Jeffrén Suárez

Jeffrén

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 12 in)
Playing position Forward / Winger
Club information
Current team
Eupen
Number 9
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– Eupen 10 (3)
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 3 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 December 2015.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2015
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Suárez and the second or maternal family name is Bermúdez.

Jeffrén Isaac Suárez Bermúdez (born 20 January 1988), known simply as Jeffrén, is a Venezuelan footballer who plays for Belgian club K.A.S. Eupen as a forward or winger.

He is known for his crossing ability and his ability to unsettle defenders with his combination of speed and skill,[1] and started his career with Barcelona, signing with Sporting Clube de Portugal in 2011.

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.[2]

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.[3]

Club career

Barcelona

Jeffrén played three full seasons with FC Barcelona B,[4] 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).[5]

Jeffrén during a Barcelona training session, alongside teammates Éric 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.[6] 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.[7]

On 19 December 2009, Jeffrén replaced Thierry Henry late into the FIFA Club World Cup final against Estudiantes de La Plata.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10][11][12] On the 14th, he started as right back in a 1–2 loss at Atlético Madrid.[13]

On 3 April 2010, Jeffrén scored his first top division goal after a low cross from Éric Abidal, in a 4–1 home win against Athletic Bilbao.[14] On the 24th he added another in spectacular fashion, in a 3–1 home success over Xerez CD[15] 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.[16]

Sporting

On 4 August 2011, Sporting Clube de Portugal 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.[17][18] The Catalans also retained an exclusive buy-back option for €8 million and €12 million, in 2012 and 2013 respectively.[19]

Jeffrén played his first official game with Sporting on 13 August, in a 1–1 home draw against S.C. Olhanense. 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 club 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]

International career

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 Venezuelan 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 semifinal against Belarus (3–1 win)[32] as the national team won its third trophy in the category.

Following his Spanish international youth spell, Jeffrén showed openness to represent Venezuela at senior level,[33] an option he himself had discarded in 2010 when he was consulted by a journalist of his native country.[34] On 19 March 2015, however, he acquired the necessary paperwork,[35] being called up for the first time on 18 August[36] and gaining his first cap on 8 September by playing 31 minutes in a 1–1 friendly with Panama.[37]

Club statistics

As of 3 September 2013[38]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other[39] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona C 2005–06 5050
2006–07 2121
Total 7171
Barcelona B 2006–07 323323
2007–08 306306
2008–09 205205
Total 82148214
Barcelona 2006–07 00100010
2007–08 00000000
2008–09 20000020
2009–10 122202020182
2010–11 81302000131
Total 223604020343
Sporting 2011–12 113101010143
2012–13 132103040212
Total 245204050355
Career totals 1292280703014722

Honours

Club

Barcelona
Sporting

Country

Spain U21
Spain U19

References

  1. "Jeffrén Suárez vs Estudiantes – New Talent of Barça *HD*". YouTube. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  2. "Jeffren Suárez, el nuevo Henry" [Jeffren Suárez, the new Henry] (in Spanish). Official website. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  3. "Jeffren Suárez Bermúdez" (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  4. "Debe ser el número 23" [Must be number 23] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 18 November 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  5. "El Barcelona golea sin problemas al Badalona y Saviola se aprovecha" [Barcelona has no problems routing Badalona and Saviola seizes chance]. Marca. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  6. "Another strong display (1–3)". FC Barcelona. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  7. "Mallorca 2–1 Barcelona". ESPN Soccernet. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  8. "Estudiantes La Plata 1–2 Barcelona". ESPN Soccernet. 19 December 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  9. "Barcelona's Suarez out with injury". Fox Sports. 22 December 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  10. "Jeffren extends deal until 2012". FC Barcelona. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  11. "Jeffren handed new Barça deal". FIFA.com. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  12. "Jeffrén accepts new Barcelona terms". UEFA.com. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  13. "Barça lose unbeaten recored (2–1)". FC Barcelona. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  14. "Barcelona 4–1 Athletic Bilbao: Jeffren, Bojan Krkic & Lionel Messi tame Los Leones". Goal.com. 3 April 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  15. "Barcelona 3–1 Xerez: Ibrahimovic powers the Blaugrana past nine-man Xerez". Goal.com. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  16. "Barcelona 5 Real Madrid 0: match report". The Daily Telegraph. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  17. "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. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  18. Comunicado (announcement); CMVM, 3 August 2011 (Portuguese)
  19. Comunicado (Announcement); CMVM, 4 August 2011 (Portuguese)
  20. "Jeffren ainda longe de ser opção" [Jeffren still far from being an option] (in Portuguese). Record. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  21. "Sporting hit Guimaraes for five". PortuGOAL. 11 March 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 (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: Hardfought 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. Spain's late redemption breaks Belarus hearts; UEFA.com, 22 June 2011
  33. Jeffren Suárez quiere ser Vinotinto (Jeffren Suárez wants to be a Vinotinto); Líder en Deportes, 14 August 2013 (Spanish)
  34. Jeffren Suárez le cierra la puerta a la vinotinto (Jeffren Suárez closes door on the vinotinto); En La Pizarra, 4 May 2010 (Spanish)
  35. Jeffren: "Voy a trabajar duro para recuperar la titularidad" (Jeffren: "I will work hard to recover my starting spot"); Marca, 19 March 2015 (Spanish)
  36. 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 (Spanish)
  37. "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.
  38. "Jeffren". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  39. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.

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