Víctor Valdés

Víctor Valdés

Personal information
Full name	Víctor Valdés i Arribas
Date of birth	14 January 1982 (1982-01-14) (age 29)
Place of birth	L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Barcelona
Number	1
Youth career
1992	Barcelona
1992–1995	Tenerife
1995–2000	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2003	Barcelona B	77	(0)
2002–	Barcelona	264	(0)
National team‡
2000–2001	Spain U18	11	(0)
2001	Spain U19	3	(0)
2001	Spain U20	1	(0)
2002–2003	Spain U21	11	(0)
2010–	Spain	2	(0)
2004–	Catalonia	10	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 May 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 August 2010

Víctor Valdés i Arribas (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbiktor βalˈdes]; born 14 January 1982 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia), is a World Cup-winning Spanish football goalkeeper, who plays for FC Barcelona. He is the most successful goalkeeper in Barcelona's history, having won four La Liga titles, two Champions League titles, and one Copa del Rey title. Before joining the principal team in 2002–03 season, Víctor played for the youth teams and FC Barcelona B.^[1] Currently, he has a contract with Barcelona until 2014.^[2]

Early career

Valdés was born to Águeda Arribas and José Manuel Valdés, and has two brothers, elder Ricard and younger Álvaro. He started his career with Barça's youth team when he joined from Peña Cinco Copas on 1 July 1992. But in September, he moved with his family to Tenerife and had to leave the club, rejoining only three years later. After returning, he made quick progress through the youth teams.

Barcelona

The early part of the 2002–03 season saw him play deputy to Argentine international Roberto Bonano. The arrival of Radomir Antić as the new manager saw regular first team opportunities for him.

In the 2003–04 season, he emerged as first-choice goalkeeper, and in the 2004–05 season, he played in almost all of Barcelona's matches helping Barcelona to their first league title in six years. He also won the Zamora Trophy for the best goalkeeper in Spain.

In the 2005–06 season, he helped Barça to the double. He played a big part in Barca's 2005–06 title and in the final against Arsenal, he denied Thierry Henry twice from point-blank range. His efforts saw him singled out for praise from Frank Rijkaard. The "Zamora" title however eluded him as Víctor came third after Santiago Cañizares and the winner José Manuel Pinto.

On 17 June 2007, the last round in La Liga, Valdés matched a goalkeeping record of Barcelona legend Andoni Zubizarreta. The record held by Zubi is that he went all season long, all 38 rounds in La Liga without leaving the starting line-up nor getting substituted.^[3] It has never been matched, by any Barça goalkeeper, until Valdés.

Valdés at a F.C.Barcelona training session

Valdés set the Barça club record for not conceding a goal in European competition with a clean sheet against Rangers on 7 November 2007, which saw him re-write the Barça record books after not conceding a goal for 466 minutes. Unfortunately, Valdés was beaten twice by Lyon' captain Juninho through a 45-yard free kick and a late penalty at the Stade de Gerland ending his streak.^[4] In the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons, however, Barça failed to win a major trophy. On 1 April 2008, Valdés made his 250th appearance for Barça.

On 27 May 2009, Barcelona beat Manchester United 2–0 in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final to complete an unprecedented Treble of La Liga, Champions League, and Copa del Rey. In the match, Valdes made two crucial saves from attempts by Cristiano Ronaldo in both halves. In the first half, he saved a long-range free kick, and in the second half, he saved the other from Ronaldo, coming from a tight angle following a low cross from Dimitar Berbatov.

On 16 May 2010, Valdés won his fourth title as Barcelona clinched a second successive Spanish league title with Pep Guardiola's side ending the season with 99 points.^[5]

International career

On 20 May 2010, Valdés was included in Spain's final 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.^[6]

On 3 June 2010, Valdés earned his first cap by starting in a friendly match between Spain & Korea Republic in Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck, Austria. Coincidently it was 10 years to the day since compatriot Iker Casillas made his debut for the national team.^[7] In July 2010, he won the 2010 World Cup as one of Spain's backup goalkeepers. He won his second cap in Spain 1-1 draw versus Mexico coming on as a second half sub for Iker Casillas.

Personal life

He is dating Yolanda Cardona. On 20 August 2009, Cardona gave birth to couple's first child, son Dylan Valdés Cardona at Clínica Dexeus in Barcelona, Spain.

Career statistics

As of 9 May 2010^[8][9]

Honours

Barcelona

• Spanish League (4): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10
• Spanish Cup (1): 2008–09
• Spanish Supercup (4): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010
• UEFA Champions League (2): 2005–06, 2008–09
• UEFA Super Cup (1): 2009
• FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2009

Spain

• FIFA World Cup (1): 2010

Individual

• Zamora Trophy (3): 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10

References

External links

• FC Barcelona profile
• BDFutbol profile
• Transfermarkt profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Víctor Valdés - FIFA competition record
• 2010 FIFA World Cup profile

Spain squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup Winners (1st Title) 1 Casillas (c) • 2 Albiol • 3 Piqué • 4 Marchena • 5 Puyol • 6 Iniesta • 7 Villa • 8 Xavi • 9 F. Torres • 10 Fàbregas • 11 Capdevila • 12 Valdés • 13 Mata • 14 Alonso • 15 Ramos • 16 Busquets • 17 Arbeloa • 18 Pedro • 19 Llorente • 20 Martínez • 21 Silva • 22 Navas • 23 Reina • Coach: Del Bosque