Manu Vallejo Explained

Manu Vallejo
Full Name:Manuel Javier Vallejo Galván
Birth Date:14 February 1997
Birth Place:Chiclana, Spain
Height:1.67 m
Position:Winger, forward
Currentclub:Racing Ferrol
Youthclubs1:Sancti-Petri
Youthyears2:2012–2015
Youthclubs2:Cádiz
Years1:2015–2018
Clubs1:Cádiz B
Caps1:94
Goals1:58
Years2:2016–2019
Clubs2:Cádiz
Caps2:25
Goals2:6
Years3:2019–2022
Clubs3:Valencia
Caps3:50
Goals3:7
Years4:2019
Clubs4:Cádiz (loan)
Caps4:9
Goals4:2
Years5:2022
Clubs5:Alavés (loan)
Caps5:11
Goals5:1
Years6:2022–2024
Clubs6:Girona
Caps6:7
Goals6:0
Years7:2023
Clubs7:Oviedo (loan)
Caps7:16
Goals7:4
Years8:2023–2024
Clubs8:Zaragoza (loan)
Caps8:29
Goals8:2
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Racing Ferrol
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:Spain U21
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:8 June 2024

Manuel Javier Vallejo Galván (pronounced as /es/; born 14 February 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as winger or a forward for Racing de Ferrol.

Club career

Cádiz

Born in Chiclana de la Frontera, Cádiz, Andalusia, Vallejo finished his formation with Cádiz CF.[1] He made his senior debut with the reserves on 25 January 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 Tercera División away loss against Atlético Sanluqueño CF.

Vallejo scored his first senior goal on 17 May 2015, netting his team's second in a 3–2 loss at CD Mairena. On 18 October, he scored a hat-trick in a 7–1 home routing of CD Roda,[2] and finished the campaign with a career-best 23 goals.

Vallejo made his first team debut on 13 January 2016, playing the last 30 minutes in a 2–0 away loss against Celta de Vigo, for the season's Copa del Rey.[3] He made his Segunda División debut on 28 October of the following year, replacing Salvi in a 0–0 home draw against Rayo Vallecano.[4]

On 24 July 2018, Vallejo renewed his contract until 2021,[5] and extended it to a further year on 22 August, being definitely promoted to the main squad.[6] He scored his first professional goal on 12 September 2018, netting the winner in a 2–1 away defeat of CD Tenerife, for the season's Copa del Rey.[7]

Vallejo scored his first league goal on 27 October 2018, netting the equalizer in a 2–1 away defeat of CD Lugo. On 20 December, he further extended his contract, signing until 2023.[8]

Valencia

On 7 February 2019, La Liga side Valencia CF reached an agreement with Cádiz to sign Vallejo; the player remained on loan at the Amarillos until June.[9] On 2 September 2019, due to the arrival of Thierry Correia, Vallejo changed his shirt number from 2 to 15. He made his debut in the top tier on 28 September 2019, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute for Maxi Gómez in 1–0 away victory against Athletic Bilbao,[10] and his Champions League debut on 5 November 2019 when he came on as a 59th-minute substitute for Lee Kang-in in a 4–1 home thrashing of French side Lille.[11]

Vallejo scored his first goal in the main category of Spanish football on 21 December 2019, netting a last-minute equalizer in 1–1 away draw against Real Valladolid.[12]

Loan to Alavés

On 31 January 2022, Vallejo was loaned to fellow top-tier side Deportivo Alavés for the remainder of the season.[13]

Girona

On 1 September 2022, Vallejo signed a three-year contract with Girona FC also in the top tier.[14]

Loans to Oviedo and Zaragoza

On 27 January 2023, Vallejo joined Real Oviedo on loan until the end of the second division season.[15] On 23 August, he moved to fellow league team Real Zaragoza also in a temporary deal.[16]

Racing Ferrol

On 20 August 2024, just hours after terminating his contract with Girona, Vallejo joined Racing de Ferrol in the second division.[17]

Personal life

Vallejo's father, Javi, is also a footballer.[1]

Career statistics

Club

[18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cádiz2015–16Segunda División B001010
2016–17Segunda División000000
2017–18100010
2018–19338223510
Total3483200003710
Valencia2019–20La Liga102002000122
2020–2130531336
Total407312000458
Career total74156320008218

Honours

Spain U21

2019[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Diez pinceladas para dibujar al canterano Manu Vallejo. Ten touches to sketch the youth player Manu Vallejo. La Voz Digital. es. 30 October 2017. 10 December 2017.
  2. Web site: El Cádiz B le hace un siete al CD Roda. Cádiz B make it seven over CD Roda. Cádiz CF. es. 18 October 2015. 10 December 2017.
  3. Web site: Sin fútbol pero en cuartos. No football but in the quarterfinals. Marca. es. 13 January 2016. 10 December 2017.
  4. Web site: El Cádiz no carbura y no pasa del empate ante el Rayo. Cádiz do not achieve it and do not go beyond a draw against Rayo. Marca. es. 28 October 2017. 10 December 2017.
  5. Web site: Manu Vallejo renueva hasta 2021. Manu Vallejo renews until 2021. Cádiz CF. es. 24 July 2018. 14 August 2018.
  6. Web site: Manu Vallejo convence y se queda en el primer equipo. Manu Vallejo convinces and stays in the first team. Diario AS. es. 22 August 2018. 22 August 2018.
  7. Web site: Un final de auténtica locura clasifica al Cádiz en Tenerife. An ending of madness qualifies Cádiz in Tenerife. Marca. es. 12 September 2018. 13 September 2018.
  8. Web site: Manu Vallejo renueva hasta 2023. Manu Vallejo renews until 2023. Cádiz CF. es. 20 December 2018. 9 February 2019.
  9. Web site: Official Statement Manu Vallejo. Valencia CF. 7 February 2019. 9 February 2019.
  10. Web site: Manu Vallejo sigue creciendo y debuta en LaLiga Santander. 28 September 2019. eldesmarque. es. Manu Vallejo continues to grow and debuts at LaLiga Santander. 22 December 2019.
  11. Web site: El talismán de Vallejo también funciona en Europa. 5 November 2019. eldesmarque. es. The Vallejo talisman also works in Europe. 22 December 2019.
  12. Web site: Valencia show the spirit of Real Madrid to draw with Valladolid. 21 December 2019. Marca. 22 December 2019.
  13. Web site: COMUNICADO OFICIAL MANU VALLEJO. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT MANU VALLEJO. Valencia CF. es. 31 January 2022. 31 January 2022.
  14. Web site: Manu Vallejo reforçarà l'atac del Girona FC. Manu Vallejo will bolster the attack of Girona FC. Girona FC. ca. 1 September 2022. 2 September 2022.
  15. Web site: Manu Vallejo, nuevo jugador del Real Oviedo. Manu Vallejo, new Real Oviedo player. www.realoviedo.es. Spanish. 27 January 2023. 27 January 2023.
  16. Web site: Manu Vallejo, al Real Zaragoza. Manu Vallejo, to Real Zaragoza. Girona FC. ca. 23 August 2023. 23 August 2023.
  17. Web site: Manu Vallejo, nuevo jugador del Racing Club Ferrol. Manu Vallejo, new player of Racing Club Ferrol. Racing Ferrol. es. 20 August 2024. 20 August 2024.
  18. Web site: Manu Vallejo. SofaScore. 25 October 2019.
  19. Web site: Spain U21 2–1 Germany U21. BBC Sport. Emlyn. Begley. 30 June 2019. 1 July 2019.