Javier Flaño


Javier 'Javi' Flaño Bezunartea is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right-back.
He represented Spain up to under-23 level, and spent most of his career with Osasuna.

Club career

A product of hometown CA Osasuna's youth system, Flaño was born in Pamplona, and he made his debut with the first team in a La Liga 2–1 home win against Villarreal CF on 28 August 2005, going on to finish his first season with 31 games. Aged only 17, he began playing regularly with [CA CA Osasuna|Osasuna B|the reserves] in the Segunda División B.
Flaño remained an important fixture with the Navarrese the following campaign. He scored his first goal on 10 December 2006 in a 3–0 home victory over RCD Mallorca, adding eight appearances in the club's semi-final run in the UEFA Cup.
From 2007 onwards, twin brother Miguel became an undisputed starter while Javier was only a fringe player. Released in June 2009, he joined CD Numancia on a free transfer for two years, as the Soria side had just been relegated from the top division; he appeared in 40 Segunda División matches in his second season – 39 starts – in a final comfortable midtable position.
On 22 July 2014, following one-year spells in the second division with Elche CF and CD Mirandés, Flaño returned to his first club, where his brother was still playing. On 7 June of the following year, in the last round of the campaign and with the team needing one point to avoid a second consecutive relegation, he scored a last-minute header for a 2–2 draw at CE Sabadell FC.
Flaño started in 37 of his 38 league appearances in 2015–16 to help Osasuna return to the top flight after a two-year absence. In the early stages of the following season, both siblings suffered a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament on their left knee, being sidelined for several months.
Having only totalled ten games in his last two seasons, Flaño left for third-tier UD Logroñés in July 2018.

Personal life

Flaño's twin brother, Miguel, was also a footballer and a defender. Both were developed at Osasuna.

Honours

Elche
Spain U23
  • Mediterranean Games: [Football at the Football at the 2005 Mediterranean Games|2005 Mediterranean Games|2005]