Juan Valera (footballer) explained

Juan Valera
Full Name:Juan Valera Espín
Birth Date:21 December 1984
Birth Place:Murcia, Spain
Height:1.84 m
Position:Right-back, right midfielder
Youthyears1:2000–2002
Youthclubs1:Bullense
Years1:2002–2004
Years2:2003–2005
Caps2:48
Goals2:3
Years3:2005–2011
Caps3:71
Goals3:3
Years4:2008–2009
Clubs4:Racing Santander (loan)
Caps4:25
Goals4:2
Years5:2011–2015
Caps5:94
Goals5:3
Totalcaps:238
Totalgoals:11
Nationalyears1:2006
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2005
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:1

Juan Valera Espín (born 21 December 1984) is a Spanish retired professional footballer. He operated as a right-back or right midfielder.[1]

He amassed La Liga totals of 200 matches and eight goals over 11 seasons, representing in the competition Murcia, Atlético Madrid, Racing de Santander and Getafe.

Club career

Born in Murcia, Valera made his professional debut at hometown's Real Murcia, and first played in La Liga in 2003–04, appearing in ten games during the season. In 2005–06 he moved to Atlético Madrid, where his progression was marred by injuries;[2] on 25 February 2006, he scored twice as a substitute in a 5–0 home win against Málaga CF.[3]

On 1 September 2008, Valera agreed to a one-year loan at Racing de Santander.[4] On 5 October he netted his first goal for the Cantabrians, in a 1–0 last-minute away victory over CA Osasuna;[5] he also scored in December, but in an insufficient 3–1 UEFA Cup group stage defeat of Manchester City.[6]

Recalled for 2009–10, Valera also suffered initially with physical problems. However, he would manage to appear regularly for Atlético over the course of the campaign – more than 30 official matches – mainly as a right back, competing with internationals Luis Perea and Tomáš Ujfaluši for the position. He contributed with seven games in the Colchoneros Europa League victorious run, although only three complete, including the 1–2 away defeat against Liverpool in the semi-finals (2–2 aggregate win);[7] he also featured one minute in the final.[8]

In mid-August 2011, after Valera and Atlético amicably terminated the player's contract, which expired in June of the following year, he signed with fellow top division side Getafe CF.[9] During his first season he was first-choice right back, replacing longtime incumbent Miguel Torres, and scored his first goal on 26 November 2011 whilst handing FC Barcelona their first loss of the campaign through a 67th-minute header, for the game's only goal at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.[10]

Again through a set piece and with his head, in the second fixture of 2012–13, Valera scored the equaliser to help Getafe to an eventual 2–1 home win against Real Madrid.[11] On 3 June 2015, he left the club after his contract expired.[12]

Honours

Atlético Madrid

2009–10[8]

Spain U23

2005[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Juan Valera Espín. Colchonero. Spanish. 24 March 2013. 31 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200331071534/http://www.colchonero.com/wiki/Juan_Valera_Esp%C3%ADn. dead.
  2. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=422395.html Contreras commits to Betis cause
  3. News: El Atlético firma la sexta victoria seguida tras arrollar al Málaga. Atlético get sixth win in a row after crushing Málaga. El Mundo. Spanish. 26 February 2006. 25 February 2014.
  4. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=745264.html Racing beat clock to sign trio
  5. http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/252859/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739 Osasuna 0–1 Racing Santander
  6. Web site: Racing piped at the post. UEFA. 18 December 2008. 7 June 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100316185544/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/matches/season%3D2009/round%3D15285/match%3D304241/index.html. 16 March 2010.
  7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8649664.stm Liverpool 2–1 Atletico Madrid (agg 2–2)
  8. Web site: Atletico Madrid 2–1 Fulham. BBC Sport. 12 May 2010. 14 July 2016.
  9. http://www.clubatleticodemadrid.com/Web/noticia/template_noticia/noticia1.php?idnoticia=26909&previo=1 El Atlético y el Getafe acuerdan el traspaso de Juan Valera (Atlético and Getafe agree on Juan Valera transfer)
  10. https://archive.today/20120714170615/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/323905?cc=5739 Getafe humble Barca
  11. http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2012_13/primera/jornada_2/get_rma/ El Madrid no aprende (Madrid do not learn)
  12. http://getafecf.com/Noticia/tabid/137/Article/2409/Os-deseamos-lo-mejor.aspx Os deseamos lo mejor (We wish you the best)
  13. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/medgames05.html Mediterranean Games 2005 (Spain)