# Javi Lara

Javier "Javi" Lara Grande (born 4 December 1985) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Linares Deportivo.

## Club career

Born in Montoro, Córdoba, Lara graduated from local club Córdoba CF's youth setup, and made his senior debut with the reserves in the 2003–04 season, in the Tercera División. After Segunda División B loan stints with CD Villanueva, Real Unión and Écija Balompié, he moved to another reserve team, UD Almería B, in August 2007.
In summer 2008, Lara joined RSD Alcalá also of the fourth division. On 20 July 2009, he signed a two-year contract with Elche CF in the Segunda División. He played his first match as a professional on 3 September 2009, starting and featuring the full 90 minutes in a 3–2 away loss against FC Cartagena in the second round of the Copa del Rey. He made his league debut three days later, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 4–1 defeat at CD Numancia.
On 29 January 2010, having been sparingly used by the Andalusians, Lara was loaned to CD Alcoyano until June. He then moved to Valencia CF's B team in January 2011, following which he competed in division three with Lucena CF and Alcoyano.
On 17 July 2013, Lara signed a one-year deal with SD Ponferradina. On 24 June of the following year, he moved to SD Eibar, recently promoted to La Liga. He made his debut in the Spanish top flight on 24 August 2014, starting and scoring the game's only goal (also the club's first ever in the competition) through a free kick in a win against Real Sociedad at the Ipurua Municipal Stadium.
Lara moved abroad at the age of 29, joining ATK in the Indian Super League on 17 July 2015. He scored his first goal for the team on 13 October in their first home game of the season, a 2–1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC with Pelé in attendance at the Salt Lake Stadium.
In November 2015, after being ruled out due to injury, Lara was consequently released and replaced by his compatriot Jorge Alonso. On 2 February 2016, he returned to his home country by agreeing to a short-term deal at CD Tenerife.
On 12 August 2016, Lara returned to India and Atlético Kolkata, winning the championship after defeating Kerala Blasters in a penalty shoot-out. On 10 January 2017, he signed for Córdoba until 30 June.
Lara returned to Spain in August 2019, with the 33-year-old joining UD Ibiza for two seasons as a free agent. He was a regular starter in the side's first-ever promotion to the second division in 2021, before leaving on 18 May 2022.
On 4 July 2022, Lara signed for AD Alcorcón of Primera Federación. He contributed 41 matches and six assists in all competitions in his debut campaign, winning promotion to the second tier and subsequently renewing his contract; he scored twice from 34 appearances in 2023–24, as they went down immediately.
Lara remained in the lower leagues subsequently, starting with Linares Deportivo in the Segunda Federación.

## Career statistics

    As of match played on 4 March 2018
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Villanueva (loan) | 2005–06 | Segunda División B | 12 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 2 |
| Real Unión (loan) | 2006–07 | Segunda División B | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Écija (loan) | 2006–07 | Segunda División B | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Elche | 2009–10 | Segunda División | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Alcoyano (loan) | 2009–10 | Segunda División B | 15 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Lucena | 2011–12 | Segunda División B | 31 | 5 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 35 | 5 |
| Alcoyano | 2012–13 | Segunda División B | 40 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 12 |
| Ponferradina | 2013–14 | Segunda División | 37 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 4 |
| Eibar | 2014–15 | La Liga | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 1 |
| ATK | 2015 | Indian Super League | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 |
| Tenerife | 2015–16 | Segunda División | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| ATK | 2016 | Indian Super League | 17 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 3 |
| Córdoba | 2016–17 | Segunda División | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 |
| Córdoba | 2017–18 | Segunda División | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 |
| Córdoba | Total | Total | 45 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 277 | 28 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 294 | 31 |
* 1 2 3 Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs

## Honours

ATK
* Indian Super League: 2016