# David Català

David Català Jiménez (born 3 May 1980) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender, currently a manager.
After beginning his career at Espanyol, he spent most of it in the Segunda División, representing six teams over nine seasons in the division, 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 managing.

## 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.
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. 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.
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. The campaign nonetheless ended in top-flight promotion, with him contributing 18 games and two goals to the feat.
On 28 July 2012, after recently signing a new contract, Català rescinded it and moved abroad for the first time, signing a three-year deal at AEK Larnaca FC of the Cypriot First Division. He helped the side win the 2017–18 Cypriot Cup at the age of 38, and retired the following year.

## Coaching career

Catalá was appointed manager of his last club in May 2021, replacing Sofronis Avgousti on a two-year contract. He was sacked on 23 March 2022.
On 12 August 2022, he continued in the same league by signing a one-year deal with Apollon Limassol FC. He was sacked on 9 November 2022.
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. He was dismissed the following 7 February, with five wins from 19 matches.
On 10 June 2024, Català was appointed at CE Sabadell FC in Spain's Segunda Federación on a one-year contract. He was sacked on 12 January 2025 after seven league games without a win, with the team in the sixth place of the table.

## Career statistics

    As of 4 October 2015
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Espanyol | 1999–2000 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Espanyol | 2001–02 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Espanyol | Total | 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 |
| Salamanca | 2008–09 | Segunda División | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 0 |
| Salamanca | Salamanca Total | Salamanca Total | 82 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 85 | 3 |
| Celta | 2009–10 | Segunda División | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 1 |
| Celta | 2010–11 | Segunda División | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 2 |
| Celta | 2011–12 | Segunda División | 18 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 2 |
| Celta | Total | Total | 77 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 5 |
| AEK Larnaca | 2012–13 | Cypriot First Division | 28 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 1 |
| AEK Larnaca | 2013–14 | Cypriot First Division | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 2 |
| AEK Larnaca | 2014–15 | Cypriot First Division | 30 | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 5 |
| AEK Larnaca | 2015–16 | Cypriot First Division | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| AEK Larnaca | Total | Total | 95 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 111 | 8 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 370 | 21 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 400 | 22 |
* ↑ Appearance in La Liga play-offs
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

## Managerial statistics

    As of 13 January 2025
Managerial record by team and tenure :
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Ref |
| Team | Nat | From | To | G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Ref |
| AEK Larnaca | | 21 May 2021 | 21 March 2022 | 29 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 50 | 25 | +25 | 044.83 | |
| Apollon Limassol | | 13 August 2022 | 9 November 2022 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 033.33 | |
| Istra 1961 | | 13 August 2023 | 7 February 2024 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 27 | −10 | 026.32 | |
| Sabadell | | 10 June 2024 | 12 January 2025 | 23 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 31 | 20 | +11 | 039.13 | |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 89 | 33 | 33 | 23 | 114 | 90 | +24 | 037.08 | — |

## Honours

AEK Larnaca
* Cypriot Cup: 2017–18
* Cypriot Super Cup: 2018