Enner Valencia

Enner Remberto Valencia Lastra (born 4 November 1989) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga MX club Tigres UANL and the Ecuador national team.[3]

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Valencia and the second or maternal family name is Lastra.
Enner Valencia
Valencia in 2015
Personal information
Full name Enner Remberto Valencia Lastra
Date of birth (1989-11-04) 4 November 1989
Place of birth Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Forward / Winger
Club information
Current team
 Tigres UANL
Number 13
Youth career
2005–2008 Caribe Junior
2008–2010 Emelec
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Emelec 130 (27)
2013–2014 Pachuca[2] 23 (18)
2014–2017 West Ham United 54 (8)
2016–2017 → Everton (loan) 21 (3)
2017– Tigres UANL 90 (21)
National team‡
2012– Ecuador 54 (31)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2019

He has previously played for Emelec in Ecuador, where he won the 2013 Ecuadorian Serie A and was awarded the Copa Sudamericana Golden Boot in 2013. Valencia also played for Pachuca in Mexico, being awarded the Liga MX Golden Boot in the 2014 Clausura tournament. He joined West Ham United for an estimated £12 million in July 2014.

At international level, Valencia has earned more than 50 caps for Ecuador since his debut in 2012. He represented the nation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015, 2016 and the 2019 Copa América, and is their joint-top goalscorer with Agustín Delgado in World Cup tournaments with three goals. Valencia is Ecuador's joint-top scorer of all-time with 31 goals.[4]

Club career

Emelec

Valencia came to Guayaquil to trial for Emelec in 2008 from Caribe Junior's youth system, the same team where Ecuador star Antonio Valencia played in his early years.[5] In 2008, he was transferred to Emelec.[5] From 2008 to early 2010 he received no opportunities in the first team, but with the arrival of the Argentinian coach Jorge Sampaoli, Valencia started to receive playtime opportunities.[5] Valencia's first professional career goal was on 10 March, scoring the only goal to gain an important away win against LDU Quito.[6] Emelec were runners-up to champions LDU Quito, losing 2–1 on aggregate score.[7]

Valencia scored nine league goals in 30 league matches in 2011.[8] In November 2012, he scored five goals in five separate matches against El Nacional, LDU Loja, Técnico Universitario, and twice against Manta in both home and away matches, winning four of the five matches, only drawing against LDU Loja.[8] This brought his goal tally to 13 goals scored in 40 league matches played, his best season yet, but for a third season in a row, the team was runner-up to league champions and club rivals Barcelona SC.[8]

On 7 August 2013, Valencia scored his first career hat-trick against Peruvian side Sport Huancayo, in a 4–0 2013 Copa Sudamericana first round match.[8][9] He finished the season as league champions with Emelec, the club's first since 2002.[10]

Pachuca

After numerous rumours involving the interest of Liga MX side Pachuca for Valencia, both parties came to terms and agreed on a transfer.[11]

On 18 January 2014, Valencia scored his first goal in a 2–1 victory against Tijuana.[12] The following week he scored two goals to in Pachuca's first away win league match against league champions Club León.[13] He finished the regular season as the top goal-scorer with 12 goals, scoring various braces for Pachuca. Valencia scored his first hat-trick against UNAM in a 2–4 away win to advance in the 2014 Liga MX Clausura play-offs.[14]

West Ham United
Valencia playing for West Ham United in 2016

2014–15

On 29 July 2014, Premier League club West Ham United completed the transfer of Valencia, on a five-year contract for a fee estimated at £12 million.[15] He later confirmed that he knew little about West Ham before signing and that he mainly knew of them having watched hooligan films such as the 2005 release of Green Street starring Elijah Wood.[16] Valencia made his West Ham debut on 16 August 2014 in a 1–0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur coming on as an 81st-minute substitute for Carlton Cole.[17] On 27 August, he had his penalty saved by Mark Howard as West Ham were knocked out at home in the second round of the League Cup by Sheffield United.[18] Valencia's first goal for West Ham came in his full league debut, against Hull City on 15 September 2014, in a 2–2 draw.[19] The 25-yard (23 m; 75 ft) strike, timed at 61 miles per hour (98 km/h), was described by journalist Henry Winter of The Daily Telegraph as an "exceptional goal".[20] Valencia went on to score two more goals for West Ham in the following weeks, including a header in a 3–1 away win at Burnley,[21] and a goal in a 2–2 draw with Stoke City.[22]

2015–16

His first match of his second season was on 30 July 2015 in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg at home against Astra Giurgiu; he headed West Ham into the lead but was one of two players substituted through injury in the first half as the team eventually drew 2–2.[23] It was confirmed that he had suffered "significant" injuries to his right knee and ankle,[24] and was ruled out for twelve weeks.[25] Valencia scored his first league goals of the 2015–16 season with two in a 3–1 comeback win against Bournemouth on 12 January 2016, including a powerfully hit free-kick.[26]

Loan to Everton

On 31 August 2016, Valencia signed for Everton on a season-long loan, with the option of a permanent £14.5 million move in the summer of 2017.[27] Valencia scored his first league goal for Everton when he fired home from close range in a 3–0 win against Southampton on 2 January 2017.[28]

Tigres UANL

On 13 July 2017, Valencia signed for Tigres UANL for an undisclosed fee.[29]

International career
Valencia playing for Ecuador in 2015

After playing for the nation's under-22 team at the 2011 Pan American Games, Valencia made his debut for Ecuador on 12 February 2012 in a friendly against Honduras.[3]

Valencia initially began his career as a winger, but was converted to play as a striker by Emelec coach Gustavo Quinteros. Reinaldo Rueda started experimenting with Valencia as a striker after the untimely death of Christian Benítez.[30] After making three appearances in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, he scored his first international goal in a 2–2 draw against Honduras on 19 November 2013. He continued his good form in 2014, scoring in three of Ecuador's four pre-tournament friendlies. On 5 March, he scored, assisted a goal and won a penalty kick as La Tri came from 3–0 down to defeat Australia 4–3.[3] He then scored the team's only goal in a 3–1 loss against Mexico, and gave them an early lead in a 2–2 draw with England in Miami.[31]

In June 2014, Valencia was named in Ecuador's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[32] On 15 June, he made his FIFA World Cup debut in the team's opening match against Switzerland at the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha in Brasília, opening the scoring with a header in a 2–1 defeat.[33] In Ecuador's second match, Valencia scored both goals to defeat Honduras 2–1 in Curitiba.[34] He continued his good form after the FIFA World Cup, scoring the third goal of a 4–0 victory against Bolivia. On 10 October, Valencia again netted for Ecuador in the 88th minute over the United States, which ended in a 1–1 draw. His swerving, right-footed shot took a right turn on its way towards the goal, making it impossible for goalkeeper Brad Guzan to stop.[35]

In Ecuador's second group match at the 2015 Copa América in Chile, Valencia successfully converted a penalty to Bolivia, but the kick had to be taken again due to an opponent's infringement; the re-take was saved by Romel Quiñónez. He later scored from close range, but Ecuador lost 2–3 nonetheless.[36] Four days later in Rancagua, Valencia set up Miller Bolaños' opener and scored Ecuador's second goal as they won 2–1 against Mexico, eliminating the opponents.[37]

Personal life

Valencia hails from Esmeraldas Province and is of Afro-Ecuadorian descent. He came from a poor family and when he arrived at Emelec, he had to sleep in rudimentary lodgings at the club's Estadio George Capwell, as he had no money to stay anywhere else and at times struggled to buy enough to eat.[30] In October 2016, a warrant was issued for his arrest in Ecuador for unpaid child support.[38]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 29 May 2020[8][39]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Emelec 2010[8] Ecuadorian Serie A 251——11[lower-alpha 3]1—362
2011[8] Ecuadorian Serie A 309——5[lower-alpha 4]0—359
2012[8] Ecuadorian Serie A 4013——14[lower-alpha 4]0—5413
2013[8] Ecuadorian Serie A 354——11[lower-alpha 5]5—469
Total 13027——416—17133
Pachuca 2014[8] Liga MX 231820———2518
West Ham United 2014–15[39] Premier League 3244110——375
2015–16 Premier League 19440—1[lower-alpha 6]1—245
2016–17 Premier League 30——4[lower-alpha 6]0—70
Total 548811051—6810
Everton (loan) 2016–17 Premier League 2131010——233
Tigres UANL 2017–18 Liga MX 371510—3[lower-alpha 7]21[lower-alpha 8]04217
2018–19 Liga MX 31563—8[lower-alpha 7]7—4515
2019–20 Liga MX 27100—4[lower-alpha 9]1—312
Total 952173—15101011834
Career total 323771842059161040598
  1. Includes the Copa MX and the FA Cup
  2. Includes the EFL Cup
  3. Seven appearances in the Copa Libertadores, four appearances and one goal in the Copa Sudamericana
  4. Appearances in the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana
  5. Seven appearances in the Copa Libertadores, four appearances and five goals in the Copa Sudamericana
  6. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League
  7. Appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League
  8. Appearance in the Campeones Cup
  9. 2 appearances in the Leagues Cup, 2 appearances and 1 goal in the Campeones Cup

International
As of match played 19 November 2019[40]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Ecuador
201210
201361
20141010
201552
2016126
201772
201856
201984
Total5431

International goals
As of match played 14 November 2019. Ecuador score listed first, score column indicates score after each Valencia goal.[40]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 19 November 2013BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States7 Honduras2–22–2Friendly
2 5 March 2014The Den, London, England8 Australia3–34–3
3 31 May 2014AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States9 Mexico1–31–3
4 4 June 2014Sun Life Stadium, Miami, United States10 England1–02–2
5 15 June 2014Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília, Brazil11  Switzerland1–22014 FIFA World Cup
6 20 June 2014Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, Brazil12 Honduras1–12–1
7 2–1
8 6 September 2014Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States14 Bolivia3–04–0Friendly
9 10 October 2014Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States16 United States1–11–1
10 14 October 2014Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States17 El Salvador2–05–1
11 4–1
12 15 June 2015Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander, Valparaíso, Chile21 Bolivia1–32–32015 Copa América
13 19 June 2015Estadio El Teniente, Rancagua, Chile22 Mexico2–02–1
14 24 March 2016Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador23 Paraguay1–02–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
15 8 June 2016University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, United States27 Peru1–2Copa América Centenario
16 12 June 2016MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, United States28 Haiti1–04–0
17 11 October 2016Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia33 Bolivia1–22–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
18 2–2
19 15 November 2016Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador34 Venezuela3–03–0
20 13 June 2017Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States38 El Salvador2–0Friendly
21 5 September 2017Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador40 Peru1–21–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
22 7 September 2018Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States42 Jamaica1–02–0Friendly
23 11 September 2018Toyota Park, Bridgeview, United States43 Guatemala
24 12 October 2018Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar44 Qatar1–23–4
25 2–4
26 15 November 2018Estadio Nacional del Perú, Lima, Peru45 Peru2–02–0
27 20 November 2018Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama46 Panama2–12–1
28 1 June 2019Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, United States47 Venezuela1–11–1
29 21 June 2019Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil50 Chile1–22019 Copa América
30 14 November 2019Estadio Reales Tamarindos, Portoviejo, Ecuador53 Trinidad and Tobago2–03–0Friendly
31 3–0

Honours

Emelec

Tigres UANL

Individual

References
  1. "Enner Valencia at Premier League". Premier League. Premier League. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  2. "Enner Remberto Valencia Lastra". LigaBancomer.mx.
  3. "Enner Valencia at FIFA.com". FIFA.com. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. "Enner Valencia entra al top 10 de goleadores históricos" [Enner Valencia enters the top 10 goalscorers of all-time] (in Spanish). Estadio. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  5. Cardenas, Xoel (30 March 2014). "World Cup 2014: Other Valencia – Enner Valencia – looks to make breakthrough moment for Ecuador in Brazil". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  6. "Enner Valencia announced his arrival in the Premier League with a 70mph screamer for West Ham at Hull... but who is the jet-heeled Ecuadorian with a rocket of a shot?". Daily Mail. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  7. "Emelec – LDU Quito (Soccer Serie A 2010)". www.sportstats.com. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  8. "Enner Valencia at Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  9. "Emelec barrió a Sport Huancayo y sigue adelante" (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  10. "Ecuador – List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  11. "Ya hay acuerdo del Pachuca por Enner Valencia". 4 December 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  12. "Pachuca 2–1 Xolos: Tijuana Xolos give away the win". Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  13. "Pachuca liga dos triunfos y le gana 3–1 a su 'hermano' León". Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  14. "Con triplete de Enner Valencia, Pachuca se clasificó a semifinales" (in Spanish). ECUAGOL. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  15. "West Ham sign Ecuador striker Enner Valencia in £12m deal". BBC Sport. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  16. "West Ham's Enner Valencia: 'I'm trying to enjoy every minute of being here'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  17. Rose, Gary (16 August 2014). "West Ham United 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  18. "West Ham 1–1 Sheff Utd". BBC Sport. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  19. Neil Johnston. "Hull City 2–2 West Ham United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  20. "Hull City 2 West Ham United 2: Enner Valencia lights up KC Stadium in lively Premier League stalemate". The Daily Telegraph. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  21. Timothy Abraham. "Burnley 1–3 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  22. Chris Bevan. "Stoke 2–2 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  23. "West Ham 2–2 Astra Giurgiu". BBC Sport. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
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  25. "Enner Valencia: West Ham striker ruled out for up to 12 weeks". BBC Sport. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  26. "Dimtri Payet and Enner Valencia score stunning free kicks in West Ham win". ESPN FC. Press Association Sport. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  27. "Enner Valencia: Everton sign West Ham forward on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  28. "Everton 3–0 Southampton: Valencia nets first Everton goal as Blues leave it late". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
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  30. Tim Vickery (25 June 2014). "The surprise success of Enner Valencia". ESPN FC. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  31. "Ecuador 2–2 England". BBC Sport. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  32. "World Cup 2014: Antonio Valencia is named in Ecuador squad". BBC Sport. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  33. "Switzerland 2–1 Ecuador". BBC Sport. 15 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  34. "Honduras 1–2 Ecuador". BBC Sport. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  35. "This Amazing Goal Defied Physics And U.S. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan". The Huffington Post. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  36. "Bolivia withstand heavy pressure to edge Ecuador at Copa América". The Guardian. Reuters. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  37. "Mexico 1–2 Ecuador: Copa America ends in disaster for El Tri". Goal.com. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  38. Rosenblatt, Ryan. "Enner Valencia leaves World Cup qualifier in ambulance to avoid police and arrest". Retrieved 7 October 2016.
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  40. "Valencia, Enner". National Football Teams. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
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  42. "Campeonato 2013 – Tabla de Posiciones | Club Sport Emelec – Sitio Oficial del Club Sport Emelec de Ecuador". Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  43. "Top goalscorers 2019". CONCAFAF Champions League. 1 May 2019.
  44. Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League [@TheChampions] (2 May 2019). "Presenting the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League 2019 Team of the Tournament!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 May 2019 – via Twitter.
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