Name: Enner Remberto Valencia Lastra
Club: West Ham United
Position: Striker
Age: 24
Date of Birth: 4th November 1989
Place of Birth: San Lorenzo, Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Height: 5ft 10in
Clubs: Emelec, Pachuca, West Ham United
International caps: 15
Hailing from Esmeraldas Province in north-western Ecuador, Enner Valencia left home at fifteen to play football for Caribe Junior, the same team that Antonio Valencia once represented. In 2008, after signing for Emelec, one of the country’s most successful teams, Valencia went on to make his debut in 2010.
Far from prolific early in his career, Valencia operated mainly as a winger during his time in the Ecuadorian top-flight. It was only following the sad death of former Birmingham striker Christian Benítez last year that Ecuadorian national coach Reinaldo Rueda decided to field Valencia as a central striker.
Luck did not seem to be on his side as he began life as a professional. Despite regularly chipping in with goals, Emelec missed out on the league title in successive seasons in 2011 and 2012. He did finally get his reward in 2013, as Emelec clinched the Ecuadorian Serie A title.
Valencia’s performances were enough to catch the eye of Mexican side Pachuca. Adapting seamlessly to his new surroundings, the player they call ‘Superman’ topped the goal scoring charts with 18 strikes in 2014. The fact that he scored all but one of these efforts from inside the box could indicate that Valencia is the poacher that West Ham have struggled to find since they had a young Jermain Defoe leading the line.
It was at the World Cup this summer when Valencia really shot to prominence. Scoring three goals and outshining his more famous namesake Antonio Valencia, the Ecuadorian impressed with his work ethic and eye for a goal in group games against Honduras and Switzerland.
Unsurprisingly, not long after Ecuador’s exit at the hands of France, Valencia was linked with a move to Europe. On the 29th July, it was announced that West Ham had completed his signing after a work permit was granted.
The truncated nature of the negotiations meant that Valencia had only a short pre-season to find his fitness. This did not seem to hold him back as the Ecuadorian announced his arrival in stunning style against Hull last week. With his side trailing following Abel Hernández’s opener, Valencia picked the ball up just outside the box and with little back lift rifled a shot past Alan McGregor. It was quite a statement of intent.
In terms of his role at West Ham, given that both Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho seem more likely selections as the Hammers’ central striker, it could well be that Valencia looks to offer a threat from wide areas. Such a strategy was well illustrated on Saturday when he gave young Liverpool right-back Javi Manquillo a torrid time as he rampaged up and down the left-flank. Although he ultimately failed to get on the score sheet, his trickery and work ethic will surely mean it doesn’t take him long to endear himself to the Boleyn Ground faithful.
From sleeping in a stadium at the start of his career to running rings round Liverpool’s expensively assembled side this weekend, Enner Valencia has come a long way in a short space of time. The rest of the Premier League will need to defend well if they are to cope with West Ham’s new recruit.
Did you know? Valencia has scored 22 goals in completive matches since the start of 2014.
Dan Brimson 