Carlos Marchena López Biography | Carlos Marchena López News

Marchena started his professional career in hometown club Sevilla FC at the age of 18, when the club was playing in the Spanish second division. In 1999-2000, he debuted in the top flight, playing the entire match in a 2-2 home draw with Real Sociedad.

When Sevilla was relegated again at the end of the season, Marchena earned a transfer to Portugal's Sport Lisboa e Benfica, where he did sufficiently well to catch the eye of top club Valencia CF, who were in need to provide cover for their aging centre-back Miroslav Djukić. Marchena signed a four-year contract, which involved a swap-deal, with Zlatko Zahovic moving in the opposite direction. While Marchena took a while in his first season to impress (16 appearances), as Valencia clinched their first title in 30 years, he gradually became first-choice.

In the 2003-04 season, with Valencia capturing a historic league and UEFA Cup double, Marchena played a pivotal role in defense, teaming up with Roberto Ayala. This polished performance led to his selection for the Spanish national team for the Euro 2004 tournament. He was, in fact, chosen at the last minute by then coach Iñaki Sáez as a strategic move to bolster his squad defensively. While Spain did not do well in the tournament and bowed out in the early stages, he did manage 2 appearances, although he did also picked up 2 yellow cards while doing so.

2004-05 was not a very successful season for Valencia, as under new coach Claudio Ranieri, the team struggled both domestically and in European tournaments. In a UEFA Champions League first-round match against Werder Bremen at the Mestalla stadium, he was also given his marching orders in the final minutes of the match, and Valencia was eliminated from the elite competition. Marchena remained a regular at both defensive positions.

Marchena was part of the national side 2006 World Cup squad. However, he was not a regular starter and only featured in the last first-round game against Saudi Arabia. He was called again for Euro 2008, this time as undisputed starter at centre-back, having also featured prominently in the qualifying stages.

Marchena started his professional career in hometown club Sevilla FC at the age of 18, when the club was playing in the Spanish second division. In 1999-2000, he debuted in the top flight, playing the entire match in a 2-2 home draw with Real Sociedad.

When Sevilla was relegated again at the end of the season, Marchena earned a transfer to Portugal's Sport Lisboa e Benfica, where he did sufficiently well to catch the eye of top club Valencia CF, who were in need to provide cover for their aging centre-back Miroslav Djukić. Marchena signed a four-year contract, which involved a swap-deal, with Zlatko Zahovic moving in the opposite direction. While Marchena took a while in his first season to impress (16 appearances), as Valencia clinched their first title in 30 years, he gradually became first-choice.

In the 2003-04 season, with Valencia capturing a historic league and UEFA Cup double, Marchena played a pivotal role in defense, teaming up with Roberto Ayala. This polished performance led to his selection for the Spanish national team for the Euro 2004 tournament. He was, in fact, chosen at the last minute by then coach Iñaki Sáez as a strategic move to bolster his squad defensively. While Spain did not do well in the tournament and bowed out in the early stages, he did manage 2 appearances, although he did also picked up 2 yellow cards while doing so.

2004-05 was not a very successful season for Valencia, as under new coach Claudio Ranieri, the team struggled both domestically and in European tournaments. In a UEFA Champions League first-round match against Werder Bremen at the Mestalla stadium, he was also given his marching orders in the final minutes of the match, and Valencia was eliminated from the elite competition. Marchena remained a regular at both defensive positions.

Marchena was part of the national side 2006 World Cup squad. However, he was not a regular starter and only featured in the last first-round game against Saudi Arabia. He was called again for Euro 2008, this time as undisputed starter at centre-back, having also featured prominently in the qualifying stages.