Javier López Vallejo

Javier López Vallejo (born 22 September 1975) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Club career
Born in Pamplona, López Vallejo began his career at hometown's CA Osasuna, making his first appearance for the main squad not yet 19 in a 3–0 home win over Sporting de Gijón on 15 May 1994, although the Navarrese had already been relegated from La Liga. He became an undisputed starter from the 1995–96 season onwards.

López Vallejo signed for Villarreal CF in 1999 alongside teammate Jesús Unanua (also a goalkeeper), appearing in all the games during the 1999–2000 campaign as the club returned to the top flight after a one-year absence. He retained first-choice status the following two years.

With the signing of Pepe Reina in 2002 and the subsequent arrival of imports Sebastián Viera and Mariano Barbosa, however, López Vallejo was consecutively demoted to backup and third-choice. In order to search more playing opportunities he joined Recreativo de Huelva in the same league on loan for the 2006–07 season, where he played the majority of the Andalusians' matches.

In 2007–08, López Vallejo signed for Real Zaragoza on a free transfer, where he backed up former Real Madrid player César (two games). As the latter moved to Tottenham Hotspur in August 2008 he became the starter, with the side now in the Segunda División, and was instrumental as they immediately returned to the top tier.

López Vallejo started the 2009–10 season on the bench, then became first-choice over Juan Pablo Carrizo. However, he lost his position in January 2010 with the arrival of new coach José Aurelio Gay and, later that month, was released by mutual consent; he immediately found a new team, joining Levadiakos F.C. in Greece alongside his compatriot Kike Sola, from former club Osasuna.

International career
In 1991, López Vallejo helped the Spain under-17s to win the UEFA European Championship in Switzerland (then named under-16). Later that year, in the FIFA World Cup equivalent, he was the starter in a final runner-up position in Italy.

López Vallejo also won caps for the unofficial Navarre and Basque Country regional sides.

Honours
Villarreal
 * UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2003, 2004

Spain U16
 * UEFA European Under-16 Championship: 1991

Spain U17
 * FIFA U-17 World Cup runner-up: 1991