• You are here: Home
•  » UEFA
•  » England
•  » West Bromwich Albion
•  » Carlos Vela

Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido (born 1 March 1989 in Cancún, Quintana Roo) is a Mexico association football player, currently playing as a Forward (association football) for La Liga club Real Sociedad on loan from Arsenal F.C.. Carlos Vela also plays for the Mexico national football team. Carlos Vela started Carlos Vela career at Mexican club C.D. Guadalajara, and caught the eye after finishing as the top scorer at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship. After joining Arsenal, Carlos Vela has had loan spells at Spanish clubs UD Salamanca and CA Osasuna.

Aside from Carlos Vela Mexican nationality, Vela also holds a Spanish_nationality_law Spanish_nationality_by_naturalization_and_residence.

Club career

Guadalajara

Carlos Vela's career started with C.D. Guadalajara, alongside Carlos Vela brother Alejandro Vela. After winning the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship with Mexico national under-17 football team and finishing as the top scorer with five goals, Jorge Vergara, owner and president of Chivas de Guadalajara, offered to sign him. Since Vela's family lived in the then-recently-storm-stricken Cancún, Quintana Roo, Carlos Vela asked that the club help relocate them as a condition of Carlos Vela signing. Vela had previously shown Carlos Vela great affection to Carlos Vela father, whose birthday fell on the day on which Mexico beat Brazil national under-17 football team in the final of the U-17 World Cup, by carrying the cup to Carlos Vela father and dedicating Carlos Vela Golden Boot to him.

Arsenal

Vela attracted interest from a number of European clubs, and eventually Arsenal F.C. won the race for Carlos Vela signature in November 2005 on a five-year deal for a £125,000 fee that rose to £550,000 after Carlos Vela played 50 first-team games. However, since English work permit restrictions for non-EU citizens prevented Carlos Vela from playing in England, Arsenal quickly loaned Carlos Vela out to Celta de Vigo in February 2006, but was returned right away with no games played.

Salamanca (loan)

At the end of the season, Vela was sent to Spanish Segunda División club UD Salamanca, on loan for the 2006–07 Segunda División. Carlos Vela had a successful stay there, creating many of Salamanca's 53 goals, eight of which Carlos Vela scored himself.

Osasuna (loan)

After Carlos Vela loan spell with Salamanca ended, bigger clubs of La Liga, such as Levante UD, CA Osasuna and UD Almería were all interested in taking Carlos Vela on loan from Arsenal for whom Carlos Vela was still ineligible to play as Carlos Vela still had yet to receive a work permit. 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 31 October 2007, Carlos Vela scored Carlos Vela first goal with Osasuna, in a match against Real Betis, a performance that went on to earn several plaudits from the Spanish press.

Return to Arsenal

On 22 May 2008, Vela was granted a work permit that allowed Carlos Vela to play in England. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger confirmed that Vela would be involved with the first team in the coming season and that Carlos Vela viewed Vela as a striker in the Eduardo da Silva mould.
Vela made Carlos Vela 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 Carlos Vela full debut on 23 September 2008 against Sheffield United F.C. in the 2008–09 Football League Cup Third round, Vela scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 win, with Carlos Vela second goal recently voted as one of Arsenal's 50 greatest goals. The match was also notable for featuring Arsenal's youngest ever side, with an average age of 19.

On 8 March 2009, in the FA Cup 2008-09 tie against Burnley F.C., Vela scored the first goal in a 3–0 win, chipping the ball over the keeper and into the goal. Carlos Vela scored Carlos Vela first goal in the Premier League for Arsenal away to Portsmouth FC on 2 May 2009 making Carlos Vela just the second Mexican player to score a goal in the Premier League.

On 28 April 2009, Carlos Vela was excluded from Arsenal's training session as a precaution due to the 2009 flu pandemic. Two of Vela's friends from Mexico visited Carlos Vela over the weekend and Arsenal were asked to keep Carlos Vela away. However, Carlos Vela returned to training the next day after being given the all-clear.

Vela missed Arsenal's pre-season campaign of the 2009–10 season after suffering an ankle injury which kept Carlos Vela out until September. Carlos Vela returned to action on 22 September by coming off the bench in Arsenal's 2–0 win by assisting the first and scoring the second goal against West Bromwich Albion F.C. in the Carling Cup. On 21 November 2009 Vela made Carlos Vela first appearance of the season in the Premier League away to Sunderland A.F.C., playing 21 minutes after coming on as a substitute for Eduardo. Vela renewed Carlos Vela contract with Arsenal on 10 December 2009. On 4 May 2010, Vela played Carlos Vela 50th game in an Arsenal shirt, against Blackburn Rovers. On 9 May 2010, Carlos Vela scored the fourth goal of Arsenal's victory over Fulham.

Vela wore the number 11 shirt for the 2010–11 campaign, as Robin van Persie switched to the number 10, which was vacated by former Arsenal defender William Gallas. Coincidently, Carlos Vela brother Alejandro Vela also wears the number 11 shirt for Cruz Azul in Mexico. Carlos Vela scored Carlos Vela first goal of the season against Bolton Wanderers in a 4–1 home win on 11 September 2010. On 15 September 2010 Vela scored two goals in the UEFA Champions League when Arsenal beat Portuguese side SC Braga 6–0.

West Bromwich (loan)

On 28 January 2011, Vela joined on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season. Carlos Vela made Carlos Vela debut on 1 February 2011 in a 2–2 draw against playing 58 minutes of the game . Carlos Vela scored Carlos Vela first goal coming in as a substitute for the Baggies in Carlos Vela third match for the club with a 92nd minute equaliser against on 20 February 2011. Vela once again scored for West Brom in the dying minutes of a game against Stoke City to salvage a 1–1 draw after coming on as a late substitute.

Real Sociedad (loan)

On 15 August 2011, Arsenal announced that Vela would be loaned out to Spanish club Real Sociedad, subject to a medical. After passing the medical exams, Carlos Vela was officially presented on 17 August 2011. As Vela was sent away on loan, Carlos Vela number 11 shirt number was given to new Arsenal signing André Santos, the club's website still lists Vela as having the shirt number 11. On 4 December 2011 Vela scored a bicycle kick goal to equalise for Real Sociedad, Carlos Vela second of the season, against Málaga CF before team mate Diego Ifran scored a late winner to make the score 3-2. Vela Scored the only goal for Real Sociedad in a 3-1 loss to F.C. Barcelona and making it Carlos Vela third for the season.


During early February of 2012 rumours of Vela's future at Arsenal began to surface claiming that the forward wished to stay in Spain with current side Real Sociedad.
Vela has been quoted saying "I don't want to return to Arsenal. I have asked my agent to negotiate with Arsenal to stay here." Vela scored Carlos Vela fourth for the season against Sevilla F.C in a 2-1 win and completed a assist making it the fifth assist for this season thus far.

International career

Vela played in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, held in Peru, where Carlos Vela helped Mexico national under-17 football team to victory. Carlos Vela was a pivotal figure in the final against Brazil national under-17 football team as Mexico triumphed 3–0. Vela subsequently finished as top scorer with five goals, claiming the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship Goalscorers.

During Carlos Vela stay at Osasuna, Vela made Carlos Vela full international debut for Mexico in a September 2007 friendly against Brazil national football team. On 18 October 2007, Vela scored Carlos Vela first senior international goal for Mexico in a friendly against Guatemala national football team played in Los Angeles.

Vela was called up for the two-legged playoff against Belize national football team and the preceding friendlies. On 8 June 2008, Vela scored Carlos Vela second senior international goal for Mexico in a friendly against Peru national football team at the 20th minute to help Mexico with their 4–0 victory. A match later for Mexico Carlos Vela scored in their qualifying opener versus Belize making the match 1–0. In the return leg against Belize Carlos Vela again scored the opening goal of the match and beginning the 7–0 rout in favour of Mexico.

In mid-2009, Vela was called up to play in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Carlos Vela scored Carlos Vela fifth goal in a preparation friendly for the Gold Cup against Venezuela national football team. Vela subsequently started in Mexico's opener against Nicaragua national football team. However, after five minutes, an opposing player tackled Vela and Carlos Vela fell awkwardly on Carlos Vela right leg. However, x-rays showed Carlos Vela did not break anything and could play again in the tournament. Mexico would advance to the semi-finals against Costa Rica national football team, where Vela would make Carlos Vela return in the 81st minute. Extra time, the game was tied 1–1 and went to penalties. After Guillermo Ochoa saved Froylán Ledezma penalty, Vela scored Mexico's fifth penalty to send them to the final. In the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup knockout stage Final, Vela was brought on at half time with the score deadlocked at 0–0. Mexico went on to defeat the US 5–0 with Vela providing the pass to Giovani Dos Santos for the first penalty, creating the second goal, scoring the third and assisting the fourth. Vela scored one goal and assisted a goal in Mexico's 4–1 win over El Salvador which meant Mexico qualified for the 2010 World Cup. In the match against New Zealand, Carlos Vela scored a goal, in which Carlos Vela took out three defenders before tapping the ball next to the goalkeeper Glen Moss.

On 3 June 2010, Carlos Vela scored Carlos Vela first international goal against a team from Europe, Italy national football team. Carlos Vela scored the first goal of the game with an assist from Giovani dos Santos. Mexico won this game 2–1.

During a game against France national football team Carlos Vela got struck in the right leg and got injured, Vela went out in the first half against and missed the 1–0 loss to Uruguay national football team. When Mexico played Uruguay in the World Cup Vela's place was taken by Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

On 21 September 2010 it was announced that Vela and fellow Mexican international Efrain Juarez would be suspended from the Mexican National Team for 6 months for their involvement in a party on 7 September in Monterrey following a game with Colombia. Vela and 12 other players will also be fined 50,000 Mexican peso (approx. US$3,953 as of 24 September 2010), and the money collected will most likely be used to help the flood victims in the Mexican state of Veracruz.

Photo: Carlos Vela - West Bromwich Albion