History of David de Gea in Timeline
"David de Gea Quintana is a Spanish professional soccer player known for his exceptional goalkeeping skills. Currently, he is the goalkeeper for Serie A club Fiorentina."
1966: Unwanted Record at the World Cup
De Gea's struggles at the 2018 World Cup led to him having the unwanted record of the fewest saves (one) by a goalkeeper playing at least three matches in a single tournament since 1966.
November 1990: Birth
David de Gea Quintana was born in November 1990.
2007: Success with Spain's Under-17 Team
De Gea played a key role in Spain's under-17 team winning the 2007 European Championship and finishing second in the World Cup.
2008: First Professional Contract
At 17 years old, De Gea signed his first professional contract in 2008, keeping him contracted with Atlético Madrid until 2011.
September 2009: Atlético Madrid Debut
After Roberto was injured, De Gea made his first-team debut for Atlético Madrid in September 2009 at 18 years old, coming on as a substitute in a UEFA Champions League match.
2009: Senior Debut
At 18 years old, De Gea made his senior debut for Atlético Madrid in 2009.
2009: Starting Goalkeeper for Atlético Madrid
De Gea became Atlético Madrid's starting goalkeeper for the 2009-2010 season and helped them with the UEFA Europa League title.
2009: Loan Rejection and Punishment
De Gea rejected a loan move to Numancia in 2009 and was made to train alone as punishment.
January 2010: Manchester United Replacement Rumors
De Gea was rumored to be a possible replacement for Edwin van der Sar at Manchester United in January 2010.
May 2010: Pre-selection for the World Cup Squad
De Gea's strong performance with Atlético Madrid earned him a spot on Spain's provisional 30-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in May 2010, though he didn't make the final cut.
2010: Start of Relationship with Edurne
David de Gea began dating Spanish singer Edurne in 2010.
2010: Widespread Speculation Regarding Transfer to Manchester United
De Gea was subject to widespread rumors that he would replace Edwin van der Sar at Manchester United starting in the 2010-2011 season.
2010: Clean Sheet in Super Cup Victory
De Gea started the 2010-2011 season with a clean sheet and a penalty save that helped Atlético Madrid win the UEFA Super Cup.
2010: UEFA Europa League and Super Cup Champion
De Gea helped Atlético Madrid win the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2010.
July 2011: Manchester United Debut
De Gea made his first appearance for Manchester United in a friendly in July 2011.
September 2011: Improved Performance and Champions League Debut
Throughout September 2011, De Gea showcased significant improvement in his form. He played a crucial role in Manchester United's 3-1 victory over Chelsea with a series of impressive saves, including a remarkable one against Ramires. His performance earned praise from teammates and he made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 3-3 draw against Basel on 27 September 2011.
October 2011: Heavy Defeat and Criticism
In October 2011, De Gea was part of the Manchester United team that suffered a 6-1 loss to Manchester City, their worst home defeat since 1955. He faced criticism for his performance in a subsequent defeat to Blackburn Rovers, where he was blamed for conceding a late goal. Despite the setbacks, De Gea expressed his determination to improve and become a great goalkeeper for Manchester United.
October 2011: Manchester United Suffers Heavy Defeat to Manchester City
In October 2011, Manchester United experienced a heavy 6-1 defeat to their rivals Manchester City. This loss would later be compared to their 4-0 defeat to Chelsea under new manager José Mourinho.
2011: End of First Professional Contract
De Gea's first professional contract, which he signed in 2008, expired in 2011.
2011: Expiration Date of Contract Signed in 2010
The contract De Gea signed in January 2010 was set to expire in 2013.
2011: Victory in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship
De Gea was part of the Spain under-21 team that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2011 and was named in the Team of the Tournament.
2011: Transfer to Manchester United
De Gea officially transferred to Manchester United in 2011 after helping Spain win the U21 European Championship.
2011: U21 Euro Championship Winner
De Gea captained Spain's U21 team to victory in the European Championship in 2011.
2011: De Gea Joins Manchester United
David de Gea joined Manchester United in 2011, marking the beginning of his successful career with the club. He would go on to win his first Premier League Golden Glove with the team in May 2018.
2011: Transfer to Manchester United
De Gea's performances for Atlético Madrid earned him a transfer to Manchester United in 2011 for a British record fee for a goalkeeper at the time.
January 2012: Confirmation of Farsightedness
In January 2012, David de Gea was confirmed to be farsighted, a condition that, however, was not believed to impact his performance on the field.
February 2012: Return and Turning Point
After being dropped from the starting lineup, an injury to Anders Lindegaard gave De Gea the opportunity to return in February 2012. He made a crucial last-minute save against Chelsea, which he cited as a turning point in his season. De Gea went on to play the remaining 19 matches, keeping eight clean sheets.
May 2012: Call-Up to the Senior Team and Olympics Participation
In May 2012, De Gea received his first call-up to the Spanish senior team. He was also part of the Spanish team for the 2012 Summer Olympics, playing in all three matches.
2012: Improved Aerial Prowess
By 2012, David de Gea had significantly improved his ability to handle high balls and come off his line, becoming a "strong presence in the box" according to Kyle Diller.
2012: Summer Olympics
De Gea competed in the Summer Olympics with Spain in 2012.
2012: Mixed Start to the Season
De Gea missed the pre-season tour due to his participation in the 2012 Olympics, but returned to the starting lineup for the opening match against Everton. Despite making some outstanding saves, United lost 1-0. In the next match, he made notable saves against Fulham but a misunderstanding with Nemanja Vidić led to an own goal.
January 2013: Criticism and Defense
De Gea's performance in January 2013 against Tottenham Hotspur drew criticism from former Manchester United captain Gary Neville. Neville argued that a late error, which allowed Tottenham to equalize, overshadowed his overall performance. However, manager Sir Alex Ferguson defended De Gea, calling his critics "idiots".
February 2013: Coming of Age Performance
De Gea delivered a standout performance in February 2013 during a Champions League match against Real Madrid. His numerous saves earned him praise from Sir Alex Ferguson and were widely seen as a turning point in his Manchester United career, marking his "coming of age" as a top goalkeeper.
October 2013: Spectacular Save and Praise
In October 2013, De Gea made an exceptional save against Sunderland's Emanuele Giaccherini, which was lauded by Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel as one of the best saves ever in the Premier League. Manager David Moyes echoed the sentiment, calling the save a turning point in the match.
2013: First Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year Award
De Gea was elected as Manchester United's Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for the first time in 2013.
2013: Expiration Date of Contract Signed in 2010
The contract De Gea signed in January 2010 was set to expire in 2013.
2013: Second U21 Euro Championship Win
Spain's U21 team, once again captained by De Gea, won the European Championship in 2013.
2013: Another UEFA European Under-21 Championship Title
De Gea continued his success with the Spain under-21 team in 2013 by defending their European title. His performance earned him a spot in the Team of the Tournament for the second time.
2013: Downplaying Transfer Rumors
Amidst rumors of a transfer to Manchester United, De Gea publicly stated that he was committed to Atlético Madrid until at least 2013.
January 2014: Penalty Shootout Defeat
De Gea was criticized for conceding a goal in a League Cup semi-final match against Sunderland in January 2014. Despite making two saves in the penalty shootout, Manchester United lost the match.
May 2014: World Cup Selection and Senior International Debut
De Gea was selected for Spain's 2014 World Cup squad and made his senior international debut in a friendly against El Salvador, substituting Iker Casillas. However, he did not play in the World Cup, where Spain was eliminated in the group stage.
September 2014: First Start and Loss against France
De Gea made his first start for Spain in a friendly against France in September 2014, conceding one goal in a 1-0 loss.
October 2014: Man of the Match Performances and Accolades
De Gea played a key role in Manchester United's victory over Everton in October 2014, saving a penalty from Leighton Baines and making several other important saves. This marked the first time Baines had missed a penalty in the Premier League. De Gea's performances throughout the month earned him Manchester United's Player of the Month award.
2014: Senior Team Debut and World Cup Selection
De Gea made his debut for Spain's senior team in 2014 and was selected for that year's World Cup.
2014: Goalkeeping Development Under Frans Hoek
In 2014, David de Gea credited his then goalkeeping coach, Frans Hoek, for helping him improve his ball control, vision, and distribution, enabling him to start attacking plays from the back.
April 2015: PFA Recognition and Awards
In April 2015, De Gea was named in the PFA Team of the Year, becoming the only Manchester United player to receive this honor. He also won the Fans' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards at Manchester United for the second consecutive season. Additionally, he was awarded the Premier League Save of the Season by Match of the Day for the second year running.
August 2015: Uncertainty over De Gea's Future at Manchester United
In August 2015, there was much uncertainty surrounding De Gea's future at Manchester United. Manager Louis van Gaal confirmed he would not be considered for selection in the Premier League opener against Tottenham due to this uncertainty. De Gea was later left out of the team, trained with the reserves, and a proposed transfer to Real Madrid fell through due to paperwork issues.
November 2015: De Gea's Incredible Save Against Watford
On November 21, 2015, David de Gea made an incredible save against Watford that would later win him the BBC Match of the Day Save of the Season award for the third consecutive year.
2015: Third Consecutive Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year Award
De Gea won his third straight Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award in 2015, a first in the award's history.
April 2016: Start of Penalty Saving Drought
From April 2016, David de Gea went through a significant period where he was unable to save a single penalty.
April 2016: De Gea's Success at Manchester United
In April 2016, David de Gea achieved a number of milestones. He was the only Manchester United player named in the PFA Team of the Year, saved a penalty from Romelu Lukaku in the FA Cup semi-finals, and was in the running for the Premier League Golden Glove with 14 clean sheets.
May 2016: De Gea Makes History with Manchester United Player of the Year Award
De Gea made history in May 2016 by becoming the first player to win Manchester United's Player of the Year award for three consecutive seasons. He also won the BBC Match of the Day Save of the Season for the third year in a row, this time for his save against Watford on November 21, 2015. Despite an own goal in the last match of the season, he narrowly missed out on sharing the Premier League Golden Glove with Petr Čech.
May 2016: UEFA Euro 2016 Selection and Clean Sheets
In May 2016, De Gea was selected for Spain's UEFA Euro 2016 squad. He started in the opening match against the Czech Republic and kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win. He followed this up with another clean sheet against Turkey.
2016: Starting Goalkeeper for Euro 2016
De Gea was Spain's starting goalkeeper for UEFA Euro 2016.
2016: Penalty Save and Victory against West Ham
In 2016 during the fifth gameweek of the season, De Gea saved a crucial penalty against West Ham's Mark Noble, leading Manchester United to a 2-1 win.
February 2017: De Gea Wins First EFL Cup Title
In February 2017, David de Gea won his first EFL Cup title after Manchester United defeated Southampton 3-2 in the final.
April 2017: De Gea Makes PFA Team of the Year for the Fourth Time
In April 2017, David de Gea was selected as goalkeeper in the PFA Team of the Year for the fourth time in his career.
September 2017: De Gea Achieves 100th Clean Sheet for Manchester United
David de Gea achieved his 100th clean sheet for Manchester United during their Premier League match against Everton on September 17, 2017.
December 2017: De Gea Makes Record-Equalling 14 Saves Against Arsenal
David de Gea made a record-equalling 14 saves for Manchester United in their 3-1 win over Arsenal in December 2017, tying the Premier League record for most saves in a single match.
April 2018: De Gea Named in PFA Team of the Year for Fifth Time
David de Gea was named as goalkeeper in the PFA Team of the Year for the fifth time in April 2018. He was the only Manchester United player to receive this honor.
May 2018: World Cup Selection and Performance Criticism
De Gea was included in Spain's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, his performance, particularly against Portugal where he made an error leading to a goal, drew criticism.
May 2018: De Gea Wins First Premier League Golden Glove
David de Gea won his first Premier League Golden Glove after keeping 18 clean sheets in the 2017-2018 season, marking his first since joining Manchester United in 2011.
2018: De Gea's Inconsistent Season
David de Gea had an inconsistent 2018-2019 season. Despite a strong start to 2019, he faced criticism for errors made in crucial matches later in the season, impacting his overall clean sheet tally and raising questions about his form.
2018: Criticism for Passing and Style of Play
Jonathan Wilson, in a 2018 article for The Guardian, pointed out that De Gea's passing skills were unremarkable and that he lacked confidence with the ball at his feet. This analysis highlighted a contrast between his performances for Manchester United and the Spanish national team.
2018: Recognition as a Top Shot-Stopper
De Gea's exceptional shot-stopping abilities were acknowledged in 2018 when former goalkeeper Shay Given called him the best shot-stopper in the world.
2018: FIFA FIFPro World11
De Gea was named to the FIFA FIFPro World11 in 2018.
2018: Starting Goalkeeper for the World Cup
De Gea started in goal for Spain during the 2018 FIFA World Cup but faced criticism for his performance.
January 2019: De Gea Makes 11 Saves Against Tottenham
On January 13, 2019, David de Gea made an impressive 11 saves against Tottenham Hotspur, securing a 1-0 victory for Manchester United. This was the second-highest number of saves made by a goalkeeper in a Premier League match, second only to his own record of 14 saves against Arsenal the previous year.
July 2019: Contract Negotiations for De Gea
In July 2019, contract negotiations began for David de Gea ahead of the 2019-2020 season. The negotiations were ongoing by July 15th.
August 2019: De Gea Starts in Season Opener and Keeps Clean Sheet
David de Gea started for Manchester United in their opening Premier League match against Chelsea on August 11, 2019, successfully keeping a clean sheet as United won 4-0.
September 2019: De Gea Signs Contract Extension with Manchester United
On September 16, 2019, Manchester United confirmed that David de Gea had signed a four-year contract extension, securing his place at the club until at least June 2023.
October 2019: De Gea Plays Through Injury in North-West Derby
David de Gea picked up an injury while playing for Spain in October 2019, making him a doubt for the upcoming North-West derby. Despite this, he started the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
2019: Change in Sweeping Style Observed
Adam Bate of Sky Sports noted in 2019 that De Gea primarily stayed within his area and was less inclined to come out and sweep up the ball compared to other top goalkeepers in the Premier League.
July 2020: De Gea's Milestones and Errors at Manchester United
In July 2020, David de Gea achieved a number of milestones at Manchester United, becoming the most capped non-British or Irish player and reaching 400 appearances for the club. However, this was also marked by a series of high-profile errors, leading to calls for Dean Henderson to become the first-choice goalkeeper. Despite this, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær continued to back De Gea. He also equaled and surpassed Peter Schmeichel's club record for clean sheets in the top flight.
December 2020: De Gea Faces Competition and Injury Concerns
The 2020-2021 season saw Dean Henderson return from loan, presenting the first serious competition for De Gea's position since he joined the club. He missed two of the first 26 league matches, one due to injury and the other with Henderson being preferred in goal.
2020: Criticism for Playing Behind a High Line and Limited Distribution
In 2020, several criticisms were directed at De Gea's playing style. Mark Ogden from ESPN criticized his change in sweeping style, while Mark Critchley of The Independent highlighted his discomfort playing behind a high line and his struggles in one-on-one situations. Critchley also pointed out that De Gea's distribution skills were "limited" compared to other ball-playing goalkeepers in the Premier League.
2020: Loss of Starting Spot
Unai Simón replaced De Gea as Spain's starting goalkeeper for Euro 2020.
February 2021: De Gea Part of Record-Equalling Victory
David de Gea played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet in Manchester United's record-equalling 9-0 victory against Southampton in February 2021.
March 2021: Birth of Daughter
David de Gea and Edurne welcomed their first child, a daughter named Yanay, on March 4, 2021.
March 2021: Return to Spain and Goalkeeping Shift
In March 2021, De Gea went back to Spain for the birth of his child. During his time away, Henderson took over as goalkeeper in the league, while De Gea primarily played in the Europa League.
May 2021: Euro 2020 Inclusion and Backup Role
De Gea was included in Spain's squad for the postponed UEFA Euro 2020 in May 2021 but served as backup to Unai Simón.
September 2021: End of Penalty Saving Drought
David de Gea's inability to save penalties ended in September 2021, after a period of over five years.
October 2022: 500th Appearance for Manchester United
De Gea reached a significant milestone in October 2022 by playing his 500th match for Manchester United across all competitions, during a draw against Newcastle United.
2022: Exclusion from the 2022 World Cup Squad
De Gea was not included in Spain's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
February 2023: Breaking Records: Premier League Appearances and Clean Sheets
February 2023 marked two major achievements for De Gea. He played his 400th Premier League match for Manchester United, setting a record for a non-British player. Additionally, he surpassed Peter Schmeichel's record for the most clean sheets in Manchester United's history (181) after a win in the EFL Cup final.
June 2023: De Gea's Contract Extension Expires
David de Gea's contract extension, signed in September 2019, is set to expire in June 2023, marking the end of his current agreement with Manchester United.
July 2023: Marriage to Edurne
David de Gea and Edurne got married in Menorca on July 1, 2023.
July 2023: Departure from Manchester United
De Gea's contract with Manchester United ended in July 2023, and he became a free agent. His exit from the club, where he played 545 games and became the seventh all-time appearance maker, was officially announced on July 8, 2023.
2023: Free Agent Status
De Gea was a free agent for the entire 2023-24 season.
2023: Departure from Manchester United and Signing with Fiorentina
De Gea's contract with Manchester United expired in 2023, and he signed with Fiorentina after a year away from football.
August 2024: Signing with Fiorentina and Debut
After being a free agent for a season, De Gea joined Serie A club Fiorentina in August 2024. He debuted for the club on August 22 in a draw against Puskás Akadémia in a UEFA Conference League play-off round match.