David Català

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Català and the second or maternal family name is Jiménez.

David Català Jiménez (born 3 May 1980) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who played as a central defender. He is the current head coach of Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.

David Català

Català as a Celta player in 2009
Personal information
Full name	David Català Jiménez[1]
Date of birth	(1980-05-03) 3 May 1980 (age 45)[1]
Place of birth	Barcelona, Spain[1]
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Kerala Blasters (head coach)
Youth career
	Espanyol
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2003	Espanyol B	102	(3)
2000–2003	Espanyol	7	(0)
2003–2004	Xerez	36	(3)
2004–2005	Lleida	37	(3)
2005–2006	Albacete	16	(0)
2006–2007	Lorca Deportiva	26	(1)
2007–2009	Salamanca	82	(3)
2009–2012	Celta	77	(5)
2012–2019	AEK Larnaca	204	(18)
Total		587	(36)
Managerial career
2021–2022	AEK Larnaca
2022	Apollon Limassol
2023–2024	Istra 1961
2024–2025	Sabadell
2025–	Kerala Blasters
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

After beginning his career at Espanyol, he spent most of it in the Segunda División, representing six teams over nine seasons, mostly Salamanca and Celta. He totalled 274 games and 15 goals in that tier.

Català retired following a seven-year spell at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, where he began his managerial career.

Playing career

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Català began his career at hometown club RCD Espanyol. He made his senior debut on 16 May 1999, playing the entirety of the reserves' 3–0 home win over Palamós CF in the Segunda División B. He first appeared in La Liga with the first team the following 6 May, as a 43rd-minute substitute for Cristóbal in a 2–0 away loss against CD Numancia.^[2]

After leaving for Xerez CD of Segunda División in 2003, Català spent each of the next four seasons at a different team in that level, culminating in Lorca Deportiva CF's relegation in 2007.^[3][4] He stayed for five years in the same league, with UD Salamanca and RC Celta de Vigo; he was recommended to the latter by Miguel Torrecilla, the sporting director who made the same move earlier, and was the second player to be acquired that window after Cristian Bustos, agreeing to a three-year deal on 23 June 2009.^[5]

Català scored in the Galician derby on 15 April 2012 seven minutes after entering in place of Hugo Mallo, albeit in a 3–2 loss to Deportivo de La Coruña at Balaídos.^[6] The campaign nonetheless ended in top-flight promotion, with him contributing 18 games and two goals to the feat.^[7]

On 28 July 2012, after recently signing a new contract, Català rescinded it and moved abroad for the first time, signing a three-year deal at AEK Larnaca FC of the Cypriot First Division.^[8] He helped the side win the 2017–18 Cypriot Cup at the age of 38,^[9] and retired the following year.^[10]

Coaching career

Català was appointed manager of his last club in May 2021, replacing Sofronis Avgousti on a two-year contract.^[11][12] He was dismissed on 23 March 2022.^[13]

On 12 August 2022, Català continued in the same league by signing a one-year deal with Apollon Limassol FC.^[14] He was sacked three months later.^[15]

On 14 August 2023, Català was hired at NK Istra 1961 of the Croatian Football League, for one season with the option of a further year; he took over from Mislav Karoglan, who had taken one point from three games.^[16] He was relieved of his duties the following 7 February, with five wins from 19 matches.^[17]

Català was appointed at CE Sabadell FC in Spain's Segunda Federación on 10 June 2024, on a one-year contract.^[18] He was dismissed on 12 January 2025, after seven games without a win.^[19][20]

On 25 March 2025, Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters FC announced the appointment of Català on a one-year deal.^[21] He made his debut on 20 April, achieving a 2–0 win over defending champions East Bengal FC in the Super Cup.^[22]

Career statistics

As of 4 October 2015^[23][1]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Espanyol	1999–2000	La Liga	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2001–02	La Liga	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	Total		7	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Xerez	2003–04	Segunda División	36	3	2	0	—		38	3
Lleida	2004–05	Segunda División	37	3	2	0	—		39	3
Albacete	2005–06	Segunda División	16	0	2	0	—		18	0
Lorca Deportiva	2006–07	Segunda División	26	1	1	0	—		27	1
Salamanca	2007–08	Segunda División	42	3	1	0	—		43	3
	2008–09	Segunda División	40	0	2	0	—		42	0
	Salamanca Total		82	3	3	0	—		85	3
Celta	2009–10	Segunda División	22	1	0	0	—		22	1
	2010–11	Segunda División	37	2	1	0	1[a]	0	39	2
	2011–12	Segunda División	18	2	4	0	—		22	2
	Total		77	5	5	0	1	0	63	5
AEK Larnaca	2012–13	Cypriot First Division	28	1	5	0	—		33	1
	2013–14	Cypriot First Division	31	2	3	0	—		33	2
	2014–15	Cypriot First Division	30	4	6	1	—		36	5
	2015–16	Cypriot First Division	6	0	0	0	2[b]	0	8	0
	Total		95	7	14	1	2	0	111	8
Career total			370	21	27	1	3	0	400	22

1. Appearance in La Liga play-offs
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Managerial statistics

As of match played 26 April 2025

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Record								Ref
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
AEK Larnaca		21 May 2021	21 March 2022	29	13	11	5	50	25	+25	044.83	[24]
Apollon Limassol		13 August 2022	9 November 2022	18	6	7	5	16	18	−2	033.33	[25]
Istra 1961		13 August 2023	7 February 2024	19	5	4	10	17	27	−10	026.32	[26]
Sabadell		10 June 2024	12 January 2025	23	9	11	3	31	20	+11	039.13	[27][28]
Kerala Blasters		25 March 2025	Present	2	1	0	1	3	2	+1	050.00	[29]
Total				91	34	33	24	117	92	+25	037.36	—

Honours

Player

AEK Larnaca

• Cypriot Cup: 2017–18^[23]
• Cypriot Super Cup: 2018^[23]