Alex Valera
{{short description|Peruvian footballer (born 1996)}}
{{family name hatnote|Valera|Sandoval|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alex Valera
| image =
| fullname = Alex Eduardo Valera Sandoval
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|05|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Chiclayo, Peru
| height = 1.83 m
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Universitario de Deportes
| clubnumber = 20
| years1 = 2016–2017
| clubs1 = Pirata
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2017
| clubs2 = Carlos Stein
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 2018
| clubs3 = Pirata
| caps3 = 7
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2019
| clubs4 = Deportivo Garcilaso
| caps4 = 7
| goals4 = 7
| years5 = 2019–2020
| clubs5 = Deportivo Llacuabamba
| caps5 = 24
| goals5 = 9
| years6 = 2021–2022
| clubs6 = Universitario de Deportes
| caps6 = 41
| goals6 = 23
| nationalyears1 = 2021–
| nationalteam1 = Peru
| nationalcaps1 = 20
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| club-update = 2 November 2024
| nationalteam-update = 23:08, 19 November 2024 (UTC)
| years7 = 2022
| clubs7 = Al Fateh
| caps7 = 5
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2023–
| clubs8 = Universitario de Deportes
| caps8 = 70
| goals8 = 32
}}
Alex Eduardo Valera Sandoval (born 16 May 1996), better known as Alex Valera, is a Peruvian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Peruvian Liga 1 club Universitario de Deportes and the Peru national team.
Club career
Valera began his career in 2016 in Molinos El Pirata. After Pirata was eliminated from the 2017 Copa Perú, he was signed by Carlos Stein. He returned to Pirata for the 2018 Copa Perú, where he scored seven goals and played a key role in the squad that won the title and promotion to professional football.{{Cite web |date=2 December 2018 |title=Molinos El Pirata de Lambayeque se consagró campeón de la Copa Perú 2018 |trans-title=Molinos El Pirata from Lambayeque were crowned champions of the 2018 Copa Perú |url=https://canaln.pe/deportes/molinos-pirata-lambayeque-se-consagro-campeon-copa-peru-2018-n349414 |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=Canal N |language=Spanish}} However, Valera did not stay in the team because its board preferred to sign forwards with more experience.{{Cite web |date=14 September 2020 |title=Alex Valera: "En césped o cemento yo siempre he sido goleador" |url=https://once.pe/alex-valera-en-cesped-o-cemento-yo-siempre-he-sido-goleador/ |publisher=once.pe}}
In 2019, he joined Deportivo Garcilaso for the 2019 Copa Perú, on request by manager Juan Carlos Bazalar, reaching the tournament's quarterfinals where Garcilaso was eliminated by Deportivo Llacuabamba.{{Cite web |date=17 November 2019 |title=Llacuabamba eliminó a Dep. Garcilaso y accedió a la Finalísima de la Copa Perú 2019 |trans-title=Llacuabamba eliminated Dep. Garcilaso and accessed the "Finalísima" of the 2019 Copa Perú |url=https://www.futbolperuano.com/copa-peru/noticias/deportivo-garcilaso-vs-llacuabamba-en-vivo-por-los-cuartos-de-final-de-la-copa-peru-2019-247686 |access-date=15 November 2023 |website=Fútbol Peruano |language=Spanish}} Shortly after, Valera was signed by Deportivo Llacuabamba for the final group stage of the Copa Perú, where the team finished second, thereby proceeding to the 2019 promotion play-offs, where the team also finished second, behind Atlético Grau, and was promoted to the 2020 Liga 1.{{Cite news |date=14 December 2019 |title=Atlético Grau y Deportivo Llacuabamba a primera: La celebración tras conseguir el ascenso a la Liga 1 2020 |language=Spanish |trans-title=Atlético Grau and Deportivo Llacuabamba to the first division: The celebration after achieving promotion to the 2020 Liga 1 |work=El Comercio |url=https://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/futbol-peruano/atletico-grau-y-deportivo-llacuabamba-a-primera-la-celebracion-tras-conseguir-el-ascenso-a-la-liga-1-2020-fotos-noticia/?foto=2 |access-date=15 November 2023}} He was renewed by Llacuabamba for the 2020 season and became one of the club's top scorers that year.{{Cite news |date=9 September 2020 |title=Alex Valera, goleador de Llacuabamba que jugó antes fútbol playa y futsal |language=Spanish |trans-title=Alex Valera, Llacuabamba's top scorer who played beach football and futsal |work=Líbero |url=https://libero.pe/futbol-peruano/1582321-alex-valera-goleador-llacuabamba-jugo-futbol-playa-futsal-liga-1-movistar-torneo-apertura |access-date=16 November 2023}} The club ended up being relegated to the Liga 2 with three games still left to play after a 6–0 defeat against FBC Melgar.{{Cite web |last=Luna |first=Robert |date=21 November 2020 |title=Melgar goleó 6-0 a Llacuabamba por la fecha 7 de la Fase 2 de la Liga 1 del fútbol peruano |trans-title=Melgar rolled over Llacuabamba 6-0 in matchday 7 of the Fase 2 of the Liga 1 of Peruvian football |url=https://www.futbolperuano.com/liga-1/noticias/deportivo-llacuabamba-vs-melgar-en-vivo-online-por-la-fase-2-de-la-liga-1-286783 |access-date=16 November 2023 |website=Fútbol Peruano |language=Spanish}}
On December 4, 2020, Valera reached a deal with Peruvian club Universitario de Deportes and joined their squad on a 1 year contract.{{cite web |url=https://rpp.pe/futbol/descentralizado/universitario-de-deportes-fichajes-2021-alex-valera-llego-a-un-acuerdo-con-el-cuadro-crema-por-todo-2021-noticia-1307917|title=Alex Valera llegó a un acuerdo con Universitario de Deportes por una temporada|trans-title=Alex Valera reaches a deal with Universitario de Deportes for one season contract|publisher=Radio Programas del Perú|language=Spanish|date=4 December 2020|accessdate=18 June 2021}} He had been approached by other teams, including Alianza Lima, but decided to join Universitario for the opportunity to play the 2021 Copa Libertadores.{{Cite news |date=22 December 2020 |title=Alex Valera: "Si Alianza se quedaba (en la Liga 1), igual me iba a la 'U'" |trans-title=Alex Valera: "If Alianza stayed (in the Liga 1), I would still have gone to 'la U'" |url=https://libero.pe/futbol-peruano/1599916-universitario-deportes-alex-valera-alianza-lima-quedaba-liga-1-iba-universitario-copa-libertadores-2021-fichajes-2021 |access-date=29 April 2024 |work=Líbero |language=Spanish}} That year, Valera played his first game with Universitario on matchday 1, in a 1–1 tie against FBC Melgar, and scored his first goal on matchday 2, in a 3–1 defeat against Academia Cantolao. After an injury to Enzo Gutiérrez, he became part of the starting XI in both the Liga 1 and the Copa Libertadores, in an attacking partnership with Alberto Quintero. In May, Valera scored a brace in a Libertadores group stage match: a 3–2 home victory against Independiente del Valle. The next season, he played the 2022 Copa Libertadores qualifying stages with Universitario.
On 1 August 2022, Valera joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Fateh on a three-year deal,{{cite web |title=الفتح السعودي يبرم صفقة لاتينية |url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1160383}}{{cite web |title=Alex Valera fue anunciado como fichaje del Al-Fateh de Arabia Saudita |date=August 2022 |url=https://www.americatv.com.pe/deportes/futbol-mundial/alex-valera-fue-anunciado-como-fichaje-al-fateh-arabia-saudita-n428777}} despite the Peruvian transfer window having already closed. Barely five months later, during which he only played six games, and arguing a lack of payment, he left Al-Fateh and returned to Universitario in January 2023, signing for two seasons.{{Cite news |date=11 January 2023 |title=¡Es oficial! Universitario de Deportes anunció el regreso de Alex Valera por dos temporadas |trans-title=It's official! Universitario de Deportes announced the return of Alex Valera for two seasons |url=https://rpp.pe/futbol/descentralizado/alex-valera-en-universitario-oficial-club-anuncio-regreso-hasta-el-2024-fichajes-liga-1-noticia-1459391?ref=rpp |access-date=19 September 2024 |work=RPP |language=Spanish}} That year, Valera won his first national title after Universitario defeated Alianza Lima in the 2023 Liga 1 finals. In January 2024, Shimizu S-Pulse of the J2 League made an offer for him, which was finally rejected after Universitario's directive offered Valera an improved salary.{{Cite news |last=Chavez |first=Erick |date=13 January 2024 |title=Propuesta aceptada: Alex Valera, cerca de ser nuevo jugador del Shimizu S-Pulse de la Segunda División de Japón |trans-title=Offer accepted: Alex Valera, close to being a new player for Shimizu S-Pulse of the Second Division of Japan |url=https://rpp.pe/futbol/peruanos-en-el-mundo/alex-valera-dejara-universitario-sera-nuevo-jugador-del-shimizu-s-pulse-de-japon-noticia-1527273 |access-date=13 November 2024 |work=RPP |language=Spanish}} At the end of the season, Valera obtained his second consecutive national championship as Universitario won the 2024 Liga 1, with him as the team's goalscorer for the fourth consecutive year.
International career
Valera was called up to the Peru national football team for the 2021 Copa América and made his senior international debut on June 17, 2021, coming off the bench in a 4–0 defeat against Brazil.{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/br/listas/convocados-para-a-copa-america-2021-veja-os-elencos-das-selecoes-/1u8fvepj7lxy710u1w6hwl7z7z|title=Convocados para a Copa América 2021: veja os elencos das seleções que disputam o torneio|trans-title=Players called up for the 2021 Copa América|publisher=Goal.com|language=Portuguese|date=13 June 2021|accessdate=18 June 2021}} He played a total of 2 matches during the tournament.
Peru reached the fifth place in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, which granted them the right to play the intercontinental playoff against Asia's representative Australia. Valera was substituted in the 116th minute of the game, which was dragged into the penalty shootout; during the penalty shootout, he missed the final shot in the sudden death and, thus, Peru lost 4–5 on penalties to Australia and failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web | url=https://24newsrecorder.com/sports/172159 | title=Alex Valera missed his penalty and the Peruvian team was left out of the Qatar 2022 World Cup | VIDEO - 24 News Recorder | work=24 News Recorder }}
Beach football career
Valera also used to be a beach football player, representing the Peru national beach football team in the 2018 Copa América of Beach Football, scoring four goals.{{Cite web |date=6 November 2020 |title=¿Quién es Alex Valera Sandoval (Llacuabamba)? Del fútbol playa al fútbol profesional |trans-title=Who is Alex Valera Sandoval (Llacuabamba)? From beach football to professional football |url=https://www.futbolperuano.com/liga-1/noticias/alex-valera-sandoval-llacuabamba-el-delantero-revelacion-del-futbol-peruano-280038 |access-date=19 October 2024 |website=Fútbol Peruano |language=Spanish}}
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played 2 November 2024}}{{Soccerway|alex-eduardo-valera-sandoval/645759|access-date=29 October 2024}}
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |Cup ! colspan="2" |Continental ! colspan="2" |Total | |||||||
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3" |Pirata FC
|2016 | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" | — | |||||||
| 2017
| colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" | — | |||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— | |||||||
| FC Carlos Stein
|2017 | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" | — | |||||||
| Pirata FC
|2018 |7 |2 | colspan="2" | — | colspan="2" |— |7 |2 | |||||||
| Deportivo Garcilaso
|2019 |7 |7 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |7 |7 | |||||||
| rowspan="3" |Deportivo Llacuabamba
|2019 |4 |2 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |4 |2 | |||||||
| 2020
|21 |9 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |21 |9 | |||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!25 !11 ! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— !25 !11 | |||||||
| rowspan="3" |Universitario de Deportes
|2021 |24 |11 |0 |0 |6 |2 |30 |13 | |||||||
| 2022
|17 |12 | colspan="2" |— |2 |0 |19 |12 | |||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!41 !23 !0 !0 !8 !2 !49 !25 | |||||||
| Al Fateh
|5 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |6 |0 | |||||||
| rowspan="3"|Universitario
|2023 |Peruvian Liga 1 |30 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 36 | 16 |
| 2024
|Peruvian Liga 1 |26 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 31 | 13 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!56 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 67 | 29 |
| colspan="3" |Career total
!141 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 161 | 74 |
=International=
{{updated|match played 19 November 2024}}{{NFT player|83007|Alex Valera|access-date=23 March 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan="4"|Peru
|2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 10 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total | 20 | 3 |
|---|
:Scores and results list Peru's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Valera goal.{{NFT player|83007|Alex Valera|access-date=23 March 2024}}
= International goals =
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||||||
| scope=col|No.
!scope=col|Cap !scope=col|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=center|1 | align=center|3 | 16 January 2022 | rowspan=2|Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru | {{fb|PAN}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center|1–1 | rowspan=3|Friendly |
| align=center|2 | align=center|4 | 20 January 2022 | {{fb|JAM}} | align=center|2–0 | align=center|3–0 | ||
| align=center|3 | align=center|11 | 16 November 2022 | Estadio Monumental, Lima, Peru | {{fb|PAR}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center|1–0 |
Honours
=Club=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{NFT player|83007}}
- {{Soccerway|alex-eduardo-valera-sandoval/645759}}
{{Al-Fateh SC squad}}
{{Peru squad 2021 Copa América}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valera, Alex}}
Category:People from the Department of Lambayeque
Category:Peruvian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Peruvian sportsmen
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Club Universitario de Deportes footballers
Category:Peruvian Primera División players
Category:Saudi Pro League players
Category:Peru men's international footballers
Category:2021 Copa América players
Category:Peruvian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Peruvian expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia