Juan Valera (footballer)

Juan Valera Espín (born 21 December 1984) is a Spanish retired professional footballer. He operated as a defender or midfielder, on the right side of the pitch.[1]

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Valera and the second or maternal family name is Espín.

Juan Valera
Valera playing with Getafe in 2013
Personal information
Full name Juan Valera Espín
Date of birth (1984-12-21) 21 December 1984
Place of birth Murcia, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Right back / Midfielder
Youth career
2000–2002 Bullense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Murcia B
2003–2005 Murcia 48 (3)
2005–2011 Atlético Madrid 71 (3)
2008–2009 → Racing Santander (loan) 25 (2)
2011–2015 Getafe 94 (3)
Total 238 (11)
National team
2006 Spain U21 1 (1)
2005 Spain U23 5 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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

Club

Atlético Madrid

International

Spain U23

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References
  1. "Juan Valera Espín" (in Spanish). Colchonero. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  2. Contreras commits to Betis cause; UEFA, 16 May 2006
  3. "El Atlético firma la sexta victoria seguida tras arrollar al Málaga" [Atlético get sixth win in a row after crushing Málaga] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  4. Racing beat clock to sign trio; UEFA, 2 September 2008
  5. Osasuna 0–1 Racing Santander; ESPN Soccernet, 5 October 2008
  6. "Racing piped at the post". UEFA. 18 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  7. Liverpool 2–1 Atletico Madrid (agg 2–2); BBC Sport, 29 April 2010
  8. "Atletico Madrid 2–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  9. El Atlético y el Getafe acuerdan el traspaso de Juan Valera (Atlético and Getafe agree on Juan Valera transfer); Atlético Madrid, 12 August 2011 (in Spanish)
  10. Getafe humble Barca; ESPN Soccernet, 26 November 2011
  11. El Madrid no aprende (Madrid do not learn); Marca, 26 August 2012 (in Spanish)
  12. Os deseamos lo mejor (We wish you the best); Getafe CF, 3 June 2015 (in Spanish)
  13. Mediterranean Games 2005 (Spain); at RSSSF
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