Javier Calleja Revilla (born 12 May 1978) is a Spanish former professionalfootballer who played mainly as aleft midfielder. He is a currentmanager.
He amassedLa Liga totals of 192 matches and nine goals over one decade, mainly withVillarreal (six seasons) andOsasuna (three). He also representedMálaga in the competition, in a senior career that lasted 16 years.
Calleja later managed Villarreal, his first stint being in 2017.
Calleja was a very important member of theYellow Submarine in his first three seasons in that tier, scoring four goals in 35 matches in2001–02. On 5 April 2003, he netted apenalty kick as a latesubstitute in a 2–0 home win overFC Barcelona, dedicating the goal to his mother who had died hours before.[3][4] However, the emergence ofSanti Cazorla and two consecutive seriousknee injuries limited him to just 25 appearances over the following three campaigns.[5]
Ahead of2006–07, Calleja left Villarreal and joinedMálaga CF.[6] He was an instant first choice inAndalusia, making 38 appearances in hissecond season as the club returned to the top flight after a two-yearhiatus.[7]
After a serious injury to teammateAdriano Rossato, Calleja spent much of thefollowing campaign playing asleft-back.[8][9] On 12 June 2009, after his contract with Málaga expired, he moved to Osasuna in a 2+1 years deal.[10]
In September 2012, the 34-year-old Calleja announced his retirement and immediately returned to his former club Villarreal, being appointed manager of the youth sides.[11] On 9 May 2017, he replacedPaco López at the helm ofthe reserves.[12]
Calleja was named manager of the first team on 25 September 2017, in place of firedFran Escribá.[13] In hisfirst season he led them to the fifth position, with the subsequent qualification forthe group stage of theUEFA Europa League.[14] On 20 May 2018, he extended his contract.[15]
On 10 December 2018, with the side just three points above therelegation zone and having managed only one win in the last nine league fixtures, Calleja was dismissed.[16] On 29 January 2019, however, he was reinstated in the post following the sacking ofLuis García.[17] He left in July 2020, after a late run of form won the team afifth-place finish andEuropean qualification.[18]
Calleja was named manager ofLevante UD on 16 October 2022.[22] He led the team to theplayoff final in hisfirst season, losing to his previous employers by a 129th-minute penalty.[23]
Calleja was relieved of his duties on 19 February 2024, after just three wins in the last 16 matches.[24] On 6 July, he was appointed atReal Oviedo on a two-year deal,[25] but it was terminated on 25 March 2025.[26]
^Malo, José Luis (2 November 2017)."Calleja: adversario pero no enemigo..." [Calleja: opponent but not an enemy...].Málaga Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved10 January 2022.
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