took Palop's starting spot|newspaper=Diario de Sevilla|first=Eduardo|last=Florido|language=Spanish|date=1 March 2019|accessdate=7 November 2021}} On 22 October 2011, he put on a Player of the match performance against FC Barcelona, saving eight shots – including an injury-time penalty from Lionel Messi – in an eventual 0–0 away draw.{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=323957&cc=5739|title=Barca held in dramatic fashion|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=22 October 2011|accessdate=22 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716215549/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=323957&cc=5739|archive-date=16 July 2012}}

Varas lost his importance in the following years, following the arrival of Portuguese Beto in January 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.diariodesevilla.es/article/sevillafc/1727734/portero/titular/o/titular.html|title=¿El portero titular o el portero titular?|trans-title=Starting goalkeeper or starting goalkeeper?|newspaper=Diario de Sevilla|first=Jesús|last=Alba|language=Spanish|date=12 March 2014|accessdate=21 May 2014}} He made nine appearances as Sevilla won the 2013–14 Europa League, but was an unused substitute in the decisive match itself.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0250-0c510740b3cf-c46f4d5f782f-1000--spot-on-sevilla-leave-benfica-dreams-in-tatters/|title=Spot-on Sevilla leave Benfica dreams in tatters|publisher=UEFA|first=John|last=Atkin|date=14 May 2014|access-date=15 May 2014}}

=Valladolid=

On 25 August 2014, Varas joined Real Valladolid on a one-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.realvalladolid.es/noticias/actualidad/25082014/Javi-Varas-recoge-los-guantes-del-Pucela/|title=Javi Varas recoge los guantes del Pucela|trans-title=Javi Varas takes the gloves of Pucela|publisher=Real Valladolid|language=Spanish|date=25 August 2014|accessdate=30 August 2014}} He only missed four league matches in his only season, as his team narrowly missed out on play-off promotion.

=Later career=

On 12 July 2015, Varas signed a two-year deal with UD Las Palmas, newly promoted to the top division.{{cite web|url=http://www.udlaspalmas.es/-/la-ud-las-palmas-ficha-al-portero-javi-varas-por-dos-temporadas|title=La UD Las Palmas ficha al portero Javi Varas por dos temporadas|trans-title=UD Las Palmas sign goalkeeper Javi Varas for two seasons|publisher=UD Las Palmas|language=Spanish|date=12 July 2015|accessdate=12 July 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714211008/http://www.udlaspalmas.es/-/la-ud-las-palmas-ficha-al-portero-javi-varas-por-dos-temporadas|archivedate=14 July 2015}} On 13 June 2017, after having contributed to their consecutive permanence, the free agent returned to the second tier and his native region by agreeing to a two-year contract at Granada CF.{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2017/06/13/primera/1497356077_092402.html|title=El Granada ficha a Javi Varas para las dos próximas temporadas|trans-title=Granada sign Javi Varas for next two seasons|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Aguilera|last=Morales|language=Spanish|date=13 June 2017|accessdate=15 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616060530/http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2017/06/13/primera/1497356077_092402.html|archive-date=16 June 2017}}

Varas joined SD Huesca on 19 February 2019, for the remainder of the top-flight campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.sdhuesca.es/noticia/javi-varas-experiencia-para-la-porteria|title=Javi Varas, experiencia para la portería|trans-title=Javi Varas, experience for goal|publisher=SD Huesca|language=Spanish|date=19 February 2019|accessdate=19 February 2019}} In October, he announced his retirement at the age of 37.{{cite news|url=https://www.estadiodeportivo.com/sevilla/2019/10/22/javi-varas-anuncia-retirada/248301.html|title=Javi Varas anuncia su retirada|trans-title=Javi Varas announces his retirement|newspaper=Estadio Deportivo|language=Spanish|date=22 October 2019|accessdate=11 February 2020}}