The Playboy

Spain's Juan Carlos Valeron (R) and his teammate Ruben Baraja (L) celebrate after scoring their first goal during their Euro 2004 qualifier match against Armenia at the Vazgen Sargsyan stadium in Yerevan, 11 October, 2003.

His face could have put him on the front pages of the fashion press but it the back pages and in football where Valencia and Spain's Ruben Baraja hits the headlines.

Valencia's Baraja (L) jumps over Atletico de Madrid Argentinian Simeone (R) during a Premier League match in Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid, 20 September 2003.

He first made the grade at his hometown outfit Valladolid after winning the European under 16's championship before a switch to capital club Atletico Madrid in 1996 where he impressed in the B team before earning his spurs in the starting eleven.

After Atletico were relegated in 2000 he was sold for 12 million euros to Valencia, who had gone all the way to the Champions League final that season only to be beaten by Real Madrid.

Some have compared his style of play to that of German midfielder Michael Ballack with his spraying around of vballs from midfield.

Heartbreak and joy

Valencia's player Ruben Baraja celebrates after he scores the second goal with Norweigan John Carew (L) during their Champions League match Valencia versus Liverpool at Mestalla stadium in Valencia 17 September 2002. AFP PHOTO FRANCISCO PASO

The 2000-01 season marked Baraja's coming of age as he made his international debut in the October and went on to establish his place in the Spain midfield whilst also helping Valencia go all the way in the Champions League again, reaching the San Siro final in Milan against Bayern Munich.

After a 1-1 draw Bayern beat Valencia on penalties after a match where the strikers on both sides chose the wrong day to underperform.

Valencia overcame that double heartbreak the following season with a classy run to win the Spanish Championship despite the loss to Inter Milan of their Argentine coach Hector Cuper.

Irish midfielder Matt Holland (L) clashes with Spanish midfielder Ruben Baraja (R) in their second round match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan in Suwon, 16 June 2002. Spain were leading 1-0 early in the first half. The winner will meet either South Korea or Italy in the quarter-finals 22 June in Gwangju. AFP PHOTO/Christophe SIMON

Baraja had missed much of that title winning season with a knee problem, but had overcome it and was banck on form for the crucial run in and therefore made the Spanish squad for the 2002 World Cup.

He played four games out in Asia as Spain were controversially eliminated by South Korea in the quarter finals.

The 2004 season bore great success as Valencia stormed past Real Madrid late in the season to win another Spanish title and the team also won the UEFA Cup culminating with a 2-0 defeat of Marseille in the final.

He reportedly (according to people pages) likes to hang around with teammate Mista Ferrer in downtown Valencia and is something of a music fan. The midfielder is a popular man and always has time to chat with youngsters and autograph hunters when stopped in the street.

Baraja has shown during Euro 2004 qualifying in his six full appearances that he is at the height of his game and will doubtless be called upon in the first round where Spain have been drawn against Portugal, Greece and Russia.