The legendary goalkeeper, who played for the club for nine seasons, has retired from professional football
Villarreal legend Sergio Asenjo has announced his retirement from professional football. The Palencia-born goalkeeper played for the Yellow Submarine for nine seasons, making 258 appearances between the 2013/14 and 2021/22 seasons. Beyond his outstanding performances on the pitch, Asenjo has also been a model of resilience throughout his career, as he overcame four ACL injuries – two on either knee.
- Signing for Villarreal CF
Sergio Asenjo arrived at Villarreal in the summer of 2013 in a loan deal from Atlético de Madrid. That season he started 35 matches and his impressive performances led to the club making the deal permanent in the summer of 2014.
- Almost winning the Zamora trophy in 2015
Asenjo suffered his third ACL injury in the 2014/15 season in a match against Atlético de Madrid. The timing was devastating: he was in the best form of his career, he had earned his first call-up to the Spain national team, and he was closing in on winning the Zamora trophy.
- Full international for Spain
In spite of having made 27 appearances in the Spain youth ranks and being called up to the national team for the first time a year and two months earlier, he finally made his full international debut in May 2016. He helped the team to a 3-1 victory in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Vicente del Bosque in the dugout. It was to be Asenjo’s first and only appearance for the Spain national team.
- Saving two penalties in the same match
One of Asenjo’s greatest moments during his time at the Yellow Submarine came on matchday 25 in the 2017/18 LaLiga Santander season against Getafe, when he saved two penalties in the same match. His heroic display was pivotal to secure victory for his team and put an end to their difficult run at a decisive stage in the season.
- Most top-flight appearances in goal for the club
Asenjo wrote himself into the Villarreal history books once again by becoming Villarreal’s record appearance maker as a goalkeeper in the Spanish top flight. He reached this feat in the LaLiga Santander fixture against Celta de Vigo in the 2020/21 season. At 31 years of age, it was his 231st match for the Yellows, surpassing Diego López, who had played 230 matches for the Yellow Submarine.
- Europa League champion
Asenjo was part of the squad that won the Europea League in Gdansk in the 2020/21 season. That season he played 36 league fixtures, whilst Gerónimo Rulli was in goal for the European campaign. Asenjo’s only appearance in that historic edition of the Europa League came in the second leg in the Last 16 against Dynamo Kyiv, which the Yellows won 2-0.
- Chosen by the fans in the club’s historic XI
In March 2023, Asenjo was named in Villarreal CF’s historic XI, as chosen by the Yellow Submarine’s supporters. Asenjo was playing for Real Valladolid in the 2022/23 season, and returned to the Estadio de la Cerámica for the LaLiga Santander fixture in April 2023. He was presented with a commemorative submarine by club president Fernando Roig, and received a standing ovation from the Yellows supporters.
