Marc Navarro

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Navarro and the second or maternal family name is Ceciliano.
Marc Navarro
Personal information
Full name Marc Navarro Ceciliano[1]
Date of birth (1995-07-02) 2 July 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain[2]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Arka Gdynia
Number 2
Youth career
2001–2002 Badalona
2002–2011 Barcelona
2011–2014 Espanyol
2013–2014 → Damm (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Espanyol B 44 (7)
2017–2018 Espanyol 31 (3)
2018–2021 Watford 8 (0)
2019–2020 → Leganés (loan) 4 (0)
2023 El Paso Locomotive 31 (2)
2024– Arka Gdynia 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:10, 17 September 2024 (UTC)

Marc Navarro Ceciliano (born 2 July 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Polish club Arka Gdynia. Mainly a right-back, he can also play as a central defender.

Club career

Espanyol

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Navarro finished his youth career while on loan at CF Damm, after representing CF Badalona, FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol. In July 2014, he was assigned to the latter's reserve team in the Segunda División B.[3]

Navarro made his senior debut on 2 November 2014, coming on as a second half substitute for Rober Correa in a 2–1 away loss against Elche CF Ilicitano.[4] His first goal came on 5 September 2015, when he closed the 3–2 home win over FC Barcelona B.[5]

On 22 December 2015, Navarro signed a one-year extension with the club, with his new contract running until June 2017.[6] The following 4 January, however, he suffered a severe knee injury, being sidelined for six months.[7]

Navarro made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 21 January 2017, starting and scoring the last goal in a 3–1 home victory against Granada CF[8] and becoming the first youth graduate to achieve the feat since Raúl Tamudo in 1997.[9] Eight days later, in his second appearance, he netted his team's second in a 3–1 defeat of Sevilla FC also at the RCDE Stadium.[10]

On 30 January 2017, Navarro extended his contract until 2021, being definitely promoted to the first team the following campaign.[11]

Watford

On 15 June 2018, Navarro joined Watford on a five-year deal for €2 million.[12][13] His maiden Premier League appearance took place on 29 September, when he played 84 minutes in the 2–0 loss at Arsenal.[14]

After only five competitive appearances in his first season,[15] Navarro returned to Spain and its top tier after agreeing to a one-year loan at CD Leganés on 24 July 2019.[16] He left Watford by mutual consent in August 2021.[17]

El Paso Locomotive

On 3 November 2022, Navarro signed for USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive FC.[18] One year later, having made the league's Team of the Week on two occasions, it was announced that he would not be returning for 2024.[19]

Arka Gdynia

On 29 March 2024, Navarro joined Arka Gdynia of the Polish I liga until the end of the season, with an option for another year.[20] He made his debut on 21 April, starting a 2–0 home victory over Wisła Płock.[21] In late May, as previously arranged, his contract was extended.[22]

Personal life

Navarro was a childhood friend of compatriot Héctor Bellerín, who also played in England with Arsenal. The former commented that both used to play football together in the garden of his grandmother's house.[23]

Career statistics

As of match played 2 June 2024[24][25]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Espanyol B 2014–15 Segunda División B 13 0 — — — 13 0
2015–16 Segunda División B 17 4 — — — 17 4
2016–17 Segunda División B 14 3 — — — 14 3
Total 44 7 — — — 44 7
Espanyol 2015–16 La Liga 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
2016–17 La Liga 12 2 0 0 — — 12 2
2017–18 La Liga 19 1 5 0 — — 24 1
Total 31 3 5 0 — — 36 3
Watford 2018–19 Premier League 2 0 1 0 2 0 — 5 0
2019–20 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2020–21 Championship 6 0 1 0 1 0 — 8 0
Total 8 0 2 0 3 0 — 13 0
Leganés (loan) 2019–20 La Liga 4 0 2 0 — — 6 0
Total 4 0 2 0 0 0 — 6 0
El Paso Locomotive 2023 USLC 31 2 0 0 — — 31 2
Arka Gdynia 2023–24 I liga 6 0 — — 2[a] 0 8 0
Career total 126 12 9 0 3 0 2 0 138 12
  1. ^ Appearances in I liga promotion play-offs

References

  1. ^ "Acta del partido celebrado el 20 de mayo de 2018, en Bilbao" [Minutes of the match held on 20 May 2018, in Bilbao] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Marc Navarro". Eurosport. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  3. ^ Tovar, Pedro (10 July 2014). "El Espanyol tira de la cantera" [Espanyol go shopping in the youth setup] (in Spanish). La Segunda B. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  4. ^ "El Ilicitano vence al Espanyol B con trabajo y buen fútbol (2–1)" [Ilicitano defeat Espanyol B with hard word and good football (2–1)] (in Spanish). Tele Elx. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  5. ^ Gascón, Javier (6 September 2015). "3–2: El Espanyol B lleva de cabeza al Barça B" [3–2: Espanyol B get into Barça B's head]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Marc Navarro renueva una temporada" [Marc Navarro renews for one season] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Grave lesión de Marc Navarro" [Serious injury of Marc Navarro] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  8. ^ Pérez, José Ignacio (21 January 2017). "'Pericos' que vuelan" ['Budgies' that fly]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  9. ^ Miguelsanz, Lluís (21 January 2017). "El Espanyol se ahorrará fichar a un lateral con Marc Navarro" [Espanyol will save the signing of a full-back with Marc Navarro]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  10. ^ "El Espanyol tiene nuevo ídolo: Fantástico Marc Navarro" [Espanyol have a new idol: Fantastic Marc Navarro]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  11. ^ Molero, Iván (30 January 2017). "El Espanyol renueva a Marc Navarro hasta 2021" [Espanyol renew Marc Navarro until 2021]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Marc Navarro, al Watford" [Marc Navarro, to Watford] (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Official: Navarro joins Hornets". Watford F.C. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  14. ^ Chowdhury, Saj (29 September 2018). "Arsenal 2–0 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  15. ^ Millar, Colin (8 July 2019). "Watford defender Marc Navarro set for Leganes". Football España. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  16. ^ "C.D. Leganés closes right fullback position with the arrival of Marc Navarro". CD Leganés. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  17. ^ Gray, Ryan (31 August 2021). "Marc Navarro leaves Watford by mutual consent". Watford Observer. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  18. ^ Hines, Taylor (3 November 2022). "La Liga and English Premier League defender Marc Navarro joins El Paso Locomotive FC ahead of 2023 season". El Paso Locomotive FC. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  19. ^ Huichapa, Alberto (1 November 2023). "El Paso Locomotive FC's Erik McCue and Marc Navarro depart ahead of 2024 season". El Paso Locomotive FC. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Marc Navarro nowym zawodnikiem Arki Gdynia" [Marc Navarro is a new Arka Gdynia player] (in Polish). Arka Gdynia. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  21. ^ Główczyński, Jacek (21 April 2024). "Arka Gdynia – Wisła Płock 2:0. Kartki i kontuzje nie przeszkodziły" [Arka Gdynia – Wisła Płock 2:0. Bookings and injuries could not stop us] (in Polish). Trojmiasto. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Marc Navarro 2025" (in Polish). Arka Gdynia. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  23. ^ "De enfrentarse en el jardín de su abuela a hacerlo en la Premier League" [From facing each other in his grandmother's garden to doing so in the Premier League]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 1 October 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  24. ^ Marc Navarro at BDFutbol
  25. ^ Marc Navarro at Soccerway