Jeffrén Suárez

Jeffrén Isaac Suárez Bermúdez (born 20 January 1988), known simply as Jeffrén, is a Venezuelan footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Croatian club NK Slaven Belupo.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Suárez and the second or maternal family name is Bermúdez.

Jeffrén Suárez
Jeffrén playing with the Spanish under-21s in 2011
Personal information
Full name Jeffrén Isaac Suárez Bermúdez
Date of birth (1988-01-20) 20 January 1988
Place of birth Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position(s) Forward / Winger
Club information
Current team
 Slaven Belupo
Number 33
Youth career
2003–2004 Tenerife
2004–2006 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Barcelona C 7 (1)
2006–2009 Barcelona B 82 (14)
2008–2011 Barcelona 22 (3)
2011–2014 Sporting CP 24 (5)
2014–2015 Valladolid 46 (3)
2015–2017 Eupen 36 (3)
2017–2019 Grasshoppers 42 (5)
2019 AEK Larnaca 14 (0)
2020– Slaven Belupo 1 (0)
National team‡
2004 Spain U16 3 (0)
2004–2005 Spain U17 3 (0)
2006–2007 Spain U19 11 (5)
2007 Spain U20 1 (0)
2009–2011 Spain U21 12 (2)
2015– Venezuela 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 May 2016

He started his career with Barcelona, appearing rarely and signing with Sporting CP in 2011. Other than in Spain, he also played professionally in Belgium, Switzerland, Cyprus and Croatia.

Jeffrén won 30 caps for Spain at youth level, winning European Championships with the under-19 and the under-21 teams. In 2015, he made his senior debut for Venezuela.

Early life

Born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, Jeffrén was just one year old when his family left the country for the Spanish island of Tenerife.[1]

FC Barcelona talent scouts spotted him and, in 2004, he was signed for its youth teams from CD Tenerife, first being coached by Guillermo Hoyos, who played him as a midfielder.[2]

Club career

Barcelona

Jeffrén played three full seasons with FC Barcelona B,[3] suffering Segunda División B relegation in 2006–07, and scoring six goals in 30 games in the following season in an immediate promotion back. On 8 November 2006, at the age of 18, he made his debut with the first team, against CF Badalona in a Copa del Rey round-of-32 match, coming on as a substitute for Javier Saviola in the 83rd minute of a 4–0 home win (6–1 on aggregate).[4]

Jeffrén during a Barcelona training session, alongside teammates Eric Abidal and Bojan.

Impressed at the player's performance for the reserves, first-team manager Pep Guardiola called Jeffrén for the 2008–09 pre-season, where he played all seven matches scoring twice, including once on 30 July against ACF Fiorentina in the 47th minute of a 3–1 win.[5] On 17 May 2009, he made his first La Liga appearance (of two in the season), as already crowned champions Barcelona lost 1–2 at RCD Mallorca.[6]

On 19 December 2009, Jeffrén replaced Thierry Henry late into the FIFA Club World Cup final against Estudiantes de La Plata.[7] Two days later, he picked up a leg muscle injury that left him out for 4–5 weeks in a 1–1 friendly draw with Kazma Sporting Club in Kuwait, in commemoration of the Asian side's 45th anniversary.[8]

On 10 February 2010, Barcelona announced Jeffrén had signed a contract extension with the club, keeping him at the Camp Nou until 30 June 2012 with a buyout clause set at €10 million.[9][10][11] On the 14th, he started as right back in a 1–2 loss at Atlético Madrid.[12]

On 3 April 2010, Jeffrén scored his first top division goal after a low cross from Eric Abidal, in a 4–1 home win against Athletic Bilbao.[13] On the 24th he added another in spectacular fashion, in a 3–1 home victory over Xerez CD[14] and, as the Catalans renewed their domestic supremacy, finished the campaign with 18 official appearances.

Jeffrén appeared less for Barça's first team in 2010–11. On 29 November 2010, he came from the bench to close the scoring in El Clásico against Real Madrid, in a 5–0 home win.[15]

Sporting

On 4 August 2011, Sporting CP signed Jeffrén for €3.75 million, plus €200,000 in bonus. He penned a five-year contract with a buy-out clause of €30 million. In addition, If the Lisbon club sold the player for a fee higher than €3.75M, Barcelona would receive 20% of the added value/differential value.[16][17] The Catalans also retained an exclusive buy-back option for €8 million and €12 million, in 2012 and 2013 respectively.[18]

Jeffrén played his first competitive match with Sporting on 13 August 2011, in a 1–1 home draw against S.C. Olhanense.[19] He spent the vast majority of the first half of his first season sidelined with physical problems.[20]

Jeffrén returned to action on 11 March 2012, and only needed 12 minutes on the pitch to score two goals in a 5–0 home win against Vitória de Guimarães.[21] He contributed with only 13 league games in his second year, and was deemed surplus to requirements subsequently.[22][23]

Valladolid

On 1 February 2014, Jeffrén returned to the Spanish top flight when he joined Real Valladolid on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[24] He made his debut on 9 February at home against Elche CF, coming on at half time for Víctor Pérez: he crossed the ball for Humberto Osorio's 2–2 equaliser, but only a minute later left the pitch with a muscular injury after his team had already used all three substitutes.[25]

On 2 November 2014, Jeffrén scored his first goal for Valladolid, coming off the bench to score an 81st-minute winner in a 2–1 win over Girona FC at the Estadio Nuevo José Zorrilla that put his team on top of the second division table.[26] He finished the campaign with three goals from 35 games, the other two coming in each fixture against former side Barcelona B – the first being a 7–0 thrashing on 21 December.[27]

On 29 August 2015, Jeffrén terminated his contract with the Castile and León club.[28]

Eupen

On the same day as leaving Valladolid, Jeffrén signed a three-year deal at K.A.S. Eupen from the Belgian Second Division.[29] He made his debut on 13 September, replacing Guy Dufour in the 57th minute of a 1–4 home loss against K. Lierse SK. Thirteen days later he scored his first goal for his new team, an added-time strike to seal a 3–1 win over R. White Star Bruxelles at the Kehrwegstadion.[30]

On 3 October 2015, Jeffrén netted twice in a 5–1 rout at K.S.K. Heist.[31] He finished the season with three successful strikes in 17 games, as the team came third and were promoted to the Belgian First Division A for administrative reasons.[32]

Later years

Jeffren signed for Grasshopper Club Zürich of the Swiss Super League on a two-year deal on 9 July 2017.[33] He left in late January 2019 for AEK Larnaca FC in the Cypriot First Division[34] and, one year later, switched to the Croatian First Football League with NK Slaven Belupo.[35]

International career

Spain youth
Jeffrén playing for Spain under-21s in 2011.

Jeffrén was part of the Spanish under-19 squad that won the 2006 UEFA European Championship, playing eight matches and scoring three goals. Shortly after, he was called by Venezuela national team coach Richard Páez for the 2007 Copa América, but decided not to switch allegiance.

On 6 February 2009, Jeffrén received his first call-up for Spain's under-21s. In 2011 he was selected by manager Luis Milla for the European Championships in Denmark, appearing in three games and scoring in the semi-final against Belarus (3–1 win)[36] as the national team won their third trophy in the category.[37]

Venezuela

Following his Spanish international youth spell, Jeffrén showed openness to represent Venezuela at senior level,[38] an option he himself had discarded in 2010 when he was consulted by a journalist of his native country.[39] On 19 March 2015, however, he acquired the necessary paperwork,[40] being called up for the first time on 18 August[41] and winning his first cap on 8 September by playing 31 minutes in a 1–1 friendly with Panama.[42]

Career statistics
As of match played on 5 July 2018[43][44]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other[45] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barcelona C 2005–06 50–50
2006–07 21–21
Total 71–71
Barcelona B 2006–07 323–323
2007–08 306–306
2008–09 205–205
Total 8214–8214
Barcelona 2006–07 001000–10
2007–08 000000–00
2008–09 200000–20
2009–10 122202020182
2010–11 81302000131
Total 223604020343
Sporting 2011–12 113101010143
2012–13 132103040212
Total 245204050355
Valladolid 2013–14 110000000110
2014–15 353100000363
Total 463100000473
Eupen 2015–16 173100000183
2016–17 190500072312
Total 363600072495
Grasshoppers 2017–18 325310000356
Total 325310000356
Career total 243331817010227836

Honours

Club

Barcelona

Sporting

International

Spain U21

Spain U19

References
  1. "Jeffren Suárez, el nuevo Henry" [Jeffren Suárez, the new Henry] (in Spanish). Official website. 30 March 2010. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  2. "Jeffren Suárez Bermúdez" (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  3. "Debe ser el número 23" [Must be number 23] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 18 November 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  4. "El Barcelona golea sin problemas al Badalona y Saviola se aprovecha" [Barcelona have no problems routing Badalona and Saviola seizes chance] (in Spanish). Marca. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  5. "Another strong display (1–3)". FC Barcelona. 30 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  6. "Mallorca 2–1 Barcelona". ESPN Soccernet. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  7. "Estudiantes La Plata 1–2 Barcelona". ESPN Soccernet. 19 December 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  8. "Barcelona's Suarez out with injury". Fox Sports. 22 December 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  9. "Jeffren extends deal until 2012". FC Barcelona. 10 February 2010. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  10. "Jeffren handed new Barça deal". FIFA. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  11. "Jeffrén accepts new Barcelona terms". UEFA. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  12. "Barça lose unbeaten record (2–1)". FC Barcelona. 14 February 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  13. "Barcelona 4–1 Athletic Bilbao: Jeffren, Bojan Krkic & Lionel Messi tame Los Leones". Goal. 3 April 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  14. "Barcelona 3–1 Xerez: Ibrahimovic powers the Blaugrana past nine-man Xerez". Goal. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  15. "Barcelona 5 Real Madrid 0: match report". The Daily Telegraph. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  16. "Acord entre el FC Barcelona i l'Sporting Clube de Portugal pel traspàs de Jeffren" [Agreement between FC Barcelona and Sporting Clube de Portugal for transfer of Jeffren] (in Catalan). FC Barcelona. 4 August 2011. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  17. Comunicado (announcement); Portuguese Securities Market Commission, 3 August 2011 (in Portuguese)
  18. Comunicado (Announcement); Portuguese Securities Market Commission, 4 August 2011 (in Portuguese)
  19. "Leão também arranca com empate" [Lion also starts with draw] (in Portuguese). Diário de Notícias. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  20. "Jeffren ainda longe de ser opção" [Jeffren still far from being an option] (in Portuguese). Record. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  21. "Sporting hit Guimaraes for five". PortuGOAL. 11 March 2012. Archived from the original on 10 August 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  22. "Liverpool want Sporting winger Jeffren Suarez to cushion blow of Luis Suarez exit". Metro. 2 June 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  23. "Jeffren Suarez set for Espanyol switch". Soccer News. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  24. "El Pucela ficha a Jeffren" [Pucela sign Jeffren] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  25. "Osorio inspires Valladolid fightback". Sky Sports. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  26. "Zorrilla vuelve a ver ganar a un Valladolid que se sitúa líder" [Zorrilla finally sees win for Valladolid that reach the top place] (in Spanish). Marca. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  27. "7–0. El Valladolid despide el año con gran goleada ante el Barcelona B" [7–0. Valladolid say goodbye to year with great thrashing of Barcelona B] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  28. Jeffren sale del Pucela (Jeffren leaves Pucela); Real Valladolid, 29 August 2015 (in Spanish)
  29. "L'AS prend sous contrat "Jeffrén", un vainqueur de la Ligue des Champions" [AS engage to contract "Jeffrén", a Champions League winner] (in French). K.A.S. Eupen. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  30. "AS Eupen: Hart erkämpfter 3:1-Sieg gegen White Star Brüssel" [AS Eupen: Hard-fought 3:1 win against White Star Brussels] (in German). Belgischer Rundfunk. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  31. "D2: Jeffrén (AS Eupen), deux buts à Heist avant le Paraguay et le Maracana" [D2: Jeffrén (AS Eupen), two goals at Heist before Paraguay and the Maracanã.] (in French). Sud Info. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  32. "Eupen make the ascent to the Belgian top flight". Diario AS. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  33. "Ex Barcelona star Jeffren signs for Grasshopper". Sport. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  34. "Jeffrén Suárez se muda al fútbol de Chipre" [Jeffrén Suárez moves to Cypriot football] (in Spanish). El Nacional. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  35. "El nuevo destino de Jeffrén Suárez" [The new destiny of Jeffrén Suárez] (in Spanish). Sport. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  36. Spain's late redemption breaks Belarus hearts Archived 26 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine; UEFA, 22 June 2011
  37. "España sub-21, campeona de Europa: El ciclo continúa" [Spain under-21, European champions: The cycle continues] (in Spanish). Diarios de Fútbol. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  38. Jeffren Suárez quiere ser Vinotinto (Jeffren Suárez wants to be a Vinotinto); Líder en Deportes, 14 August 2013 (in Spanish)
  39. Jeffren Suárez le cierra la puerta a la vinotinto (Jeffren Suárez closes door on the vinotinto) Archived 8 September 2013 at Archive.today; En La Pizarra, 4 May 2010 (in Spanish)
  40. Jeffren: "Voy a trabajar duro para recuperar la titularidad" (Jeffren: "I will work hard to recover my starting spot"); Marca, 19 March 2015 (in Spanish)
  41. El exbarcelonista Jeffren Suárez, convocado por vez primera con Venezuela (Former barcelonista Jeffren Suárez, called up for the first time with Venezuela); Sport, 18 August 2015 (in Spanish)
  42. "Rondón salvó el empate en un partido muy poco amistoso" [Rondón rescued draw in not-so friendly game] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  43. "Jeffrén » Club matches". Worldfootball. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  44. "Jeffren". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  45. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Europa League play-offs
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