Víctor Valdés

Profile Football Stars | Víctor Valdés | He is regarded to be one of Barcelona's better Goalkeepers in franchise history, having won a total of 17 titles Including five La Liga titles, three Champions League titles, and one Copa del Rey title. He also has won the Zamora Trophy a record five times. He currently holds the club records as Goalkeeper with most appearances in the league and in official competition, Andoni Zubizarreta's breaking records during the 2011-12 season. Before joining the full team in 2002-03 season, Valdés played for the youth teams and FC Barcelona B. Currently, he has a contract with Barcelona until 2014. Born in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, to José Manuel Valdés Arribas and Agueda and has two brothers, elder and younger Alvaro Ricardo, Valdés started his career with FC Barcelona's youth team when he joined from Peña Cinco Copas on 1 July 1992 .

In the 2003-04 season, he emerged as first-choice Goalkeeper, and in the 2004-05 season, he played in almost all of Barcelona's matches Barcelona to Helping Their first league title in six years. He also won the Zamora Trophy for the best Goalkeeper in Spain. On 17 June 2007, the last round in La Liga, Valdés matched a goalkeeping record held by Barcelona legend Andoni Zubizarreta; a record of starting, and never being substituted, in all 38 matches of the La Liga season.

Unfortunately, Valdés was beaten twice by Olympique Lyonnais' captain Juninho through a 45-yard free kick and a late penalty at the Stade de Gerland, ending his streak. On 1 April 2008, Valdés made his 250th appearance for Barcelona. In the match, Valdés made two crucial saves from attempts by Cristiano Ronaldo in both halves. On 16 May 2010, Valdés won his fourth title as Barcelona clinched a second successive Spanish league title with Josep Guardiola's side, ending the season with 99 points.  On 29 August 2011, Valdés played his 410th match with Barcelona and equaled Andoni Zubizarreta's record as Barcelona Goalkeeper with most appearances. Valdés went 896 minutes without conceding a single goal during the 2011-12 season.

In July 2010, he won the 2010 World Cup with Spain. Valdés has a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Yolanda Cardona. In 20 August 2009 Cardona gave birth to the couple's first child, son Dylan Cardona in Barcelona Valdés.

Personal information
Full name Víctor Valdés i Arribas
Date of birth 14 January 1982 (age 30)
Place of birth L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper

Club information
Current club Barcelona
Number 1

Youth career
1992 Barcelona
1992-1995 Tenerife
Barcelona 1995-2000

Senior career
years Team
2000-2003 Barcelona B 77 (0)
2002 - Barcelona 330 (0)

National team
2000-2001 Spain U18 11 (0)
2001 Spain U19 3 (0)
2001 Spain U20 1 (0)
2002-2003 Spain U21 11 (0)
2010 - Spain 7 (0)
2001 - Catalonia 12 (0)

Honours

Club
Barcelona
     La Liga (5): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11;
     Runner-up 2006-07, 2003-04, 2011-12
     Copa del Rey (1): 2008-09: Runner-up 2010-11
     Supercopa de España (5): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
     UEFA Champions League (3): 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11
     UEFA Super Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
     FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006

Spain
     FIFA World Cup: 2010

Individual
     Zamora Trophy: 2004-05, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12
     ESM Team of the Year: 2010-11
     La Liga Goalkeeper of the Year: 2010-11

Decorations
     Prince of Asturias Awards: 2010
     Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit: 2011