Jesus Navas announced that he was leaving Sevilla at the end of last season, but has scored a vital goal to give his side hope at the start of this campaign. Read on to find out how that is possible and what his club means to him.
Jesus Navas’ Story Writes Itself Another Chapter
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Thank God I Stayed.
Back in May of this year, Navas announced that he would be leaving his boyhood club after 17 glorious seasons. But barely two days later, following clearer conversations with the club’s board, he revealed that he was staying, and accepted the lifetime contract he had been offered. From there, he added another trophy to his illustrious list by winning the European Championships with Spain in the summer before returning to the south of Spain to begin preparations for his 18th La Liga season.
Sevilla Intent on Turning Things Around
With four managers in less than a year, a president bickering with his predecessor (his dad) and a damaging salary limit slammed in their face by the league, things aren’t exactly going swimmingly at Sevilla. Before matchday five’s encounter with Getafe CF, some even conspired that a loss could result in Xavier García Pimienta becoming their latest manager to get the sack.
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In the twenty-third minute of the match, a clipped cross from the left-hand side found its way to the feet of the Sevilla right-back just inside the penalty area. With little pressure around him, he took a touch and unleashed a fierce shot too powerful for David Soria in the opposition goal. It was Navas’ first goal in five years and of course it had to come when Sevilla needed it most. The Nervioneses were able to hang on to the one goal lead proving Navas’ strike to be the match-winner. He had delivered Sevilla’s first three points of the season and in doing so became their oldest ever goalscorer. A new page of the club’s history books had been written.
Sevillano Through And Through
The reaction of the crowd was biblical; a packed Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan singing their hero’s name in unison. Again, when he was substituted off in the second half and again at full time. It was the last chorus of his name ringing out that reduced the 38-year-old to tears.
From a small town of just 38,000 people located 30km south of Seville, Navas is a true home bird. Early on in his career, he was said to have suffered from “chronic homesickness”, sometimes leaving international training in Madrid as it was too far from his beloved province of Seville. He’s a softly-spoken understated man who has the respect of just about everyone in the sport (those on the green and white side of Seville might beg to differ).
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He’s the embodiment of what Sevilla FC means; “nunca se rinde” (never give up). Even when he’s won just about everything there is to be won in the sport, there’s always more to give to the team he’s been with his whole life. He’s allowed a whole generation of fans to watch him grow from academy prospect to their all-time hero. Not quite a one-club man – his four years at Manchester City challenged him to finally fledge from his nest, but his heart remained in Andalucía.
The Sevilla “legend” returned at 31 years of age, plenty of time to add two more UEFA Europa Leagues to his trophy cabinet. A shift further back up the field to right-back saw his blistering pace of old be converted into discipline and intelligence that has kept the left-wingers of La Liga quiet. Of course he can’t help himself venturing up the pitch every once in a while, as demonstrated against Getafe.
Is There Still More to Come From Jesus Navas?
There’s no doubt that Navas’ ties with Sevilla will be never-ending. He’s exactly the type to get his coaching badges, be involved in the youth academy and obtain important behind-the-scenes responsibilities. Who knows, one day we might see him on La Liga touchlines. But his body won’t keep him on the pitch for much longer, he already struggles to complete a full ninety minutes.
Navas has recently retired from international football as his national team’s most decorated player of all time. This announcement wasn’t followed by a U-turn so we can assume he intends on sticking to his decision. So with his full attention on club football and a lifetime contract in his pocket, one wonders for just how long he will keep playing.
