Juan Valera (footballer)
Spanish footballer (born 1984)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Juan Valera Espín (born 21 December 1984) is a Spanish retired professional footballer. He operated as a right-back or right midfielder.[1]
|
Valera playing with Getafe in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Valera Espín | ||
| Date of birth | 21 December 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Murcia, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2002 | Bullense | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2004 | Murcia B | 36 | (9) |
| 2003–2005 | Murcia | 48 | (3) |
| 2005–2011 | Atlético Madrid | 71 | (3) |
| 2008–2009 | → Racing Santander (loan) | 25 | (2) |
| 2011–2015 | Getafe | 94 | (3) |
| Total | 274 | (20) | |
| International career | |||
| 2006 | Spain U21 | 1 | (1) |
| 2005 | Spain U23 | 5 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He amassed La Liga totals of 200 matches and eight goals over 11 seasons, representing in the competition Murcia, Atlético Madrid, Racing Santander and Getafe.[2]
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.[3] For 2005–06, he moved to Atlético Madrid on a three-year deal,[4] where his progression was marred by injuries.[5] On 25 February 2006, he scored twice as a substitute in a 5–0 home win against Málaga.[6]
Valera agreed to a one-year loan at Racing Santander on 1 September 2008.[7] He scored his first goal for the Cantabrians on 5 October, in a 1–0 last-minute away victory over Osasuna.[8] He also found the net in December, but in an insufficient 3–1 UEFA Cup group-stage defeat of Manchester City.[9]
Recalled for 2009–10, Valera also suffered initially with physical problems.[10] However, he would manage to feature regularly over the course of the campaign – 36 competitive appearances – mainly as a right-back, competing with internationals Luis Perea and Tomáš Ujfaluši for the position.[11][12] He contributed seven matches in the Colchoneros' Europa League victorious run, although only three complete, including the 2–1 away defeat against Liverpool in the semi-finals (2–2 aggregate win);[13] he also featured one minute in the final.[14]
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.[15] He started at right-back during his first season, replacing longtime incumbent Miguel Torres,[16] and scored his first goal on 26 November 2011 whilst handing Barcelona their first loss of the campaign through a 67th-minute header, for the game's only goal at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.[17]
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 over Real Madrid.[18] On 3 June 2015, he left the club after his contract expired.[19]
Valera was forced to retire aged 31 due to a hip injury.[20]