Juan Valera Espín

Juan Valera

File:Getafe CF - Juan Valera.jpg 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
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)
International career
2006	Spain U21	1	(1)
2005	Spain U23	5	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 May 2015

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

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

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 the 2005–06 campaign he moved to Atlético Madrid, where his progression was marred by injuries; on 25 February 2006 he scored twice as a substitute, in a 5–0 home win against Málaga CF.

On 1 September 2008, Valera agreed to a one-year loan at Racing de Santander. On 5 October he netted his first goal for the Cantabrians, in a 1–0 last-minute success at CA Osasuna; in December he also scored, but in an insufficient 3–1 UEFA Cup group stage triumph over Manchester City.

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 campaign, although only three complete, including the 1–2 away defeat against Liverpool in the semifinals (2–2 aggregate win).

In mid-August 2011, after Valera and Atlético amicably rescinded the player's contract, which expired in June of the following year, he signed with fellow top division side Getafe CF. During his first season he was first-choice right back, replacing longtime incumbent Miguel Torres, and scored his first goal of the campaign on 26 November 2011 whilst handing FC Barcelona its first loss of the campaign through a 67th-minute header, for the game's only goal at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.

Again through a set piece and with his head, in the second game of 2012–13, Valera scored the equalizer to help Getafe to an eventual 2–1 home win against Real Madrid. On 3 June 2015 he left the club, after his contract expired.

Honours

Club

Atlético Madrid

• UEFA Europa League: 2009–10
• UEFA Super Cup: 2010
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2007
• Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2009–10

Country

Spain U23

• Mediterranean Games: 2005

External links

• Juan Valera profile at BDFutbol
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)
• Juan Valera at Soccerway