Enner Valencia Biography
Enner Remberto Valencia Lastra (born November 4, 1989) is an Ecuadorian professional football player who plays as a forward for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Internacional and captains the Ecuador national team.
He formerly played for Emelec in Ecuador, when he won the Ecuadorian Serie A and received the Copa Sudamericana Golden Boot in 2013. Valencia also played for Pachuca in Mexico, winning the Liga MX Golden Boot in the 2014 Clausura campaign. He signed for English team West Ham United for an estimated £12 million in July 2014, nearly shattering the club’s signing record. Valencia joined Everton on loan in August 2016, before being sold to Mexican club Tigres UANL in July 2017.
He won the Liga MX’s 2017 Apertura and 2019 Clausura tournaments with Tigres, as well as the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League runner-up and Golden Boot winner. Valencia signed with Fenerbahçe in Turkey in August 2020, winning the Turkish Cup in his final season before joining Brazilian club Internacional in mid-2023.
Valencia has earned more than 70 caps for Ecuador since his debut in 2012. He represented his country in the 2014 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2021 Copa América. Valencia, widely recognized as one of the best Ecuadorian players of all time, is Ecuador’s all-time leading goalscorer with 40 goals and the record holder for the most World Cup goals scored by his national team, with six.
Enner Valencia Profile
- Full Name: Enner Remberto Valencia Lastra
- Date of Birth: November 4, 1989
- Age: 34 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of Birth: Esmeraldas, Ecuador
- Nationality: Ecuadorian
- Profession: Footballer
- Height: 1.77 m
- Parents: Bolivia Lastra and Remberto Valencia
- Siblings: 1
- Spouse: Sharon Escobar
- Children: 4
- Relationship Status: Married
- Net Worth: $3 million
Enner Valencia Club career
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Emelec
Valencia came to Guayaquil to trial for Emelec in 2008 after graduating from Caribe Junior’s development system, the same team that Ecuador’s Antonio Valencia played for in his youth. In 2008, he was sent to Emelec. From 2008 to early 2010, he earned no first-team appearances, but with the appointment of Argentinian coach Jorge Sampaoli, Valencia began to see playing time. Emelec finished runners-up to winners L.D.U. Quito, losing 2-1 on aggregate.
Valencia scored nine goals in 30 league games in 2011. In November 2012, he scored five goals in five successive matches against El Nacional, LDU Loja, Técnico Universitario, and Manta, both at home and away, winning four of the five and losing one. This boosted his goal tally to 13 goals in 40 league appearances, his greatest season yet, but the squad finished second behind league champions and club rivals Barcelona SC for the third consecutive season.
Valencia scored his first professional hat-trick against Peruvian club Sport Huancayo on August 7, 2013, in a 4-0 Copa Sudamericana first-round win. He finished the season as league champions with Emelec, the club’s first in 2002.
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Pachuca
Following multiple speculations about Liga MX side Pachuca’s interest in Valencia, all parties reached an agreement and agreed to a trade.
Valencia scored his first goal on January 18, 2014, in a 2-1 win over Tijuana. The next week, he scored two goals in Pachuca’s first away league victory over league champions Club León. He finished the regular season as Pachuca’s leading goal scorer with 12 goals, including many braces. Valencia earned his maiden hat-trick against UNAM in a 2-4 away win to advance into the 2014 Liga MX Clausura play-offs.
West Ham United
On July 29, 2014, Premier League club West Ham United confirmed the transfer of Valencia, who signed a five-year contract worth £12 million. He later admitted that he knew little about West Ham before signing, having learned about them primarily from hooligan films like the 2005 release Green Street, starring Elijah Wood. Valencia made his West Ham debut on August 16, 2014, in a 1-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, replacing Carlton Cole in the 81st minute.
On August 27, his penalty was saved by Mark Howard as West Ham were eliminated at home in the second round of the League Cup by Sheffield United. Valencia scored his first goal for West Ham in his entire league debut against Hull City on September 15, 2014, in a 2-2 draw. The 25-yard (23 m; 75 ft) strike, measured at 61 miles per hour (98 km/h), was characterized by The Daily Telegraph’s Henry Winter as an “exceptional goal“. Valencia scored two additional goals for West Ham in the following weeks, including a header in a 3-1 away win at Burnley and a goal in a 2-2 draw with Stoke City.
2015–16
His first match of his second season was on July 30, 2015, in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg at home against Astra Giurgiu; he headed West Ham ahead but was one of two players replaced due to injury in the first half, as the club drew 2-2. He was diagnosed with “significant” damage to his right knee and ankle and was ruled out for 12 weeks. Valencia scored his first league goals of the 2015-16 season, two in a 3-1 comeback win against AFC Bournemouth on January 12, 2016, including a fiercely hit free-kick.
Loan to Everton
Valencia signed a season-long loan with Everton on August 31, 2016, with the option of a permanent £14.5 million transfer in the summer of 2017. Valencia scored his first league goal for Everton, firing home from close range in a 3-0 win against Southampton on January 2, 2017.
Tigres UANL
On July 13, 2017, Valencia signed for Tigres UANL for a cost of 4.2 million
Fenerbahçe
Valencia signed a free move with Süper Lig team Fenerbahçe on August 28, 2020. In his first season with the team, he scored 12 goals in 34 matches of the 2020-21 Süper Lig.
2021–22 season
On August 26, 2021, he scored his first hat-trick with the team against HJK Helsinki in the 2021-22 UEFA Europa League season, and Fenerbahçe won the game 5-2. He scored 13 goals throughout 33 competitive matches.
2022–23 season
He had a good start to the 2022-23 season under coach Jorge Jesus, scoring braces against Ümraniyespor, Kasımpaşa, and Adana Demirspor in his first three games. On 15 January 2023, he also scored twice against Gaziantep.
On October 9, 2022, he scored his first hat-trick in a league match against Karagümrük in the 2022-23 Süper Lig season, and Fenerbahçe won 5-4. On January 29, 2023, he scored 4 goals against Kasımpaşa, helping Fenerbahçe win 5-1.
He also scored braces against Konyaspor and Alanyaspor during the season.
Valencia finished with 29 goals, making him the Süper Lig’s leading scorer.
SC Internacional
Valencia signed a three-year free transfer contract with Série A team Internacional on June 12, 2023, and will remain with the Colorado club for three years. On July 9, he made his team debut, starting in a 2-0 loss to Fluminense at Maracanã. The player had a somewhat quiet outing, with no shots on goal, and was replaced at halftime.
On August 1st, he scored his first goal for the club but was unable to avert a 2-1 defeat to River Plate at Monumental de Nuñez. The match was valid for the Round of 16 of the Libertadores.
Internacional advanced to the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals by defeating River Plate before facing Bolívar in La Paz. In the 16th minute of the game, Enner got a wonderful ball from Alan Patrick and advanced alone against the Bolivian defense, finishing with a strong and unstoppable shot into the lower right corner of Lampe’s goal. The attacker emerged as a hero in Colorado’s high-altitude victory, alongside Uruguayan goalie Rochet, who made crucial saves.
Enner Valencia International career
After playing for the nation’s under-22 squad in the 2011 Pan American Games, Valencia made his debut for Ecuador on February 12, 2012, in a friendly against Honduras.
Valencia started his career as a winger but was changed to striker by Emelec coach Gustavo Quinteros. Following Christian Benítez’s sad death, Reinaldo Rueda began experimenting with Valencia as a striker. After three games in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, he scored his first international goal in a 2-2 tie with Honduras on November 19, 2013.
He maintained his impressive form in 2014, scoring in three of Ecuador’s four pre-tournament friendlies. On March 5, he scored, assisted a goal, and won a penalty kick as La Tri rallied from 3-0 down to beat Australia 4-3. He then scored the team’s only goal in a 3-1 loss to Mexico, then gave them an early lead in a 2-2 draw with England in Miami.
Valencia was nominated to Ecuador’s FIFA World Cup roster in June 2014. On June 15, he made his FIFA World Cup debut against Switzerland at the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha in Brasília. He scored with a header in a 2-1 defeat. Valencia scored both goals in Ecuador’s second encounter, defeating Honduras 2-1 at Curitiba.
He maintained his fine form following the FIFA World Cup, netting the third goal in a 4-0 victory over Bolivia. Valencia scored for Ecuador in the 88th minute against the United States on October 10, resulting in a 1-1 draw. His twisting, right-footed shot took a right spin on its approach to goal, making it hard for goalie Brad Guzan to save.
During Ecuador’s second group match at the 2015 Copa América in Chile, Valencia converted a penalty for Bolivia. However, owing to an opponent’s violation, the kick had to be re-taken, which Romel Quiñónez saved. He later scored from close range, but Ecuador still lost 2-3. Valencia set up Miller Bolaños’ opener and scored Ecuador’s second goal, resulting in a 2-1 victory over Mexico in Rancagua.
On October 8, 2021, in a 2022 World Cup qualification match against Bolivia, Valencia scored his 32nd and 33rd international goals, becoming the Ecuador national team’s all-time goal scorer.
Valencia scored the first goal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a penalty in the tournament’s opening match. Valencia scored both of Ecuador’s goals in the first match of the 2022 World Cup, a 2-0 victory over tournament hosts Qatar. With five goals, he became Ecuador’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup finals. On November 25, 2022, Valencia scored in a 1-1 tie against the Netherlands, becoming the first South American player to score six consecutive times in the World Cup.
Enner Valencia’s Personal Life
Valencia is from Esmeraldas Province and is of Afro-Ecuadorian heritage. He hailed from a poor background, and when he arrived at Emelec, he had to sleep in modest quarters at the club’s Estadio George Capwell since he didn’t have the money to stay anywhere else and often struggled to buy enough food. In October 2016, a warrant was issued for his arrest in Ecuador for failure to pay child support. In August 2020, Valencia’s sister, Erci, was abducted hostage in San Lorenzo by an armed group and imprisoned for ten days until being released uninjured.
Enner Valencia Net Worth
Enner Valencia’s net worth is estimated at $3 million.
His tremendous football career, as well as other endorsements and partnerships, have helped him achieve financial success.
Enner Valencia’s records and achievements
- Ecuador’s all-time leading scorer with 40 international goals.
- Ecuador’s top goal scorer at the FIFA World Cups, with six goals.
- Scored the first goal of the FIFA World Cup 2022 against hosts Qatar in the opening game.
Enner Valencia Trivia
Forward for: C.S. Emelec (2010-2013), C.F. Pachuca (Mexico, 2013-14), West Ham United F.C. (UK, 2014-2016), Everton F.C. (UK, 2016-17), Tigres U.A.N.L. (Mexico, 2017-2020), Fenerbahçe S.K. (Turkey, 2020-2023), and S.C. Internacional (Brazil, 2023).
Since 2012, I have been an international player for the Ecuador National Football Team.
Won the Ecuadorian Serie A (2013) with C.S. Emelec; the Liga MX (2017 Apertura & 2019 Clausura) and the Campeones Cup (2018) with Tigres U.A.N.L.; the Turkish Cup (2023) with Fenerbahçe S.K.
In 2013, he was named the best player in Ecuador’s Serie A.
Top scorer in the Copa Sudamericana (2013); Liga MX (2014 Clausura); CONCACAF Champions League (2019); and Süper Lig (2023).
Is of African-Ecuadorian heritage.
Has a daughter named Beira?
Amelia, Annalia, and David are his children with Sharon Escobar.
Ecuadorian Serie A (2013), Copa Sudamericana (2013), Liga MX (2017 Apertura), CONCACAF Champions League (2019), and Süper Lig (2021) All-Tournament Teams.
Enner Valencia Social Media
- Instagram handle: @enner.valenciaofficial
- Twitter handle: @EnnerValencia14
Who Is Enner Valencia?
Ecuador’s national football team captain, Enner Valencia, has been the driving force behind the squad’s success in recent years.
At the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, the veteran striker made history by scoring the tournament’s opening goal.
Enner Valencia’s brace in the first against hosts Qatar guided his side to a 2-0 victory. After having his early header disallowed by VAR owing to offside in the build-up, the attacker converted a penalty kick that he won himself in the 16th minute to score the first goal of the FIFA World Cup 2022. He doubled his total 15 minutes later.
Enner Valencia became Ecuador’s top scorer in the football World Cup after scoring two goals. He’s scored six goals in his six matches. He accounted for three of Ecudaor’s four goals in Qatar. He scored all three goals for Ecuador in their previous appearance in football’s pinnacle, the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
Enner Valencia also scored four goals in Ecuador’s FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers, helping them secure the fourth and last direct spot from South America.
The striker is already Ecuador’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 40 goals, and has served as the national team’s talisman since former Manchester United player Antonio Valencia retired from international play.
Where is Enner Valencia from
Enner Valencia was born on November 4, 1989, in the coastal town of San Lorenzo, Ecuador. He hailed from a rural village and sold farmed milk on the streets to supplement his family’s income.
Poverty and its related struggles, however, did not deter Enner Valencia from pursuing his dream of becoming a footballer, as many South American football heroes have.
“It was just my love of football that kept me going,” Enner Valencia told the Daily Mail. “I was always with a ball, or with a bottle, or with whatever we came across, always trying to get a game going.”
Despite the odds against him, Enner Valencia honed his skills by putting in extra yardage on the field.
“A lot of times, I skipped school to play. I told my parents I was going to school, but I never arrived. I went to play football. Enner Valencia said, “I’ve always been passionate about this game.
Why is Enner Valencia famous?
Enner Valencia is Ecuador football’s Mr Dependable. The striker is Ecuador’s all-time best scorer, with six FIFA World Cup goals to his credit. Ecuador’s national football team captain, Enner Valencia, has been the driving force behind the squad’s success in recent years.
