Jesús Navas says emotional adiós at Sevilla
The 39-year-old made his final appearance for the Andalusian club on Saturday in a heartfelt farewell at the Sánchez Pizjuán
Jesús Navas was given a guard of honour as he came out on to the pitch. At the age of 39 and in his second spell at Sevilla, the captain was about to make his 704th and final appearance for the Andalusian club at home. Emotions were running high at the Sánchez Pizjuán and even Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas was in tears.
Navas made his Sevilla debut way back in November 2003. The young right winger quickly impressed but anxiety attacks and homesickness halted a move to Chelsea in 2006 and also a career with Spain. Eventually, with counselling, he overcame the problem and was part of the Spain squads which won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
And over a decade on, Navas was involved again as La Roja won Euro 2024. He also spent several seasons at Manchester City, winning a Premier League title and two League Cups in over 180 games for the Sky Blues. But he had unfinished business at Sevilla, returning home in 2017. And he has been there ever since.
Before the match against Celta, Sevilla’s fans raised a huge banner at one end of the stadium. “The pride of Nervión,” it read. Navas posed for pictures alongside the trophies he had helped the club win in his two stints: two UEFA Cups, two Europa Leagues, two Copas del Rey, a Supercopa de España and a UEFA Super Cup.
The 39-year-old kissed the young mascots and then, it was business as usual. Starting on the right side of the attack he had graced so often over the years, Navas played 70 minutes before coming off to a rousing reception from the Sánchez Pizjuán faithful – fans who had grown up or grown old watching the local lad down the wing across two long and largely successful spells spanning over 17 years in total.
Fittingly, it ended with a victory, as Manu Bueno’s 65th-minute goal proved the difference against Celta. With Sevilla in front, it was time for Navas to depart. The 39-year-old walked slowly off the pitch, his eyes welling up into tears as he said goodbye to his adoring fans for the final time. And when the full-time whistle blew, he punched the air. It meant as much now as it always had.
Thrown into the air by his team-mates after the game, Navas had given absolutely everything. Overcoming anxiety and homesickess, putting his body on the line, carrying on despite a chronic hip injury and extreme discomfort when others would have called it a day many years ago.
“This is my life, Sevilla,” he said. “I have given everything until the end. These six months have been crazy, I’ve surprised myself. I won the European Championship with those pains and I've come back here, to give everything. I love these people. We have given them titles, love and commitment. This is what I wanted, to show what Sevilla and this badge represent.”
And he added: “This was my childhood dream. Everything I have achieved has been through work, courage, desire… My family knows the very difficult times I’ve had, and the courage and desire I’ve shown. There have been four or five years where I’ve woken up unable to walk. I don’t care if I can't walk tomorrow. Everything must be given for this shield, I love it.”
Navas also paid homage to former Sevilla team-mates Antonio Puerta and José Antonio Reyes. Puerta tragically lost his life at the age of 22 following a cardiac arrest on the pitch in a game against Getafe in 2007; Reyes died in a car accident in 2019. “That’s what has made me get up every day,” he said. “It’s for them: for Reyes and for Puerta. That’s why I’ve removed my name and raised the ‘16’ to the sky, the number belongs to Antonio. I’ve tried to carry it with the courage it deserves. I’m very happy. The group has been amazing.”
Selfless until the end, Navas retires as a Sevilla legend. As an all-time great at this special club and as an icon of Spanish football. There will not be many more like him and at the Sánchez Pizjuán, he will be sorely missed.
What an unbelievable player. Doesn't get talked about enough.
I was there