Iván Helguera

Iván Helguera Bujía (born March 28, 1975 in Santander, Cantabria, Cantabria) is a Spain football (soccer) defender (football), who currently plays for Valencia CF of La Liga. He also plays in midfield.

Career

On the club level, Helguera has played for Manchego CR (1996), Albacete Balompié (1997), A.S. Roma (1997-98), RCD Espanyol (1998-99), and Real Madrid (1999-2007). He won the UEFA Champions League twice with Real. For Spain national football team, Helguera has been capped over 30 times (as of 2005). He played for his country at 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, missing the 2006 FIFA World Cup after being omitted from the squad in the months before the tournament by national team coach Luis Aragonés.

At the start of the 2006-07 football season, Helguera was surprisingly stripped of his number 6 jersey (which went to Mahamadou Diarra), given the 21 squad number and made to train with the youth team, in anticipation of his leaving the club, even though his contract ends in June of 2009. However, he later managed to fight his way back into the starting eleven, making a subsequent 21 starts, being influential in helping the club win the La Liga title.

On July 20, 2007, Helguera left Real Madrid, signing for Valencia C.F. on a three-year contract.

Personal life

His younger brother, Luis Helguera is also a professional footballer. Iván is married to his longtime girlfriend Lorena. They welcomed their first baby, a little boy named Luca on November 30, 2005.

Honours

- Spanish La Liga: 2000-2001, 2002-2003, 2006-2007
- Spanish Super Cup: 2001 and 2003
- UEFA Champions League: 2000 and 2002
- European Supercup: 2002
- Intercontinental Cup: 2002