Biography
Who is Carlos Marchena?
Early life and career start
Carlos Marchena was born in Las Cabezas de San Juan, Seville. He began his professional career at Sevilla when he was 18. He played in the Segunda División before making his La Liga debut on August 22, 1999. He played in a 2-2 draw against Real Sociedad that day.
Success at Valencia
After Sevilla was relegated, he moved to Benfica in Portugal. He scored goals against Belenenses and Salgueiros. He nearly left the club in late 2000 because they did not pay him. He returned to Spain in 2001 to join Valencia on a four year deal. He was originally a backup for Miroslav Đukić, but Carlos eventually became a regular starter.
He helped the team win two La Liga titles and a UEFA Cup. In 2003 and 2004, he and Roberto Ayala led the defense. During the 2004-05 season, the team struggled under coach Claudio Ranieri. In a game against Werder Bremen, Carlos was sent off early in the second half. In 2007, he was involved in a fight during a match against Inter Milan. UEFA charged him with gross unsporting conduct. He received a four game ban and the club paid a fine. He became the team captain after Euro 2008.
Later club years
Carlos joined Villarreal on August 1, 2010. He played as both a defender and midfielder. He scored a goal against Twente in the Europa League. He left the club in 2012 when they were relegated. He then signed with Deportivo de La Coruña for one year. He stayed for a second season even though other clubs offered more money. In 2015, he joined the Kerala Blasters in India as a marquee player. He debuted on October 18 but left in November for personal reasons. He retired in January 2016.
International achievements
He won the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship with the under 20 team. He earned a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Carlos made his senior debut in 2002 during a match for Ferenc Puskás. He played in Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. He was a starter for Euro 2008 and made the team of the tournament. He played with Joan Capdevila, Carles Puyol, and Sergio Ramos. He won the 2010 World Cup with Spain. He once played 50 straight games without a loss, which beat the record held by Garrincha.
Coaching and honors
After retiring, Carlos returned to Sevilla as an assistant manager for the C team. He also assisted at Sevilla Atlético and Valencia. In 2018, he joined Fernando Hierro's staff for the World Cup in Russia. He has received the Medal of Andalusia. He was also awarded a gold medal by the Royal Order of Sports Merit.
Birthday and age
Carlos Marchena was born on July 31, 1979, which makes Carlos 47 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Carlos shares the date with 35 other famous people.
Explore more
