Biography
Who is Antonio Valencia?
Early life
Luis Antonio Valencia Mosquera was born on August 4, 1985, in Nueva Loja, Ecuador, and grew up in the Amazon rainforest near Lago Agrio. During his childhood, he helped his mother sell drinks outside a local stadium and searched for empty bottles for his father to sell in Quito. He frequently played football barefoot near the bungalow he shared with his parents and six siblings.
When he was eleven years old, scout Pedro Perlaza spotted him on a dusty field and invited him to join a sports academy in Sucumbíos. At age sixteen, Antonio left home without telling his father to accept an opportunity with the military-backed club El Nacional in Quito. His mother and older brother supported the trip by paying for his eight-hour bus ride.
Club career beginnings
Antonio began his professional career with El Nacional, where he quickly advanced to the under-20 team and played alongside Christian Benitez. He made his senior debut alongside his idol Edison Mendez and helped the club win the Ecuadorian Serie A during the 2005 Clausura Tournament.
His performances earned him a transfer to Spanish club Villarreal in 2005. He made two league appearances for Villarreal and spent time on loan at Recreativo, helping them win promotion to La Liga. In 2006, he moved to English club Wigan Athletic on an initial loan deal before signing permanently in January 2008 for an undisclosed fee.
Manchester United success
In June 2009, Antonio signed a four-year contract with Manchester United for a reported fee of sixteen million pounds. He made his debut and scored his first goal against Boca Juniors in the Audi Cup, later netting his first competitive goal against Bolton Wanderers in October 2009. During his debut season, he was voted into the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
Over ten years at Old Trafford, Antonio won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups, three FA Community Shields, and the UEFA Europa League. He captained the team in his final season before returning to Ecuador in July 2019 to sign with LDU Quito, where he won the Copa Ecuador before retiring in May 2021.
International career
Antonio made his senior debut for the Ecuador national team in 2004. He represented his country at numerous major international tournaments, including the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He also played in multiple editions of the Copa America, including the tournaments in 2007, 2011, the Copa America Centenario, and 2019. Throughout his international career, he earned ninety-nine caps and scored eleven goals for Ecuador.
Physical details
Antonio stands at a height of 180 centimeters. Throughout his professional career, his physical strength and stamina allowed him to excel both as a right winger and later as a right-back for club and country.
Birthday and age
Antonio Valencia was born on August 4, 1985, which makes Antonio 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Antonio shares the date with 21 other famous people.
Explore more
