Quick Facts
Biography
Javier "Javi" Poves Gómez (born 28 September 1986) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a defender.
Football career
Born in Madrid, Poves played youth football with hometown clubs Atlético Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, going on to make his senior debuts in amateur football also in the community, with Rayo Vallecano B, Las Rozas CF and CDA Navalcarnero. In 2008 he joined Sporting de Gijón, being assigned to the reserve team in Segunda División B.
Poves made his first and only appearance for the Asturians' main squad on 21 May 2011, playing in the goalless La Liga draw at Hércules CF on the final day of the season as a second-half substitute for David Barral.
He refused to use a bank account and returned a free car which Sporting had given to each of their players, and retired in August 2011 for reasons of conscience, stating:
Poves made a return to football on 12 July 2014, signing with Madrid-based UD San Sebastián de los Reyes of Tercera División.