David Rochela Calvo (born 19 February 1990) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender.
Brought up at Deportivo La Coruña, he made 18 appearances including in La Liga and the Segunda División, also representing Racing de Santander in the latter. He spent most of his career in the Thai League 1, winning honours at Buriram United and Port.
Club career Deportivo Born in As Pontes de García Rodríguez, Galicia, Rochela began his career at local Deportivo de La Coruña, initially for the reserve team in the Segunda División B. He was one of several new faces called up by first-team manager Miguel Ángel Lotina for a Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg on 27 January 2010 against Sevilla FC, who had won the first match 3–0; he debuted as a 70th-minute substitute for Juca in an inconsequential 1–0 away victory.
Rochela made his La Liga bow on 24 April 2010, as a half-time replacement for the injured Piscu in a 1–0 loss at Valencia CF. He then started the next three games in the closing stages of the season.
Rochela barely played in the next two years, as Deportivo were relegated and then promoted as champions of Segunda División. On 20 July 2012, with three years remaining on his Depor contract, he was loaned to newly-relegated Racing de Santander. He spent the second half of that campaign in his first foreign experience, at Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. in the Israeli Premier League.
Thailand Rochela moved to Thai Premier League champions Buriram United F.C. where he won the Kor Royal Cup in February 2014 with a 1–0 win over Muangthong United FC. On 2 November that year, he scored a penalty in a 2–1 home defeat of Police United F.C. to retain the title.
On 9 July 2021, Rochela scored again from the spot in a 5–1 Port F.C. victory at Guangzhou F.C. in the group stage of the AFC Champions League. It was his first goal in a continental competition.
In May 2023, Rochela announced his retirement at age 33.
International career Rochela was part of the Spain squad at the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, winning the tournament in Belgium. The same year, they finished second at the FIFA World Cup held in South Korea.
Career statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueCupIncludes Copa del Rey, Thai FA Cup, Thai League Cup, Kor Royal CupContinentalIncludes AFC Champions LeagueTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDeportivo2009–10 La Liga4010—502010–11 2040—60Total6050—110Deportivo B2010–11 Segunda División B25000—250Total25000—250Deportivo2011–12 Segunda División3040—70Total3040—70Racing Santander2012–13 Segunda División12020—140Total12020—140Hapoel Tel Aviv2012–13 Israeli Premier League13000—130Total13000—130Buriram United 2014Thai Premier League36410260526Total36410260526Career total954212601226
Honours Deportivo Segunda División: 2011–12
Buriram United Thai Premier League: 2014 Kor Royal Cup: 2014
Port Thai FA Cup: 2019
Spain U17 UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup runner-up: 2007
References
External links