Efraín Juárez

Efraín Juárez Valdez (born 22 February 1988) is a Mexican former professional footballer and current assistant manager of Club Brugge.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Juárez and the second or maternal family name is Valdez.
Efraín Juárez
Juárez with Celtic in 2010
Personal information
Full name Efraín Juárez Valdez[1]
Date of birth (1988-02-22) 22 February 1988
Place of birth Mexico City, Mexico
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder, right-back
Team information
Current team
 Club Brugge KV (assistant)
Youth career
2001–2006 UNAM
2006–2008 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 UNAM 66 (0)
2010–2012 Celtic 13 (0)
2011 → Zaragoza (loan) 15 (1)
2012–2014 América 6 (0)
2013–2014 → Monterrey (loan) 22 (1)
2014–2018 Monterrey 74 (2)
2018 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 16 (0)
2019 Vålerenga 19 (0)
Total 231 (4)
International career
2005 Mexico U17 5 (1)
2007 Mexico U20 4 (1)
2009–2012 Mexico 39 (1)
Managerial career
2020–2022 New York City FC (assistant)
2022–2023 Standard Liège (assistant)
2023– Club Brugge (assistant)
Medal record
Representing  Mexico
WinnerFIFA U-17 World Championship2005
WinnerCONCACAF Gold Cup2009
WinnerCONCACAF Gold Cup2011
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early career

He began his career in the basic forces of the Pumas, being also a regular in practically all the youth categories of the Mexican team. After his brilliant performance in the U-17 World Cup in Peru, in which Mexico was champion, Juárez accepted an offer from FC Barcelona and headed to Spain. Once there, in La Masía, they discovered that Juárez was in the calendar year of majority, so his condition as a foreigner only allowed him to play in the first team or in FC Barcelona B. His months in Barcelona were limited to train and not play for that reason. "Chucho" Ramírez, coach with whom he won the U-17 World Cup in Peru, took over the Mexican U-20 team. He himself warned Juárez that he wanted to take the team of champion players in Peru to the World Cup in Canada, but that he must see action or he would be left out. Juárez's decision was to ask Barcelona to let him go to a team, the humble Barbate, with whom he could play for a few months to enter Ramírez's list. Nobody in Barcelona understood that decision, but the footballer has always maintained that any decision must be understandable if the reward is to defend the colors of Mexico. He had a great tournament, despite the fact that El Tri was defeated in the quarterfinals against the champion team in the end, Argentina. In Canada he made the decision to want to leave FC Barcelona to return to Mexico, since he received offers from various teams that guaranteed him to play in the elite, something that was not guaranteed in Spain.

Club career

Club Universidad Nacional

Juárez joined the Pumas youth system at the age of thirteen. After winning the 2005 under-17 World Championship, playing a key role in defense, he was snapped up by Barcelona along with national teammate Jorge Hernández in 2006. Without very much support and very few minutes given in the Barcelona B team, he returned to Pumas Morelos and it took some time for coach Ricardo Ferretti to call him to Pumas. Competing for a position in the right wing with Fernando Espinoza, he quickly became a starter in Ferretti's team. With Ferretti's decision to give continuity to its team, Juárez renewed his contract facing the Clausura 2009 tournament. Pumas finished champions, beating Pachuca.[3]

Celtic

On 17 July 2010, Pumas accepted a bid for Juárez from Scottish Premier League club Celtic.[4] On 26 July a £2 million transfer was agreed and Juárez signed a four-year contract with The Hoops, making him the first ever Mexican player to play in the SPL.[5][6] Juárez made his Celtic debut in a 3–0 Champions League defeat away to Braga.[7] He scored his first goal for the club in the return fixture at Celtic Park with a header.[8] He then scored his second goal, again at Celtic Park, in a Europa League qualifying first leg match against Utrecht two weeks later.[9] Juárez was close to agreeing a loan move to Serie A side Brescia Calcio in the January 2011 transfer window but the deal fell through.[6] He had fallen out of favour with the first team and his agent admitted that Juárez would need to move on in the summer of 2011 in order to play first team football.[6]

Real Zaragoza (loan)
Juarez during his tenure at Zaragoza

On 26 July 2011, after weeks of speculation, Juárez was loaned out to La Liga side Real Zaragoza,[10][11] where he was reunited with former Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre. He made his debut for Zaragoza in a 6–0 loss against Real Madrid.[12] He then scored his first goal for the club in a 4–3 defeat to Real Betis.[13]

América

On 5 June 2012 it was announced that Juárez had transferred to América in Mexico for an undisclosed fee, after failing to cement his place in the starting line-up for Celtic, and after his disappointing stint for Real Zaragoza.[14] He made his first appearance for América on 27 June in a 0–2 preseason loss against Jaguares.[15][16] He made his league debut on 21 July in a 0–0 draw against Monterrey.[17] On 22 August 2012, Juárez suffered a terrible arm injury during a cup game against Correcaminos in the 39th minute which he had to miss a few months.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Juárez signed with Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer on 18 January 2018.[18] On 1 February 2019, Juárez and Vancouver mutually agreed to part ways.[19]

New York City FC assistant manager

On 10 March 2020, it is reported that Efraín Juárez joined as a technical assistant for the New York City FC of the Major League Soccer.

International career

On 28 June 2009, Juárez made his first international cap with the senior national team against Guatemala.[20] Juárez played a part of the team that won the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In the Gold Cup, he mainly played at right back. He started and completed all games played in the competition. Thanks to his great performance, he quickly gained a spot on the national team. Juárez scored for Mexico against Costa Rica during a penalty shootout.[21]

On 11 June 2010, Juárez became the first player to be booked at the 2010 World Cup in Mexico's opening match against South Africa.[22][23] He also played in Mexico's 2–0 victory over France on 17 June, when he was replaced by Javier Hernández on 55 minutes, who later himself went on to score.[24]

On 22 September 2010, it was announced that Juárez and Mexico teammate Carlos Vela were banned from international duty for six months for their involvement in a party in Monterrey following a game with Colombia two weeks earlier.[25]

Juárez scored his first goal for the national team in the 5–0 win against El Salvador in the opening match of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup on 5 June.[26]

International goals
Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef.
1.5 June 2011Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, United States El Salvador1–05–02011 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Career statistics

Club
As of 9 November 2013[27][28]
Club performance League Cup League cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Mexico League Cup League cup North America Total
2008–09UNAMPrimera División41021431
2009–1025040290
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
2010–11CelticSPL130102042212
Spain League Copa del Rey Supercopa de España Europe Total
2011–12Real ZaragozaLa Liga151151
Mexico League Cup League cup North America Total
2012–13AméricaLiga MX603090
Mexico League Cup League cup North America Total
2013–14MonterreyLiga MX11010120
Total Mexico 830300071931
Scotland 130102042202
Spain 151000000151
Career total 111130201131274

International
As of 29 February 2012[29]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Mexico 200990
2010160
2011141
Total391

Honours

UNAM

América

Monterrey

Mexico U17

Mexico

References
  1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 July 2007. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013.
  2. "FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 11 December 2013. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013.
  3. Mexican Primera Division Tables – 2008/2009 Clausura Soccerway
  4. Mexican star Juarez joins Bhoys in Seattle Archived 20 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine Celtic FC, 17 July 2010
  5. New Bhoy Juarez makes Paradise bow Archived 28 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine Celtic FC, 26 July 2010
  6. "Efrain Juarez could be set for move away from Celtic, admits agent". Daily Record. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  7. Braga 3 – 0 Celtic BBC Sport, 28 July 2010
  8. Celtic 2–1 Braga (agg 2–4) BBC Sport, 4 August 2010
  9. "Celtic 2 – 0 FC Utrecht". BBC Sport. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  10. "Efrain Juárez joins Real Zaragoza on loan". Celtic FC Official Website. Retrieved 26 July.
  11. "Celtic hizo oficial la salida de Efraín Juárez al Zaragoza". Medio Tiempo. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  12. "Zaragoza 0–6 Real Madrid: Ronaldo hat-trick secures huge opening win for Los Blancos". A different league. 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  13. "Real Betis takes Spanish league lead with 4–3 win over Zaragoza". Washington Post. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  14. "Efrain Juarez moves from Celtic to Club America in his homeland". BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  15. "América pierde ante Jaguares en duelo de pretemporada". Récord. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  16. "Derrota Jaguares 2–0 al América". ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  17. "Monterrey 0–0 América… Un simple debut". Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  18. "Whitecaps FC acquire versatile Mexican midfielder Efraín Juárez from Club de Futbol Monterrey". 18 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  19. "Whitecaps FC and midfielder Efraín Juárez mutually agree to part ways | Vancouver Whitecaps".
  20. "México 0–0 Guatemala... Tri se peleó de nuevo con el gol". Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  21. "Costa Rica 1–1 Mexico". Soccernet. 23 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  22. Mexico's Juarez gets World Cup's first booking The Hindustan Times, 11 June 2010
  23. FT: South Africa 1 Mexico 1 Sky Sports, 11 June 2010
  24. Mexico subs shoot down France FIFA.com, 17 June 2010
  25. "Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez banned by Mexico". BBC Sport. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  26. "Five-Star starts for Ticos, Mexico" FIFA.com, 6 June 2011
  27. "Efraín Juárez stats". Medio Tiempo. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  28. "Efraín Juárez stats". ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  29. Efraín Juárez at National-Football-Teams.com
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