​Saavedra started his career in 1996 with Toros Neza, where he reached a final.

After his successful stint with the Neza Team he was sold to Tigres where he was the undisputed starter 2000, The following year he was transferred to the Monarcas Morelia Team where dispute two finals losing both (2002); He returns with the Tigres Team a year later, and plays his fifth final in the 2003 Apertura Tournament, with his team again in second place.

Moving to Chiapas for a short period in 2006, until finally returning to Tigres in 2007.

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Saavedra has been one of the best players even when the team is not playing good at all, Saavedra was bench at the start of the season this year, he didn't start any games until the fifth game and in his comeback game he got 2 assists and one goal defeating the team that has been marked as "the best in mexico" 3-2, since then he has started all games and now he has 4 assists in 4 games which makes him one of the most efficient players in the team and with him, the team has 7 points out of 12 possible, and before that the team only had 1 point out of 15.

On May 2, 2009 Saavedra scored the game-winning goal against Cruz Azul, the goal saved Indios from relegating to the Primera División A.

On May 8, 2010 Javier won a bi-championship with Necaxa and helped it return to Mexico's First Division.

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He played for the Mexico national team during the administration of Manuel Lapuente.

Saavedra signed with expansion San Antonio Scorpions FC of the North American Soccer League on January 24, 2012. and Retired in January 2015.

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Awarded as a Fair Play player since in his long career he never received a red card. 

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