Víctor Valdés Arribas

Víctor Valdés i Arribas (born 14 January 1982 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona (province), Catalonia), is a Spanish people association football Goalkeeper (association football), who plays for FC Barcelona of the Spanish La Liga. Víctor Valdés Arribas is the most successful goalkeeper in Barcelona's history, having won 3 La Liga titles, 2 UEFA Champions League titles, and 1 Copa del Rey. Víctor Valdés Arribas is also one of the few goalkeepers to have played in a European Cup final without conceding a goal. Before joining the principal team in 2002–03 season, Víctor played for the youth teams and FC Barcelona Atlètic. Currently, Víctor Valdés Arribas has a contract with Barcelona until 2014.

Early career

Valdés was born to Águeda Arribas and José Manuel Valdés, and has two brothers, elder Ricard and younger Álvaro. Víctor Valdés Arribas started Víctor Valdés Arribas career with Barça's youth team when Víctor Valdés Arribas joined from Peña Cinco Copas on 1 July 1992. But in September, Víctor Valdés Arribas moved with Víctor Valdés Arribas family to Tenerife and had to leave the club, rejoining only three years later. After returning, Víctor Valdés Arribas made quick progress through the youth teams.

FC Barcelona

The early part of the 2002–03 season saw Víctor Valdés Arribas play deputy to Argentina national football team Roberto Bonano. The arrival of Radomir Antić as the new coach saw regular first team opportunities for him.

In the 2003–04 season, Víctor Valdés Arribas emerged as first-choice goalkeeper, and in the 2004–05 season, Víctor Valdés Arribas played in almost all of Barcelona's matches helping Barcelona to their first La Liga in six years. Víctor Valdés Arribas also won the Zamora Trophy for the best goalkeeper in La Liga.

In the 2005–06 season, Víctor Valdés Arribas helped FC Barcelona to The Double. Víctor Valdés Arribas played a big part in Barca's UEFA Champions League 2005–06 title and in the final against , Víctor Valdés Arribas denied Thierry Henry twice from point-blank range. Víctor Valdés Arribas efforts saw Víctor Valdés Arribas singled out for praise from Coach Frank Rijkaard. The "Zamora" title however eluded Víctor Valdés Arribas as Víctor came third after Santiago Cañizares and the winner José Manuel Pinto.

On 17 June 2007, the last round in La Liga, Valdés matched a goalkeeping record of Barcelona legend Andoni Zubizarreta. The record held by Zubi is that Víctor Valdés Arribas went all season long, all 38 rounds in La Liga without leaving the starting line-up nor getting substituted. It has never been matched, by any Barça goalkeeper, until Valdés.

Valdés set the FC Barcelona club record for not conceding a goal in European competition with a clean sheet against on 7 November 2007, which saw Víctor Valdés Arribas re-write the Barça record books after not conceding a goal for 466 minutes. Unfortunately, Valdés was beaten twice by Olympique Lyonnais' captain Juninho Pernambucano through a 45-yard free kick and a late penalty at the Stade de Gerland

On 1 April 2008, Valdés made Víctor Valdés Arribas 250th appearance for FC Barcelona. Despite being a regular in the squad, Víctor Valdés Arribas has never played for Spain national football team, with Iker Casillas of Real Madrid C.F. and José Manuel Reina of being the preferred goalkeepers. During the 2008–09 season, Víctor Valdés Arribas was the Zamora (La Liga's top goalkeeper) for the second time in Víctor Valdés Arribas career, beating out the likes of Iker Casillas and Diego López Rodríguez who are among Víctor Valdés Arribas national team competitors.

On May 27, 2009, Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League Final to complete an unprecedented Treble of La Liga, Champions League, and Copa del Rey. In the match, Valdes made two crutial saves from Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo in both halves. In the first half, Víctor Valdés Arribas saved a long-range free kick, and in the second half Víctor Valdés Arribas saved Ronaldo from a tight angle following a low cross from Dimitar Berbatov.

All-time club statistics

As of 27 May 2009

Honours

Barcelona

- La Liga (3): La Liga 2004–05, La Liga 2005–06, La Liga 2008–09
- Copa del Rey (1): Copa del Rey 2008–09
- UEFA Champions League (2): UEFA Champions League 2005–06, UEFA Champions League 2008–09
- Supercopa de España (2): 2005–06, 2006–07

Individual
- Zamora Trophy: 2004–05, 2008–09