Juan José Valencia

Juanjo Valencia
Personal information
Full name Juan José Valencia de la Serna
Date of birth (1971-09-18) 18 September 1971
Place of birth San Sebastián, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Youth career
1986–1990 Antiguoko
1990–1991 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1992 Bilbao Athletic 23 (0)
1991 → Barakaldo (loan) 4 (0)
1992–1999 Athletic Bilbao 172 (0)
1999–2000 Sevilla 18 (0)
2000–2004 Sporting Gijón 118 (0)
2004–2006 Gimnàstic 38 (0)
2006 Racing Santander 1 (0)
Total 374 (0)
National team
1992–1994 Spain U21 15 (0)
1995 Basque Country 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Juan José 'Juanjo' Valencia de la Serna (born 18 September 1971) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He played 191 La Liga games over the course of nine seasons, in representation of Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Racing de Santander.

Club career

Athletic Bilbao

Born in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Valencia joined Athletic Bilbao for his last year as a junior, being signed from neighbouring Antiguoko.[1] He was loaned to Segunda División B club Barakaldo CF to start his senior career, but was quickly recalled to play for Athletic's reserves, helping them retain their place in Segunda División.

Valencia made an immediate impact at the first team at the age of 20, replacing the departing Patxi Iru. When Kike Burgos was injured in pre-season, manager Jupp Heynckes gave him a first La Liga start against Cádiz CF in the opening game of the 1992–93 season (Julen Guerrero made his debut in the same game).[2] He only missed a combined eight league matches in his first four years, but subsequently began to be challenged by Imanol Etxeberria;[3] he fell completely out of favour under Luis Fernández and, after 195 appearances in official competitions, signed with fellow league side Sevilla FC.

Later years

Sevilla began 1999–2000 with Valencia as their starting goalkeeper, but during the winter of what was to be a campaign ending with relegation in last place, Norwegian international goalkeeper Frode Olsen arrived and took the starting spot,[4] so in April 2000 the former accepted an opportunity to move on to Sporting de Gijón in the second level to cover an injury crisis. He was first-choice in the next three seasons, totalling 106 league games; in 2003–04 he was overtaken by the emerging Roberto, and eventually moved to fellow league club Gimnàstic de Tarragona.

Valencia was a regular in his first season in Catalonia – being ranked the second-best in the division – and played the first few games in the second, but from then on Álvaro Iglesias was preferred as they returned to the top flight after a 56-year wait, by which time the former had already moved on to Racing de Santander.[5] During his brief tenure he played understudy to Dudu Aouate, his first appearance in the top level after a hiatus of six years occurring on 13 May 2006 against Villarreal CF,[6] following which he retired at the age of 34.

Afterwards, Valencia spent some time as a goalkeeping coach for Athletic Bilbao's youth teams, Xerez CD[7] and SD Eibar.[8]

International career

Valencia was an important member of the Spain under-21 squad during his eligible years,[9] making his debut at that level two days after his league bow.[10] During his most impressive spell with Athletic he was in consideration for the senior team, but only managed one bench appearance in a friendly against Germany in February 1995.[11]

Valencia took part in one match with the unofficial Basque Country team, in December 1995.

Personal life

Valencia worked as a restaurateur in partnership with some former teammates, and was also an enthusiast of the racquet sport padel.[12]

Honours

Spain U21

References

  1. ↑ "Jugadores relevantes" [Relevant players] (in Spanish). Antiguoko KE. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Aprobado de Heynckes en el examen ante el Cádiz" [Heynckes gets a C in test against Cádiz]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 7 September 1992. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "Imanol Etxeberria, el guardián de la Champions" [Imanol Etxeberria, the Champions goalkeeper]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 8 July 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Valencia: "Siempre es una alegría volver a Bilbao"" [Valencia: “It's always a joy to return to Bilbao”]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 24 March 2000. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "Juanjo Valencia, encantado de volver a Primera División" [Juanjo Valencia, delighted to return to Primera División]. El Diario Montañés (in Spanish). 6 February 2006. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  6. ↑ "El Villarreal vence y jugará la Intertoto" [Villarreal win and will play the Intertoto]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 14 May 2006. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "Juanjo Valencia, entrenador de porteros del Xerez" [Juanjo Valencia, goalkeeper coach at Xerez]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). 21 July 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "Juanjo Valencia no sigue como entrenador de porteros" [Juanjo Valencia does not continue as goalkeeping coach]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 20 June 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  9. ↑ "España pierde la inocencia" [Spain lose their innocence]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 16 April 1994. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Los 'sub-21', bajo cero" [The ‘under-21s’, below zero]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 9 September 1992. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  11. ↑ "Pobre empate" [Poor draw]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 23 February 1995. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  12. ↑ "What became of... Juanjo Valencia". La Liga. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
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