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| Career | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Clubs: | Las Palmas (1994-97), Real Mallorca (1997-1998), Atletico Madrid (1998-2000), Deportivo La Coruna (since 2000) |
| International appearances: | 39 |
| International goals: | 4 |
| International debut: | 18/11/1998, Italy-Spain (2-2) |
| Last international appearance: | 05/06/2004, Spain-Andorra (4-0) |
| First international goal: | 02/06/2002, Spain-Slovenia (3-1) |
| Last international goal: | 05/06/2004, Spain-Andorra (4-0) |
Appearances : 1 (2002), 4 matches, 1 goal
Quarter-finals (2002)
Appearances: 1 (2000), 2 matches
Quarter-finals (2000)
Winner (2002)
Winner (1998, 2000, 2002)
Biography
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| Spanish Juan Carlos Valeron (L) fights for the ball with Norwegian Jan Gunnar Solli (R), during a Euro 2004 second leg playoff match at Ullevaal stadium in Oslo. 19 November, 2003. Spain won 3-0. AFP PHOTO/ Javier SORIANO |
Since Inaki Saez took over as Spain coach midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron has had a run in the national side in the playmaker role, featuring in most of the qualifying matches for Euro 2004 and the preparation friendlies.
Saez's predecessor Jose Antonio Camacho used this sometimes timid player in a deeper position at the 2002 World Cup (4 games, 1 goal) but he is happier in a more attacking role.
Alongside another veteran Joseba Etxeberria the Deportivo man should be in the midfield in Portugal with a little youth provided by either Joaquin or Guti.
He was born in the Canary Islands where he began his career with three seasons at Las Palmas before a year on another Island with Real Mallorca.
He then switched to the Spanish capital with Atletico who sold him to Deportivo after they were relegated. Factions of the Atletico support actually blamed Valeron for their decline.
"I have improved physically, technically and psychologically since then," he says, perhaps in partial recognition of that disappointment.
He has earned praise in his time at Deportivo as playmaker serving Roy Makaay and Diego Tristan as the Galicians have done well in the championship and Champions League.
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| Deportivo's Juan Valeron (L) challenge for the ball with AEK Athens' Theodoros Zagorakis during the European Champions League group C soccer game, in Athens, 17 September 2003. AFP PHOTO/ Aris MESSINIS |
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| Spanish midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron (C) is challenged by Paraguayan midfielder Carlos Paredes (L) and teammate Roberto Acuna in their Group B match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan in Jeonju, 07 June 2002. Spain won the match 3-1. AFP PHOTO/Christophe SIMON |
At the 2002 World Cup he played four matches and got a goal in the 3-1 win over Slovenia in the group stage before being substituted for the battling Luis Enrique in the quarter final defeat to South Korea.
On his return to league action in Spain he suffered a broken leg in a league match against Valladolid that kept him sidelined for two months. But on his return he seemed fortified rather than cautious and enjoyed a solid end of season for both club and country.