Juan Manuel Mata

Football player infobox
playername = Juan Mata


fullname = Juan Manuel Mata García
nickname = "Juanito", "Juanín", "Matador"
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|4|28
cityofbirth = Burgos
countryofbirth = Spain
height = 1,70 m
currentclub = Valencia CF
clubnumber = 16
position = Left winger, second striker
youthyears = 2000-2003 2003-2006
youthclubs = Real Oviedo Real Madrid
years = 2006-2007 2007-
clubs = Real Madrid Castilla Valencia CF
caps(goals) = 40 (10) 30 (8)
nationalyears = 2005-2006 2007-
nationalteam = Spain U-19 Spain U-21
nationalcaps(goals) = 5 (4) 1 (0)
pcupdate = October 20, 2008
ntupdate = October 20, 2008

Juan Manuel Mata García, Mata (born April 28, 1988 in Burgos), is a Spanish football player, who currently plays as a winger for Valencia CF.

Club career

Mata started his football career at Real Oviedo, where his father spent most of his career. He stayed there for 3 years before joining Real Madrid at age 15. After appearing for "Cadete A", he swiftly progressed through the junior teams, "Juvenil C" and finally the "Juvenil A". In his last campaign (2005-06) he scored 18 goals in the league and 3 more in the Copa de Campeones, including the winner in the final against Real Valladolid, adding another 3 in the Spanish "Juvenil" Cup. Switching to Real Madrid Castilla in 2006-07, he was given the number 34 shirt in the first team, while wearing number 28 in Castilla. In spite of Castilla's final relegation, Mata finished the season as the side's second best scorer at 10, behind striker Álvaro Negredo (18).

Mata had a contractual clause at Real Madrid during his last season at the club, and eventually agreed to sign for Valencia CF on March 2007, starting in 2007-08.cite web | url=http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/valencia/es/desarrollo/750885.html | title=Valencia "steals" promising, highly-rated Mata from Real Madrid | date=2007-03-17 | language=es icon | accessdate=2008-02-07]

Benefitting from constant injuries to Vicente and the ostracism to which then-manager Ronald Koeman condemned Miguel Ángel Angulo, Mata gradually carved a niche on Valencia's first eleven. On March 20, 2008, he scored 2 goals in the Spanish Cup semifinal match against FC Barcelona to help Valencia reach the final against Getafe CF where, on April 16, he scored the opener in a 3-1 win. During that first season, Mata was voted the team's "Best young player" by fans and players.

In the 2008 Spanish Supercup, Mata scored against his previous employers Real Madrid in a 3-2 first leg victory, but Valencia lost 5-6 on aggregate. He started 2008-09 well, scoring in the opener against RCD Mallorca (3-0 win). He also netted the only goal of the game against CA Osasuna, latching on to a long ball from David Villa. On September 25, 2008, Mata's understanding with Villa proved to be growing in efficiency, as he set up both of his teammate's goals in a 2-0 away win over Málaga CF.

Three days later, Mata put in a superb performance against Deportivo de La Coruña, scoring one and creating the other three, in a 4-2 home victory.

International career

Mata won the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship with the U-19 Spanish squad, where he was a key player. 'Juanín' finished the championship second to his teammate Alberto Bueno (5 goals) as top goal scorer of the competition, with 4 goals in 5 matches.

On February 1, 2007, U-21 coach Iñaki Sáez included him on his squad for the friendly against England, alongside Roberto Soldado, José Manuel Jurado, Sergio Sánchez, Miguel Torres, Esteban Granero and Antonio Adán, at just 18 years and 10 months.

Club career statistics

:"(correct as of 8 October, 2008)"

Personal life

Mata currently attends the "Universidad Politecnica de Madrid" studying journalism. In his spare time, he enjoys playing table-tennis. [cite web | url=http://www.juanmanuelmata.com/matabio.htm | title=Juan Manuel Mata's biography | language=es icon| accessdate=2008-02-07]

Honours

= flagicon|Spain Spain =

*UEFA U-19 Championship: 2006

= flagicon|Spain Valencia =

*Spanish Cup: 2007-08

References

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=7863 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon