Javier Matilla

Javier Magro Matilla (born 16 August 1988) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Greek club Aris Thessaloniki F.C. as a central midfielder.

Club Career

Matilla was born in Quero, Province of Toledo. After finishing his football development at Villarreal CF, he made his debut for the main squad on 4 April 2009: he started and finished the La Liga away match against UD Almeria, but his team lost 3–0. In addition, he spent three full seasons with the reserves, one in Segunda Division and two in Segunda Division B.

On 28 June 2011, Matilla signed for Real Betis, recently returned to the top flight, for 3+1 years and €1.3 million. He made his official debut on 18 September, coming on as a substitute for Benat Etxebarria in the dying minutes of a 3–2 away win over Athletic Bilbao.

Matilla was irregularly put to use during his four-and-a-half-year tenure in Andalusia, for example contributing 15 games and one goal as the club promoted in 2015. In the 2012–13 campaign, also in the second tier, he scored a career-best 12 goals whilst on loan to Real Murcia, including one in a 1–0 home victory against UD Las Palmas in the last matchday that certified survival.

In mid-October 2013, Matilla's contract was further extended until 2017, but it was mutually terminated on 15 January 2016 as the player was still nursing a serious knee injury. Subsequently, he went on trial with English Championship side Reading, but nothing came of it.

On 6 July 2016, Matilla signed for Elche CF in division two. After suffering relegation, he spent six months without a club before joining Gimnastic de Tarragona.

On 10 July 2018, Matilla moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Aris Thessaloniki F.C. on a one-year contract with the possibility of an additional season. On 14 January 2019, his first goal for the Greek team was scored through an injury-time free kick to help the hosts beat PAS Lamia 1964 1–0, and he repeated the feat on 17 February, this time against Panionio