Carlos Vela

Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido (born March 1, 1989 in Cancún, Quintana Roo) is a Mexico football (soccer) striker currently playing for Arsenal F.C. of the English Premier League.

Biography

Carlos Vela was Named by UK tabloid The Sun as one of the 20 young players to watch in 2008, Carlos Vela is the younger brother of Alejandro Vela, who plays for Cruz Azul in the Primera División de México. Vela's career started with Chivas de Guadalajara, alongside his brother. Even though he had not made his debut on Chivas's first division team, his big break came when he participated in the FIFA U-17 World Championship World Cup with the Mexico national football team. Vela helped the Mexican team win the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship against other promising teams, including Brazil national football team. He became a pivotal figure during the match against Brazil, by defeating the South American team 3–0 during the tournament's final. At the conclusion of the 2005 World Cup in Peru, Vela was named the top scorer of the tournament with five goals and claimed the FIFA U-17 World Cup Top Scorers.

After the World Cup, Jorge Vergara, owner and president of Chivas de Guadalajara, offered to sign him, and, since the Vela family lived in the then-recently-storm-stricken Cancún, Quintana Roo, Carlos Vela asked that as a condition to his signing with Guadalajara, the club also help relocate his family. He had also previously showed his great affection to his father, whose birthday fell on the day on which Mexico beat Brazil in the final for the World Cup, by carrying the cup to his father as a birthday present and dedicating his Golden Boot to him.

Club career

Following his showing at the U-17 World Cup, in which he won the Golden Boot and led his native Mexico to the title, Vela attracted interest from a number of European clubs. It was eventually Arsenal F.C who came out on top and won the race for his signature in November 2005 for a £125,000 fee that will rise to £550,000 if he plays 50 first-team games. and he signed a five-year deal. However, due to England work permit restrictions for non-EU citizens which prevented him from playing in England, he was quickly loaned out to Celta de Vigo in February 2006.

Salamanca

Vela was then loaned to UD Salamanca, in the Spanish second division, for the 2006-07 season. After his loan spell with Salamanca ended with him scoring eight and creating many of their 53 goals, bigger clubs, of La Liga, such as Levante UD, Osasuna and UD Almeria were all interested in taking him on loan from Arsenal for whom he was still ineligible to play as he still had yet to receive a work permit.

Osasuna

Eventually, a one year loan move to Osasuna was agreed, with the option of an extension for another year, however, no permanent option had been contemplated. On October 31 2007 he scored his first goal with Osasuna, in a match against Real Betis, a performance that went on to receive early praise from the Spanish press.

Back to Arsenal

On 22 May 2008, Vela was granted a work permit that will allow him to play in England. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger confirmed that Carlos Vela would be involved with the first team in the coming season and that he predominantly views Vela as a striker in the Eduardo da Silva mould. He wears Arsenal shirt number 12.

Vela made his competitive debut for Arsenal on 30 August 2008 in their Premier League match against Newcastle United F.C., coming on as a substitute for Robin van Persie in the 63rd minute. Arsenal won the match 3–0. In his full debut on 23 September 2008 against Sheffield United in the Football League Cup, Vela scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 win with goals in the 44th, 50th and 87th minute. The match was also notable for featuring Arsenal's youngest ever side, with an average age of 19.

International career

Vela made his full international debut for Mexico in a September 2007 friendly against Brazil national football team. On October 18 2007, Vela scored his first senior international goal for Mexico in a friendly against Guatemala national football team played in Los Angeles. On February 7 2008 he started a friendly against USA (2–2) and he was replaced by Giovani Dos Santos. On June 8 2008, Vela scored his second senior international goal for Mexico national football team in a friendly against Peru national football team at the 20th minute to help Mexico national football team with their 4–0 victory. A match later for Mexico he scored in their qualifying opener versus Belize making the match 1–0. In the return leg against Belize he again scored the opening goal of the match and beginning the 7–0 rout in favour of Mexico national football team.

International goals

Club career statistics

Honours

International

Mexico national football team
- 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship: 2005
- FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Boot: 2005

Club

Arsenal F.C.
- Amsterdam Tournament 2008