var playerInfo={"D41F91B0720932DCFCEBDA572EB68D71":"1975-6-17","BCB817AACBF8A2A6870B9B82788BC0CB":"1","8025E7E497D77CF6":"Las Palmas","6A0E980854EFD8AD1B424574AD15DF0D":"2013-7-16","C403D9D9F071ACF5":"1079","BA50BEB0DB40F3ADF7C4575FF4221F17":"","BFA4903D06441BD5032C18CFE9B50683":"","FAF88D97B63B269A":"184cm","C94C0D651EC157BC":"72kg","99B9FE00554E753D0BC6E1E16DA9F791":"Deportivo La Coruna","60DC9D976694DF52":"1","EABD711929A60B526AB9CD802EC5F0A7":"21","BDC97245F9A52F8B":"305","94D0847B815EE9D1AA49123A5072B2C7":"One of Spanish football's foremost midfield players, Juan Valerón is renowned for his vision and passing ability, and for a habit of scoring spectacular goals.

National team

Won his first cap against Italy in November 1998, after triumphing with Spain at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship the previous summer. Stayed in the squad to play at UEFA EURO 2000? and then appeared four times for his country at the FIFA World Cup finals in Korea\/Japan - scoring in a 3-1 defeat of Slovenia.

UEFA EURO 2004? qualifying

Scored in Spain's opener against Greece, a 2-0 win, and played six more times in Group 3. Valerón came on in the first leg of the play-off against Norway before putting in a dynamic display in the return in Oslo, a 3-0 success.

Club

Born in Gran Canaria, the playmaker started out with UD Las Palmas in the 1995\/96 season and helped the club to promotion to Spain's second division. Then moved to RCD Mallorca where he played 36 league games during an impressive 1997\/98 campaign.

1998: Transferred to Club Atlético de Madrid and featured in the capital team's Spanish Cup final defeats by Valencia CF and RCD Espanyol. Was unable to prevent Atlético being relegated in 1999\/00.

2000: Joined RC Deportivo La Coru?a for €10m, in a deal that also took José Molina and Joan Capdevila to the Riazor. Hit top form in the 2001\/02 campaign, forming a fine attacking triumvirate with Fran and Diego Tristán. Notched up 36 league appearances and finally lifted the Spanish Cup after victory against Real Madrid CF.

2002\/03: Appeared 23 times in the league - nine as a substitute - and five times in the UEFA Champions League in a campaign punctuated by injury.

Did you know?

Deportivo coach Javier Irureta once said that Valerón would be the best player in the world if he had a bit more passion to his game.","2134628892B06B90":"Juan Carlos Valeron Santana","797F91F0051E8E7502912D1DDA7DF5C1":"Spain","4039037DD85D60421E356E7B3EA31BE5":"Deportivo La Coruna,Atletico de Madrid,Mallorca","411CCFA197052F93":"Juan Carlos Valeron Santana","e_index":9};