Antonio Valencia

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Valencia and the second or maternal family name is Mosquera.
Antonio Valencia
Antonio Valencia cropped.jpg
Personal information
Full name Luis Antonio Valencia Mosquera
Date of birth 4 August 1985 (1985-08-04) (age 25)
Place of birth Lago Agrio, Ecuador
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1][2]
Playing position Winger
Club information
Current club Manchester United
Number 25
Youth career
1999–2001 Caribe Junior
2001–2004 El Nacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2003–2005 El Nacional 84 (20)
2005–2008 Villarreal 2 (0)
2005–2006 → Recreativo (loan) 14 (1)
2006–2008 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 37 (1)
2008–2009 Wigan Athletic 47 (6)
2009– Manchester United 36 (5)
National team‡
Ecuador U-20 23 (17)
2005– Ecuador 42 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:32, 23 August 2010 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:01, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

Luis Antonio Valencia Mosquera (born 4 August 1985),[3] commonly known as Antonio Valencia, is an Ecuadorian football winger who currently plays for Manchester United and the Ecuadorian national team.[4]

After progressing through the youth system at Club Deportivo El Nacional, Valencia became a first team regular and made over 80 appearances for the club before signing for La Liga side Villarreal in 2005. He only made two league appearances for the Spanish side in between successful loan spells at Recreativo for the 2005–06 season and later English Premier League club Wigan Athletic from 2006 to 2008. Wigan later signed Valencia on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee in January 2008. His performances for Wigan soon attracted attention from several high profile clubs and he turned down a move to Real Madrid before signing for Manchester United in June 2009, as a replacement for the departed Cristiano Ronaldo.

Contents

Club career

Early career

After an underprivileged childhood in Lago Agrio, Valencia started his career at El Nacional and moved to the Spanish league team Villarreal in 2005.[5] However, he was loaned to Recreativo de Huelva for most of the 2005–06 season, where he helped the team gain promotion.[6]

Wigan Athletic

At the beginning of the next season, he joined English Premier League club Wigan Athletic, initially on a year long loan deal.[7] He made his debut for Wigan on 19 August 2006, in a 2–1 loss to Newcastle United, and scored his first goal for them against Manchester City on 21 October 2006 in a 4–0 win.[8] The loan was extended into the following season, and on 18 January 2008 he transferred for an undisclosed fee, signing a three and a half year contract.[9] He turned down a move to La Liga side Real Madrid in January 2009.[10] In early June 2009, the Wigan chairman announced that he would not force Valencia to stay at the club.[11]

Manchester United

On 30 June 2009, Valencia became Manchester United's first summer signing, having cut his holiday short to have a medical with the club. He has signed a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be in the region of £16 million.[12] On 29 July 2009, he made his debut for United and scored his first goal in the process, netting United's second in a 2-1 pre-season victory over Boca Juniors in the Audi Cup.[13] He made his competitive debut for Manchester United in the 2009 FA Community Shield, when he came on for the injured Nani in the 62nd minute.[14] On 17 October 2009, he scored his first competitive goal for the club, scoring United's second in a 2–1 league victory against Bolton Wanderers.[15] His first UEFA Champions League goal followed four days later in a 1–0 away victory against CSKA Moscow.[16]

Valencia was in Manchester United's starting lineup for the 2010 League Cup Final against Aston Villa. Manchester United won 2–1, Wayne Rooney's winner coming from a Valencia cross, and Valencia won the Man of the Match Award.[17] On 25 April 2010, Valencia was included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in his debut season for the club alongside team-mates Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher and Wayne Rooney.[18] On 8 August 2010, Valencia scored United's first goal in their 3–1 win over Chelsea in the 2010 Community Shield.[19]

International career

Valencia on international duty with Ecuador in August 2006

Valencia was fast tracked through the U-20 team, alongside Christian Benítez, where he scored 17 goals in 23 matches.[20]

On 29 March 2005, Valencia's gained his first international cap for Ecuador and netted his first two international goals in the process, coming in a 5-2 FIFA World Cup qualifying win against Paraguay.[21] Three days later on March 30 he again scored in a qualifying match, this time netting in 2-2 draw away to Peru.[22] Valencia played in all of Ecuador's 2006 FIFA World Cup matches, and was chosen as a nominee for FIFA's ideal 11 team, which recognises the top stars for every position in the World Cup.[23] He was also shortlisted as one of the six potential candidates for the Gillette Best Young Player award.[24] An email broadly circulated in England encouraged votes for Valencia, in an attempt to prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from winning.[25] Valencia ended up receiving the greatest number of votes in the online poll,[26] but since the award's winner is determined by a combination of the fan vote and a judging panel, the award was eventually given to Lukas Podolski.

On 27 June 2007, Valencia netted Ecuador's first goal of their 2007 Copa América campaign, however they eventually lost the match 3-2 to Chile and finished the tournament bottom of their group.[27] On 9 September 2009, Valencia scored his first 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying goal, netting in a 3-1 away victory over Bolivia.[28] On 10 October 2009, he netted for the second qualifier in a row, this time netting Ecaudor's single goal in a 2-1 defeat to the hands of Uruguay.[29]

International goals

Antonio Valencia: International goals
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 27 March 2005 Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador  Paraguay 1–2 5–2 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual.
2 27 March 2005 Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador  Paraguay 4–2 5–2 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual.
3 30 March 2005 Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru  Peru 1–2 2–2 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual.
4 27 June 2007 Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela  Chile 1–0 2–3 2007 Copa América
5 9 September 2009 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia  Bolivia 0–2 1–3 2010 FIFA World Cup Qual.
6 10 October 2009 Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador  Uruguay 1–0 1–2 2010 FIFA World Cup Qual.

Career statistics

Career statistics in England

Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other[30] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wigan Athletic 2006–07 22 1 0 0 0 0 – 0 0 22 1
2007–08 31 3 1 0 0 0 – 0 0 32 3
2008–09 31 3 1 0 3 0 – 0 0 35 3
Total 84 7 2 0 3 0 – 0 0 89 7
Manchester United 2009–10 34 5 1 0 4 0 9 2 1 0 49 7
2010–11 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1
Total 36 5 1 0 4 0 9 2 2 1 52 8
Career total 120 12 3 0 7 0 8 2 2 1 141 15

Statistics accurate as of match played 22 August 2010[31]

Honours

Club

El Nacional
Recreativo
Manchester United

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds (2009). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2009-2010. Headline. p. 556. ISBN 978-0-7553-1948-0. 
  2. ↑ Hugman, Barry J. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009-10. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 418. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0. 
  3. ↑ "Antonio Valenca". wiganlatics.co.uk. Wigan Athletic FC. 16 July 2008. http://www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10429~34079,00.html. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
  4. ↑ "United sign Valencia". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). 30 June 2009. http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=3061. Retrieved 30 June 2009. 
  5. ↑ Buckingham, Mark; Figueroa, Patricio (7 June 2005). "Villarreal bag duo". Sky Sports (BSkyB). http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11844_2338262,00.html. Retrieved 4 June 2009. 
  6. ↑ "Valencia, del estadio Carlos Vernaza al Teatro de los Sueños" (in Spanish). El Morlaco Digital. 2 June 2009. http://www.elmorlaco.com/noticiasfutbol.aspx?cod=1792. Retrieved 2 June 2009. 
  7. ↑ "Wigan snap up Ecuador's Valencia". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 3 August 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/5243610.stm. Retrieved 1 November 2009. 
  8. ↑ "Wigan 4-0 Man City". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 21 October 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6050686.stm. Retrieved 21 October 2006. 
  9. ↑ "Wigan finalise swoop for Valencia". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 18 January 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7195636.stm. Retrieved 18 January 2008. 
  10. ↑ "Valencia rejects Real Madrid move". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 3 January 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7863210.stm. Retrieved 1 November 2009. 
  11. ↑ "Man Utd set to move for Valencia". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 13 June 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8098622.stm. Retrieved 17 August 2009. 
  12. ↑ "Valencia joins Man Utd from Wigan". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 30 June 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8127596.stm. Retrieved 1 July 2009. 
  13. ↑ "Boca Juniors 1-2 United". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). 29 July 2009. http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={3165B97F-681E-4B39-BE53-94EC9521C3DA}&newsid=6636981&page=1&typeReport=1&team=. Retrieved 9 August 2009. 
  14. ↑ McNulty, Phil (9 August 2009). "Chelsea 2-2 Man Utd". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8190061.stm. Retrieved 11 August 2009. 
  15. ↑ "Man Utd 2–1 Bolton". BBC Sport. 17 October 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8305403.stm. Retrieved 20 October 2009. 
  16. ↑ "CSKA Moscow 0–1 Man Utd". BBC Sport. 21 October 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8314336.stm. Retrieved 21 October 2009. 
  17. ↑ "Aston Villa 1–2 Man Utd". Man Utd. 28 February 2010. http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={3165B97F-681E-4B39-BE53-94EC9521C3DA}&newsid=6646939.stm. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  18. ↑ "Rooney is PFA player of the year". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 25 April 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8643305.stm. Retrieved 27 April 2010. 
  19. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (8 August 2010). "Chelsea 3-1 Man Utd". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8893192.stm. Retrieved 8 August 2010. 
  20. ↑ "Antonio Valencia – The Start of a Goal Rush?". Footballfancast.com (Football Fancast). 16 December 2009. http://www.footballfancast.com/2009/12/football-blogs/antonio-valencia-%E2%80%93-the-start-of-a-goal-rush. Retrieved 15 August 2010. 
  21. ↑ "Ecuador 5-2 Paraguay". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 25 March 2005. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/preliminaries/preliminary=7302/matches/match=33864/report.html. Retrieved 25 March 2005. 
  22. ↑ "Peru 2-2 Ecuador". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 30 March 2005. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/preliminaries/preliminary=7302/matches/match=33870/report.html. Retrieved 30 March 2005. 
  23. ↑ "Antonio Valencia profile: 10 things you need to know about the Manchester United target". Mirrorfootball.co.uk (Mirror Football). 6 February 2009. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Antonio-Valencia-profile-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-Manchester-United-target-article31890.html. Retrieved 6 February 2009. 
  24. ↑ "Six Gillette Best Young Player nominees chosen". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 4 July 2006. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/news/newsid=24742.html. Retrieved 21 March 2008. 
  25. ↑ "Supporters 'hijack' Ronaldo vote". BBC Sport. 6 July 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5153870.stm. Retrieved 25 April 2008. 
  26. ↑ "Valencia still on top of FIFA poll". Ecuador world cup blog. 3 July 2006. http://ecuador.worldcupblog.org/1/valencia-still-on-top-of-fifa-poll.html. Retrieved 3 July 2006. 
  27. ↑ "Copa América 2007 - Group B". Worldsoccer.com. http://www.worldsoccer.com/competitions/copa_america/groupb.php. 
  28. ↑ "Bolivia 1-3 Ecuador". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 9 September 2009. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/southamerica/matches/round=250491/match=300041132/report.html. Retrieved 9 September 2009. 
  29. ↑ "Ecuador 1-2 Uruguay". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 10 October 2009. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/southamerica/matches/round=250491/match=300041137/report.html. Retrieved 10 October 2009. 
  30. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
  31. ↑ Endlar, Andrew. "Antonio Valencia". StretfordEnd.co.uk. http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/valencia.html. Retrieved 23 February 2010. 

External links

2009–10 Premier League Team of the Year
GK: Joe Hart  · DF: Branislav Ivanović  · DF: Patrice Evra  · DF: Richard Dunne  · DF: Thomas Vermaelen  · MF: James Milner  · MF: Cesc Fàbregas  · MF: Darren Fletcher  · MF: Antonio Valencia  · FW: Didier Drogba  · FW: Wayne Rooney
Ecuador squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Villafuerte • 2 Guagua • 3 Hurtado (c) • 4 de la Cruz • 5 Perlaza • 6 Urrutia • 7 Lara • 8 Méndez • 9 Borja • 10 Kaviedes • 11 Delgado • 12 Mora • 13 Ambrosi • 14 Castillo • 15 Ayoví • 16 Valencia • 17 Espinoza • 18 Reasco • 19 Saritama • 20 E. Tenorio • 21 C. Tenorio • 22 Lanza • 23 Benítez • Coach: Suárez
 Ecuador
Ecuador squad – 2007 Copa América
1 Elizaga • 2 Guagua • 3 Hurtado • 4 de la Cruz • 5 Urrutia • 6 Quiñónez • 7 Quiroz • 8 Méndez • 9 Borja • 10 Caicedo • 11 Benítez • 12 Mora • 13 Calle • 14 Castillo • 15 Bagüí • 16 Valencia • 17 Espinoza • 18 Reasco • 19 Ayoví • 20 E. Tenorio • 21 C. Tenorio • 22 Palacios • Coach: Suárez
 Ecuador
Manchester United F.C. – current squad

1 Van der Sar · 2 Neville · 3 Evra · 4 Hargreaves · 5 Ferdinand · 6 Brown · 7 Owen · 8 Anderson · 9 Berbatov · 10 Rooney · 11 Giggs · 12 Smalling · 13 Park · 14 Hernández · 15 Vidić (c) · 16 Carrick · 17 Nani · 18 Scholes · 20 Fábio · 21 Rafael · 22 O'Shea · 23 J. Evans · 24 Fletcher · 25 Valencia · 26 Obertan · 27 Macheda · 28 Gibson · 29 Kuszczak · 31 C. Evans · 33 Bébé · 37 Brady · 40 Amos · 42 Eikrem · 44 Dudgeon · 45 Gill · 47 Norwood · 49 Morrison · Manager: Ferguson