Getting To Know: Andreu Fontàs

Full name: Andreu Fontàs Prat
Squad No: 26
Position: Center back
Date of birth: 14 November 1989
Place of birth: Banyoles, Spain
Height: 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight: 89 kg (196 lbs)

Andreu Fontàs was born in Banyoles, a town in the northeast part of Catalonia. It was there Fontàs made his first steps in football. He joined his first football academy at his hometown club at the the age of six. He stayed with CD Banyoles for eleven years, but in 2006 Fontàs joined Girona FC, a bigger local club.

In 2007, Andreu was approached by FC Barcelona's officials and they offered him to join La Masia. He joined Barca's youth ranks at the age of 17 as a defensive midfielder. In Barcelona he started to play in the heart of the defense, as a center back. After Fontàs' first year in the academy he was promoted to Barcelona B.

Fontàs immediately became a important player for Barcelona's second team. He was used as a holding midfielder and as a defender. Andreu played 72 games for the B team in three season and he also scored two goals. On 17 March 2011, as a result of Eric Abidal's absence, Fontàs was promoted to the first team.

But the wasn't his first rodeo with the big boys. Fontàs made his official debut on 31 August 2009 in a La Liga game against Sporting Gijón. Since his debut he made a few occasional appearances,  most of them as a starter in less important matches. Altogether Andreu has nine first team appearances and he also scored his first, and so far only, goal, in the Champions League no less.

In international football Fontàs played with every Under-age team Spain has to offer. However, he is still waiting for his senior team call-up.

Profile
Andreu Fontàs is a commanding center back, but he isn't only limited to that position. He can move up to play defensive midfielder and this year he proved that, if necessary, he can fill in at left back. His tackling is excellent, but he struggles when he faces speedy opponents as he doesn't possess the necessary pace.

Honors
FC Barcelona

Spain

In July 2010 Fontàs extended his contract for a further season, keeping him at the Camp Nou until the end of the 2011/12 season.

This basically concludes Barcelona's first team. But before you say: "Oh no, there's no one left to review", don't worry. I'm going to expand the series a bit and get to know the mastermind behind this team, Josep Guardiola.