Enric Vallès
Encyclopedia
Enric Vallès Prat is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for English club Birmingham City
. He plays as a midfielder. He began his career in the youth system of FC Barcelona
before playing in the Dutch Eredivisie
for NAC Breda
.
, Vallès began his career in the youth system of home-town club FC Barcelona
. In 2008 he played alongside Gai Assulin
and Iago Falqué
in the team that reached the final of the Spanish Youth Cup
, in which they lost 2–0 to Sevilla's youngsters. Vallès left Barcelona in August 2008, as an 18-year-old, to turn professional with NAC Breda
of the Dutch Eredivisie
, signing a two-year contract.
Recommended by an agent who likened him to Albert Riera
, then of Liverpool
, Vallès had a week's trial with English Premier League club Birmingham City
. The trial proved successful, and in May 2010, he signed a pre-contract agreement to join the club on 1 July upon the expiry of his contract with NAC Breda. In his first interview upon joining the Blues, Vallès described himself as a "left midfielder who can also play on the wing" whose main attributes were his dribbling and his work ethic; he also revealed his desire to play in the same team as fellow Spaniard Míchel
. Manager Alex McLeish
summed him up as a "big, tall, lad, left-sided and maybe not the explosion of some wingers, but a very good footballer".
After a successful pre-season, Vallès made his competitive debut for Birmingham in the second-round League Cup
-tie against Rochdale
on 26 August 2010. His only other appearance came in the next round of the League Cup, and a proposed loan move to League One
(third tier) club Brighton & Hove Albion or possible return to Spain came to nothing when the player suffered a stress fracture to his foot. He made a return to the first-team squad as an unused substitute for the final match of the season, which confirmed Birmingham's relegation from the Premier League, and the club took up their option to extend his contract for a further year.
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. He plays as a midfielder. He began his career in the youth system of FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
before playing in the Dutch Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
for NAC Breda
NAC Breda
NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of...
.
Career
Born in BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Vallès began his career in the youth system of home-town club FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. In 2008 he played alongside Gai Assulin
Gai Assulin
Gai Yigaal Assulin is an Israeli professional footballer who plays for Manchester City and the Israel national under-21 football team, mainly as a winger or attacking midfielder...
and Iago Falqué
Iago Falqué Silva
Iago Falqué Silva is a Spanish footballer who is on loan at Tottenham Hotspur from Juventus, as an attacking midfielder.-FC Barcelona:...
in the team that reached the final of the Spanish Youth Cup
Copa del Rey Juvenil de Fútbol
Copa del Rey Juvenil de Fútbol is a youth football tournament in Spain, which is disputed between sixteen teams from the División de Honor Juvenil: The seven winners and runners-up and the best two third-placed teams...
, in which they lost 2–0 to Sevilla's youngsters. Vallès left Barcelona in August 2008, as an 18-year-old, to turn professional with NAC Breda
NAC Breda
NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of...
of the Dutch Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
, signing a two-year contract.
Recommended by an agent who likened him to Albert Riera
Albert Riera
Albert Riera Ortega is a Spanish footballer who plays for Galatasaray SK in Turkey, as a left winger.He made a name for himself at Espanyol , and also played professionally in France, England and Greece.Riera gained 16 caps for Spain, representing...
, then of Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, Vallès had a week's trial with English Premier League club Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. The trial proved successful, and in May 2010, he signed a pre-contract agreement to join the club on 1 July upon the expiry of his contract with NAC Breda. In his first interview upon joining the Blues, Vallès described himself as a "left midfielder who can also play on the wing" whose main attributes were his dribbling and his work ethic; he also revealed his desire to play in the same team as fellow Spaniard Míchel
Miguel Marcos Madera
Miguel Marcos Madera , known as Míchel, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Getafe as a central midfielder.Having been brought through the youth academy of Asturias side Real Oviedo, he played with the first team of rivals Sporting de Gijón in both the second and first divisions, before...
. Manager Alex McLeish
Alex McLeish
Alexander "Alex" McLeish , is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager, who is currently managing English Premier League club Aston Villa...
summed him up as a "big, tall, lad, left-sided and maybe not the explosion of some wingers, but a very good footballer".
After a successful pre-season, Vallès made his competitive debut for Birmingham in the second-round League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
-tie against Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on 26 August 2010. His only other appearance came in the next round of the League Cup, and a proposed loan move to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
(third tier) club Brighton & Hove Albion or possible return to Spain came to nothing when the player suffered a stress fracture to his foot. He made a return to the first-team squad as an unused substitute for the final match of the season, which confirmed Birmingham's relegation from the Premier League, and the club took up their option to extend his contract for a further year.