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JOAN CAPDEVILA MÉNDEZ
Date of Birth: 3 February, 1978
Nationality: Spain (international from 2002 until now)
Period at Deportivo: 2000 - 2007
Transfer: ca. €6,4 million (1.000 mln ptas) (2000)
Clubs: Villarreal (2007-?), Deportivo (2000-2007), Atlético de Madrid (1999-2000), Espanyol (1998-1999), Espanyol B (1997-1998)
Sold: Out of contract (2007)
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Position: Defender/Midfielder (left)
Liga games with Deportivo: 179
Goals scored with Deportivo: 15
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 In 2003 Catalan player JOAN CAPDEVILA spent five seasons as the substitute of Enrique Romero in the left defending position. Romero's ageing together with the Andalucian defender being used more and more as a central defender opened ways to the Catalan, who was the undisputed starter on that function during the two years of Caparrós in Deportivo. Capdevila's contract ruled out in June of 2007 and he signed a three-year deal with Villarreal.
At the age of twenty, Capdevila was considered one of the biggest talents of Espanyol. The player came out of their youth system but after just one season at the highest level joined Atlético de Madrid in 1999. In Madrid he also conquered a starting position and played 31 Liga matches. But he could not avoid the relegation of the 1996 Liga winners to the Segunda División.
He then became part of the well-known package-signing Deportivo did by taking Molina, Valerón and Capdevila from Atlético. A deal which, with hindsight, has become very lucrative for the club. But for the third time in three years, Capdevila would have to prove his value at a club from the Primera División.
This time, however, things would be more difficult. Capdevila did not play much in his first season (2000/2001) under Irureta, despite performing at the Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney with Spain. His number of Liga matches that season was only sixteen which could have had much to do with Irureta not being very fond of youngsters.
But Capdevila slowly got more chances as the years progressed and started rotating the position with Romero. During the season 2003/2004 he played more minutes than the veteran defender for the first time and he finally clinched his place as a starter at the Galician club. By August 2006 he had played 145 Liga matches at Deportivo, scoring eleven goals, among which were winners against Real Sociedad (2-1) and Málaga (1-0) in the season 2003/2004 and a dramatic late goal against his former club Atlético (1-0) in September 2005.
 For many years Deportivo had a luxury problem with having both Capdevila and Romero available. Romero quickly made name in 1998, became an international player and was part of the title-winning team in 2000. Capdevila made his Spanish debut on 16 October, 2002 against Paraguay (0-0) and earned a last-minute call up for the Spanish team playing the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal as Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado quit the team injured.
The Deportivo defender didn't play a single minute though as national coach Iñaki Sáez desperately tried to hang on to, among others, Raúl Bravo. The results of Spain at that tournament are well-known. So are the results at the World Cup 2006 under Luis Aragonés. But Aragonés hasn't shown to be very fond of Capdevila and prefers either Pernía or Del Horno at the left defending position.
Irureta's exit from Deportivo marked also the end of Romero's era as the undisputed left defender in Deportivo. During the seasons 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, the Catalan only missed six liga games and was able to score eight goals. He was also the captain of the squad during the opportunities in which Manuel Pablo was out of the starting eleven. One of his main characteristics was his powerful capacity to shot on goal, a faculty that left him score great goals like during the 3-0 win over Celta at Balaídos
But Capdevila was ending his contract with Deportivo and he was expecting to see an improvement in his salary, he never reached an agreement with Lendoiro in order to extend his career in La Coruña, so he decided to sign a three-year deal with Villarreal in June of 2007. His good bye occurred in the last season game at home against Recreativo (2-5). Despite Depor lost the match, the fans showed their love and respect to Capdevila.
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