David Rochela

Club career Deportivo Born in As Pontes de García Rodríguez, Galicia, Rochela began his career at local Deportivo de La Coruña, initially for the reserve team in the Segunda División B. He was one of several new faces called up by first-team manager Miguel Ángel Lotina for a Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg on 27 January 2010 against Sevilla FC, who had won the first match 3–0; he debuted as a 70th-minute substitute for Juca in an inconsequential 1–0 away victory.

Rochela made his La Liga bow on 24 April 2010, as a half-time replacement for the injured Piscu in a 1–0 loss at Valencia CF. He then started the next three games in the closing stages of the season.

Rochela barely played in the next two years, as Deportivo were relegated and then promoted as champions of Segunda División. On 20 July 2012, with three years remaining on his Depor contract, he was loaned to newly-relegated Racing de Santander. He spent the second half of that campaign in his first foreign experience, at Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. in the Israeli Premier League.

Thailand Rochela moved to Thai Premier League champions Buriram United F.C. where he won the Kor Royal Cup in February 2014 with a 1–0 win over Muangthong United FC. On 2 November that year, he scored a penalty in a 2–1 home defeat of Police United F.C. to retain the title.

On 9 July 2021, Rochela scored again from the spot in a 5–1 Port F.C. victory at Guangzhou F.C. in the group stage of the AFC Champions League. It was his first goal in a continental competition.

In May 2023, Rochela announced his retirement at age 33.

International career Rochela was part of the Spain squad at the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, winning the tournament in Belgium. The same year, they finished second at the FIFA World Cup held in South Korea.

Career statistics

Honours Deportivo Segunda División: 2011–12

Spain U17 UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup runner-up: 2007