Víctor Valdés

Víctor Valdés
Personal information
Full name Víctor Valdés i Arribas
Date of birth 14 January 1982 (1982-01-14) (age 30)
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 311 (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 7 (0)
2004– Catalonia 11 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 December 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 November 2011
This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Valdés and the second or maternal family name is Arribas.

Víctor Valdés i Arribas (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbiktoɾ balˈdes i aˈribas]; born 14 January 1982) is a Spanish football goalkeeper who currently plays for FC Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga.

He is the most successful goalkeeper in Barcelona's history and is widely considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world, having won a total of 17 titles including five La Liga titles, three Champions League titles, and one Copa del Rey title. He also has won the Zamora Trophy a record four times. Before joining the full team in 2002–03 season, Valdés played for the youth teams and FC Barcelona B. [1] Currently, he has a contract with Barcelona until 2014.[2]

Contents

Early career

Born in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, to José Manuel Valdés and Agueda Arribas and has two brothers, elder Ricardo and younger Álvaro, Valdés started his career with FC Barcelona'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 Barça'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 Valdés 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 held by Barcelona legend Andoni Zubizarreta; a record of starting, and never being substituted, in all 38 matches of the La Liga season.[3]

Valdés set the Barcelona 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 Olympique Lyonnais' 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 Barcelona.

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, Valdés 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 Josep 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 as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Iker Casillas & Pepe Reina respectably, wearing the #12 shirt.[6]

On 3 June 2010, Valdés earned his first cap by starting in a friendly match between Spain and South Korea at Tivoli-Neu in 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 with Spain. He won his second cap in Spain's 1–1 draw against Mexico, coming on as a second-half subtitute for Iker Casillas.

Personal life

Valdés has a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Yolanda Cardona. In 20 August 2009 Cardona gave birth to the couple's first child, son Dylan Valdés Cardona in Barcelona.

Career statistics

As of 18 December 2011[8][9][10][11]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other[12] Total
Apps Goals Cl.S. Apps Goals Cl.S. Apps Goals Cl.S. Apps Goals Cl.S. Apps Goals Cl.S.
Barcelona B 2000–01 14 0 0 — — — — — — — — — 14 0 0
2001–02 43 0 0 — — — — — — — — — 43 0 0
2002–03 20 0 0 — — — — — — — — — 20 0 0
Total 77 — — — — — — — — — — — 77 — —
Barcelona 2002–03 14 15 5 0 0 0 6 3 4 — — — 20 18 9
2003–04 33 32 13 6 4 2 5 3 2 — — — 44 39 17
2004–05 35 25 19 0 0 0 8 11 1 — — — 43 36 20
2005–06 35 29 16 0 0 0 12 5 7 2 1 1 49 35 24
2006–07 38 33 15 0 0 0 8 6 4 4 4 2 50 43 21
2007–08 35 35 15 6 5 3 11 5 8 — — — 52 45 26
2008–09 35 31 15 0 0 0 14 11 5 — — — 49 42 20
2009–10 38 24 20 0 0 0 12 10 6 5 3 2 55 37 28
2010–11 32 16 17 0 0 0 11 9 3 1 0 1 44 25 21
2011–12 16 8 11 0 0 0 5 4 3 5 4 4 26 16 18
Total 311 248 146 12 9 5 92 67 43 17 8 10 432 332 204
Career totals 388 - - 12 9 5 92 67 43 17 8 10 509 - -

[13]

Spain national team
Year Apps Goals
2010 3 0
2011 4 0
Total 7 0

Honours

Barcelona Atlètic

Barcelona

2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
2008–09
2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
2009, 2011
2009, 2011

Spain

2010

Individual

2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
2010–11
2010–11

Decorations

References

  1. ^ "Victor Valdes Arribas". FC Barcelona. http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_06-07/plantilla/jugadors/Valdes.html. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  2. ^ Giménez, Santi (19 June 2009). "Valdés renovará hasta el 2015" (in Spanish). Sport.es. http://www.sport.es/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=44&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=622637&idseccio_PK=803. Retrieved 2 July 2009. 
  3. ^ "The long shadow of Zamora". FIFA. 13 September 2007. http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=637303.html. Retrieved 2 July 2009. 
  4. ^ "Valdés breaks European unbeaten record". FC Barcelona. 7 November 2007. http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/11/n071107102115.html. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  5. ^ "Barça clinch La Liga league title". BBC Sport. 16 May 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8685771.stm. Retrieved 20 May 2010. 
  6. ^ "Spain omit Marcos Senna from 2010 World Cup squad". BBC Sport. 20 May 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8695232.stm. Retrieved 20 May 2010. 
  7. ^ "Valdés debuts with Spain vs Korea Republic". Marca. 3 June 2010. http://www.marca.com/2010/06/03/futbol/mundial_2010/selecciones/espana/1275584819.html. Retrieved 3 June 2010. 
  8. ^ Official site statistics
  9. ^ Transfermarkt player statistics
  10. ^ Historical issues of Mundo Deportivo
  11. ^ Statistical data
  12. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
  13. ^ "Player – Víctor Valdés". National Football Teams. http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=12557. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  14. ^ "Royal Order of Sporting Merit 2011". http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20111005/futbol/seleccion-espanola/las-campeones-del-mundo-de-futbol-ya-tienen-la-real-orden-del-merito-deportivo_54226408413.html. 

External links

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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
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