Dani Parejo

• Full name: Daniel Parejo Muñoz
• Date of birth: April 16, 1989
• Place of birth: Coslada, Madrid, Spain
• Nationality: Spanish
• Position: Central midfielder / Deep-lying playmaker
• Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)

Career summary (club)

• Real Madrid (youth and Real Madrid Castilla) — Developed through Real Madrid's academy and played for the B team before moving on to first-team opportunities.
• Getafe CF — Broke into La Liga with Getafe; showed creative and passing qualities.
• Valencia CF — Joined Valencia initially on loan in 2011 and then permanently. Became club captain and a central figure for many seasons, known for his passing range, set-piece delivery, control of tempo, and leadership. Key contributor in domestic league campaigns and European competitions.
• Villarreal CF — Later in his career he moved to Villarreal, where he continued to contribute at a high level, including involvement in European competition successes.

Playing style and strengths

• Excellent passing and vision; capable of dictating tempo from midfield.
• Set-piece specialist (free kicks and corners).
• Good positional sense as a deep-lying playmaker and ability to arrive late in the box to score.
• Strong leadership qualities—served as Valencia captain for several seasons.

Spain national team

• Represented Spain at youth levels and earned senior caps, featuring in international fixtures and tournaments with the national squad.

Notable achievements

• Long-serving captain at Valencia CF and one of the club’s most consistent midfielders in the 2010s.
• Contributed to strong league finishes and European campaigns with Valencia and later played a role in Villarreal’s continental success.

Legacy

Dani Parejo is widely regarded in Spain as a technically gifted, intelligent midfielder and effective leader—particularly remembered for his years as Valencia’s midfield fulcrum and captain.