Juan Mata

 

Profile Football Stars | Juan Mata | Mata began his football career in Spain, playing for Real Oviedo. In the start of the 2007-08 season, Mata signed for fellow La Liga side Valencia CF, through a contractual clause at Real Madrid. In the 2011-12 season, Mata moved to England, signing for Premier League club Chelsea in August 2011, for a fee in the region of £ 23.5 million. In June 2009, Mata was included for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, his first senior tournament. On 9 September 2009, Mata scored his first goal for the senior team, against Estonia secured a place in the World Cup in South Africa and was part of Spain's 2010 FIFA World Cup winning squad. In 2011, he went back to playing the under-21 side, captaining and Helping Spain win the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in Denmark. He won the Golden Player award and was part of the Team of the Tournament.

Mata had a contractual clause at Real Madrid during his last season at the club, and eventually Agreed to sign for fellow La Liga side Valencia CF in March 2007, starting in 2007-08. During That first season, he was voted the team's best young player by the fans and players alike. In the following two seasons, Mata was an ever present figure for Valencia offensive, scoring 17 goals in 68 games combined, with the club Achieving back-to-back third-league places. On 10 April 2011, he netted two in a 5-0 home win against Villarreal CF Valencia neighbors. On 9 May, England-based Spanish journalist Guillem Balagué reported interest from Premier League clubs Several.

On 24 August 2011, signed a five-Eye year deal with Chelsea. On 26 August 2011, Yossi Benayoun Juan Mata Offered his number 10 shirt. (Florent Malouda wears number 15 for Chelsea.) Mata follows on from Chelsea players Mark Hughes, Ian Hutchinson and Terry Venables in adopting the number 10 shirt. Mata scored in the 5th Round replay against Birmingham City at St Andrews, the which Chelsea won 2-0.Adding to the other goal by Raul Meireles, he helped Chelsea into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and continued his scoring in each trait of round of the cup, however this run ended against Leicester City in the quarter-finals, the which Chelsea won 5-2. In this match, though, his Spanish national football teammate Fernando Torres ended a goal drought of his own, netting a brace against then Power Championship side.

Mata helped Spain win the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, where he was a key player. On 9 September 2009, Mata scored his first goal for the senior team, as the 3-0 win against Estonia secured a place in the World Cup in South Africa. In the following summer, he unconventionally went back to the Under 21 side, playing the role of the senior squad member and helped Spain win the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in Denmark.

Personal information
Full name Juan Manuel Mata García
Date of birth 28 April 1988 (age 23)
Place of birth Burgos, Spain
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position Attacking Midfielder
winger

Club information
Current club Chelsea
Number 10

Youth career
1998-2003 Real Oviedo
2003-2006 Real Madrid

Senior career
years Team
2006-2007 Real Madrid B 39 (10)
Valencia 2007-2011 129 (34)
2011-Chelsea 28 (5)

National team
2004 Spain U16 3 (2)
2004 Spain U17 2 (1)
2006-2007 Spain U19 13 (12)
2007 Spain U20 5 (3)
2007-2011 Spain U21 20 (5)
2009-Spain 16 (5)

Honours

Club
Valencia CF
     Copa del Rey: 2007-08
     Supercopa de España: Runner-up 2008

Chelsea FC -

Spain
     FIFA World Cup: 2010
     FIFA Confederations Cup: Third-place 2009

Spain U19
     UEFA U-19 Championship: 2006

Spain U21
     UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: 2011

Individual
     UEFA U-21 Championship Golden Player: 2011
     UEFA U-21 Championship Bronze Boot: 2011
     UEFA U-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2011