Cristóbal Márquez Crespo

Early career and Villarreal B

Born in Madrid, Cristóbal was in the ranks of local CD Leganés before joining Levante UD in 2005, being assigned to their reserves in the Segunda División B. He was also loaned to UB Conquense and UD San Sebastián de los Reyes of the same league. After Levante B's relegation in 2008, Cristóbal joined Valencian Community neighbours Villarreal CF, also for their second team. He contributed eight goals in his first season as they won promotion to Segunda División, including one in the playoff semi-final win against Lorca Deportiva CF.

Villarreal

Cristóbal made his first-team debut for the club on 26 August 2010, in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League play-offs away to Belarus' FC Dnepr Mogilev having already won 5–0 at home in the first game; he started and was sent off in the 67th minute of a 2–1 away win. The following 15 January he made the first of two La Liga appearances, as an 86th-minute substitute for Borja Valero in a 4–2 home victory over CA Osasuna. On 27 February, he started at Racing de Santander as Juan Carlos Garrido rested his regulars due to an extended European run, and was taken off for Santi Cazorla just past the hour mark in a 2–2 draw. On 31 March 2011, Cristóbal was loaned to second-tier Elche CF for the rest of the campaign, after injuries to David Generelo and Miguel Linares. He scored in consecutive away draws at RC Celta de Vigo and Granada CF in late May, as his side ended up losing the playoff…