Antonio Valencia hangs up his boots

A great player says goodbye. Antonio Valencia hangs up his boots at the age of 35 after 17 seasons in football in Spain, England, Ecuador and Mexico. 

The now ex-footballer began his career in his homeland at El Nacional before making the move to Europe. He played for Recreativo Huelva and Villarreal in La Liga and then went to England. He was at Wigan for three seasons and then spent a decade at Man Utd. In 2019, he signed for Liga de Quito in Ecuador and then to Queretaro of Mexico in 2020. 

On his Twitter account, as well as news of him announcing his retirement, Valencia published a goodbye message to Man Utd fans. He was so loved in England that the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Paul Pogba left messages for the Ecuadorian. 

He won two Premier League titles, a Europa League, two League Cups, an FA Cup and four Community Shields for Man Utd. He also won the Ecuadorian League for El Nacional, the Segunda title for Recreativo Huelva and lifted the Ecuadorian Cup and Super Cup with Liga de Quito. 

The former right back played in the 2006 and 2014 World Cups for Ecuador and made seven appearances in that tournament. He also played in 11 Copa America games, scoring twice, in 2007, 2011, 2016 and 2019.

 

May 12, 2021