Dani Parejo: A touch of class in midfield
Dani Parejo, has become almost synonymous with LaLiga due to how he has grown in the Spanish top flight. The experienced midfielder has become one of the most consistent players in the league over the last few seasons.
The Madrid-born Parejo started his youth career off with local sides CD. Coslada and UD. Espinilla. Joining Real Madrid’s youth team at the age of fourteen, Parejo looked to establish himself at the club from there.
Between 2006 and 2008 Parejo plied his trade with Real Madrid’s B team, totalling in 37 appearances and netting 11 goals for Castilla. Before moving on to make his debut for Los Blancos, he had what was meant to be a year-long loan spell with Championship side QPR in 2008, but that was short lived as he was recalled after four months. While this seemed like a great opportunity for the young midfielder. He only made four appearances for Madrid before being part of a trade deal in 2009, which saw Esteban Granero return to the capital and sent Parejo to Getafe, where he would spend the next two years of his playing career.
In his time playing for the club based just south of Madrid, Dani played his part in helping the club qualify for what was only their second European campaign, by finishing sixth in the league and qualifying for the play-off round of what had just become the Europa league. While the high of his stint there may have been playing in the Europa League, his team struggled domestically. As Getafe finished on 16th place, just one point above the relegation zone in 2011. Nonetheless Parejo established himself at the club in his short time with them, setting him up for a bigger move elsewhere.
Following his success at Getafe, Parejo made a €6m deal move to Valencia, where he would go to make nearly 400 appearances and win his only trophy in senior football in the 2019 Copa Del Rey final. It wasn’t not been plain sailing for the Spanish international. Not long after joining them he was deemed surplus to requirements, even after injuries had hampered their midfield, but in the 2012/13 season Parejo was able to turn it around as he made 36 league appearances and solidified himself at Valencia as one of their starting midfielders. He grew from there, and was named in the LaLiga team of the season (17/18 and 18/19). During this period, he really developed his skills as a defensive martial and showed a key eye for a pass. Helping his side in many ways, especially with his old club facing many ups and downs during his time there. Even for him personally, losing the captain’s armband during Gary Neville’s time. Through his determination he did not just become regain their captaincy, he was their standout performer in the Spanish top-flight, but he was also able to make a big push on the international front.
Between the years of 2007 and 2011 Dani Parejo played a number of games in the youth set-up for the Spanish national team, collecting a total of 44 caps across the U19, U20 and U21 age groups. In 2007, he was part of the side that claimed the UEFA U19 European championship, then he was also part of the side in 2011 that went on to win the U21 European championship. This four-year stint seemed to put Parejo, a long with many others, in good stead to push on to the senior side. But a mixture of Spain’s golden generation and Dani’s initial struggles at Valencia seem to leave him out of contention. It was after those first few years at Valencia that he managed to slowly build back up into the discussion for the national side. Finally, a whole seven years later he made his debut against Argentina in a 6–1 victory in 2018. Since that debut Parejo has gone on to make three more appearances for the Spanish national team in victories against Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands in European Qualifiers.
Now 31, Parejo joined the Yellow Submarine this summer as an experienced and versatile centre midfielder, who can play in both more defensive and attacking positions. Since his European bow with Getafe, Parejo has also gone on to have countless experiences on the continent in the Champions League and Europa League and will surely add some experience to the midfield as Villarreal look to challenge in Europe again this season.
