Javi Lopez is etched in Espanyol’s history but now he is at the heart of an exciting Adelaide United team, eyeing silverware in this season’s Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series, writes KEEPUP’s Sacha Pisani.
There is an infectious smile beaming through as Javi Lopez talks about Adelaide United. It’s a sign of the impact the Reds have had on the former Espanyol captain over the course of almost three years.
“I feel so comfortable here. I feel the people respect me,” he told KEEPUP.
BUY TICKETS TO THE ELIMINATION FINAL BETWEEN ADELAIDE & WELLINGTON
BUY TICKETS TO THE ELIMINATION FINAL BETWEEN ADELAIDE & WELLINGTON
The 18-year veteran arrived in Adelaide “at a bad moment in my life” at the end of the 2019-20 season.
Espanyol – one of the most historic clubs in Spanish football – had just been relegated from LaLiga for the first time since 1993-94.
This is a team that had been in the top flight for 85 out of the 89 seasons entering that campaign, a number only bettered by powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona, plus Athletic Club.
Lopez had shouldered a lot of the pressure that season, wearing the captain’s armband. He is also a player etched in Espanyol’s history – just two other players have managed more all-time appearances, Raul Tamudo and Mauricio Pochettino.
“When I arrived (in Adelaide), it was when my other club were relegated. It was a tough time for me and my family. I had three months without a team, training alone,” the 37-year-old full-back recalled.
“When you are a captain, and you give the best of you, you leave the club in second division and in a weird condition, it was difficult.”
READ MORE ON KEEPUP
IRANKUNDA: ‘Only him and Messi’ – Extraordinary tip-off agents are receiving
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE FINALS GUIDE: Everything you need to know
AWARDS SEASON: Every A-Leagues club’s end of season award winners
REFEREES: Football has a chance to show how much they are valued
INS AND OUTS: Victory announce four exits, including Socceroo who played just 46 minutes
PODCAST VIEW: Transfer records set to shatter this off-season in ‘really important period’ for the A-Leagues
Lopez, who helped Espanyol qualify for the Europa League for the first time since 2004-05 after finishing seventh in 2018-19, added: “When you are captain, it’s an unbelievable experience. It’s an honour.
“When the moment is difficult, it’s so hard too. When all is good, perfect. The pressure is good pressure. But when it’s a difficult moment, you struggle. The people in that moment, they start to abuse you on social media.
“This moment is so, so bad. It’s the moment I don’t want other people to experience it.”
Lopez is happy again, playing football with a smile on his face as an Elimination Final showdown against Wellington Phoenix awaits at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
A LaLiga stalwart, he is among the best and most influential full-backs in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Since his debut season in 2020-21, Lopez ranks third across the league in duels (807), interceptions (117), possession won (484) and chances created from open play (56). Meanwhile, only Storm Roux (nine) and Corey Brown (eight) have supplied more assists than the Adelaide man (seven) among defenders.
And the Reds will be leaning on the experience of a player, who went toe-to-toe with the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andres Iniesta, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Diego Costa, Joao Felix, Sergi Ramos, Vinicius Junior, Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez, Kaka and Mesut Ozil during his time in LaLiga, as Adelaide eye their first Championship since 2016.
“I find the club, the friends and whole environment around the club is so, so good. They believe in me and I try to give back,” he said.
“When you are happy, you have your head free. It’s one of the most important things for playing. It’s a game. It’s true it’s our job but it’s a game. To play a game, you need to be happy and enjoy it.
“I am enjoying it here at Coopers Stadium with our fans, when the crowd is football,” he continued, having expressed his frustration with the fact Adelaide have conceded eight goals in two games – something that has kept him up at night.
“It’s unbelievable. One of our strengths is our fans. When we play at home, normally we perform well.”
A key figure behind Lopez’s form has been Reds boss Carl Veart.
Veart has continued to have an impact on players, young and old. From 17-year-old sensation Nestory Irankunda to someone in the twilight of their career like Lopez.
The 52-year-old, who signed a three-year contract extension earlier this term, lured the Espanyol great to South Australia.
“When I talk about him, he trusts in me,” said Lopez. “When I arrived, it was a bad moment. He started to trust in me.
“When one coach trusts in you and gives opportunity, I give my best. I am so grateful and really appreciate the confidence he gives me.
“It’s amazing to work with him. He tries to always improve the team. Training is always good. When he needs to put pressure, he does.
“I am lucky and grateful to have him in the last moments of my career.”
Lopez, whose family loves the country – so much so his daughters want to “live in Australia for the rest of their lives”, has a new lease on life under Veart.
But the impact of former boss Mauricio Pochettino is not lost on him.
In 2009, Pochettino handed Lopez his senior professional debut for Espanyol.
“It’s a moment I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. I worked all my life for that moment, my family worked with me too,” Lopez said.
“When it arrived, he told me: ‘show me what you can do’. I remember the game, we drew 0-0. After, I didn’t play again with him until the next season. It’s a long period, a difficult period too. I thought when I play one game, I play more and more. But I work hard to play the next season.”
He learned a lot from the former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain head coach, who is reportedly poised to take charge of Chelsea.
“I didn’t play right-back before Pochettino. I started to play my first game at right-back with him. He showed me a lot of things. We had a lot of meetings,” said Lopez.
“He showed me a lot about defence because he is one of the best defenders in Espanyol’s history.
“He trusted in me. He gave me a lot of advice not only for football, but life. I’m grateful for him for the rest of my life.”
And they have remained in contact ever since.
“When I left Espanyol, he called me and started to joke because when we leave the club, I received a gift,” said Lopez.
“He told me, ‘ey, you received this gift? I didn’t receive a gift. What is this?!'”.
Lopez also boasts an incredible collection of around 250 jerseys, including Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta and others. But the inclusion of Sergio Ramos says a lot about the pair’s history.
“I played with him when I was young. I played with him in the south of Spain, we have a national team – a selection in the community,” he said.
“We played for two years. We have a good relationship. When some player go for him and they want his shirt, he says no the shirt is for Javi Lopez.”
