Josep Maria Sala i Boix

Josep Maria Sala Boix (born 27 November 1963 in Sant Hipòlit de Voltregà, Osona, Catalonia), also written José María Sala Boix, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder. In a career spanning over two decades, he played 217 matches in La Liga with Sabadell, Real Mallorca and Albacete Balompié in the 1980s and 90s.

Career Sabadell

Sala began his career with local Catalan club Sabadell, joining their youth team in 1982. He graduated to the senior team the same year, securing a 5–0 aggregate victory. His first start, and first match in the Segunda División, was the 0–0 away draw with Linares on 24 October,

Sala had to wait until 6 January to make his first start at home, which came in a 1–1 draw with Rayo Vallecano. He ultimately made 16 appearances that season, In 1983–84, he played 24 matches, initially often as a substitute. In a home fixture against Barakaldo on 2 October, Sala came on in place of Joan Golobart and scored his first goal to round out a 5–0 victory for Sabadell.

He scored twice more that year, both coming very early in matches: and a 5–0 home league win over Huesca on 25 March. Sabadell spent another two seasons in the second tier, before finishing as runners-up in 1985–86 and earning promotion to La Liga for the first time since 1971–72.

Sala's top flight debut came in Sabadell's first match of the season, a 1–0 loss to Real Betis at Estadio Benito Villamarín on 31 August, and he also started their first home match, a 2–2 draw with Real Sociedad, a week later. He scored his first La Liga goal against Cádiz at Estadio Ramón de Carranza on 5 October, a goal which turned out to be a mere consolation as Sabadell lost 3–1. This was his only goal in 23 appearances that season. In 1987–88 he was a crucial part of Sabadell's team, playing 41 matches and scoring once more, in a fabulous 3–2 home win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final. Despite these heroics, Real ultimately progressed after a 2–0 extra time win in the second leg.

The success of Sabadell's cup run was not to be repeated in the league, and following a 2–0 loss to Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés on the final day of the season they found themselves in 19th place and were relegated. This turned out to be Sala's last match for the club, as he departed at the end of the season. He was an immediate fixture in his new club's starting eleven, making his debut in the first match of the season, a 2–0 home win over Real Burgos at Lluís Sitjar Stadium on 4 September. He managed 40 appearances that year, and helped Mallorca to 4th place in the league, which earned them a promotion playoff spot.

Sala played in both legs of the playoff against Español as Mallorca overturned a 1–0 deficit from the first leg at Sarrià Stadium to win 2–1 on aggregate and earn an immediate return to La Liga. and also reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time in their history.

However, Sala missed the final, held at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on 29 June, as Mallorca were defeated by Atlético Madrid thanks to an extra time goal from Alfredo. In 1991–92, Sala continued to play an important part, playing 32 matches. He also scored his first Mallorca goal, which came in a 7–0 home demolition of Binéfar in the third round of the Copa del Rey on 19 September.

He was forced to go in goal for the last ten minutes of the home fixture against Real Burgos on 10 May, after Bogdan Stelea was sent off with the scores at 1–1. Sala conceded the resulting penalty, from Stelea's Romania international teammate Gavril Balint, but otherwise kept a clean sheet for the rest of the game. A late goal from Esteve Fradera allowed Mallorca to salvage a 2–2 draw. Come the end of the season, Mallorca found themselves bottom of the table, and Sala suffered La Liga relegation for the second time in his career.

Back in the second tier the following year, Sala made 33 appearances and scored twice. Sala played in both legs of a closely fought tie against Albacete Balompié, but the Manchegans prevailed to retain their top flight status, and condemn Mallorca to another year in the Segunda División. These were Sala's last matches for Mallorca, as, keen to return to the top division, he left the club at the end of the season. joined Albacete ahead of the 1993–94 season.

The following year, Sala made 34 appearances, but Albacete ended the season in 17th place, and therefore faced a relegation playoff. Sala played in both legs as Albacete lost 5–2 on aggregate to Salamance. This should've meant their relegation, but they earned a reprieve following the administration scandal involving Sevilla and Celta Vigo.

Badajoz

Despite Albacete's surprise survival, Sala did descend to the Segunda División, joining Badajoz in 1995.

In 1996–97, Sala made 31 appearances, but his third season with Badajoz would be his busiest. He played 44 times, but departed the club at the end of the season.

Return to Albacete

After three years at Badajoz, Sala returned to his previous employers, Albacete Balompié, ahead of the 1998–99 season. Albacete was by now in the Segunda División, following relegation in 1996, and Sala made 40 appearances and scored one goal in his first season back with the club. However, come the summer, Sala left the club, for good this time. Sala played in all six playoff matches, even scoring in the first against Burgos at Estadio El Plantío, but Sabadell placed third in the group, and it was Burgos that earned promotion.

Sala's appearances tailed off slightly over the next two years, although he remained an important part of the team. He played 29 matches in 2001–02, and 21 the following year, after which he finally retired. coming on as a substitute for Manuel Cabezas. This brought down the curtain on a 21 year professional career in which Sala made over 650 appearances.

Honours Sabadell Segunda División B: 1983–84 Segunda División runners-up: 1985–86 (earning promotion to La Liga) Copa del Rey quarter-finalists: 1985–86, 1987–88

Real Mallorca Segunda División fourth place: 1988–89 (earning promotion to La Liga) Copa del Rey runners-up: 1990–91 Copa del Rey quarter-finalists: 1988–89

Albacete Balompié Copa del Rey semi-finalists: 1994–95

Career statistics

1. Appearance in the 1983 Copa de la Liga Segunda División 2. Appearances in the 1988–89 Segunda División promotion playoff 3. Appearances in the 1992–93 Segunda División promotion playoff 4. Appearances in the 1994–95 La Liga relegation playoff 5. Appearances in the 2001 Segunda División B playoffs