Valencia's Top Five Achievements At United

As part of our focus on Antonio Valencia, the club's staggeringly dependable right-back, we shine a light on his five outstanding achievements with Manchester United...

5: EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL CAPTAIN

With Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick on the bench, Valencia captained United throughout the triumphant 2-0 win over AFC Ajax in Stockholm, Sweden. It was recognition of the Ecuadorian’s experience and standing within the club at the climax of his eighth season, as well as Jose Mourinho's continued admiration (the boss tried to sign him with former club Real Madrid).

While defensive tasks were few and far between against a frustrated Dutch side, Antonio appeared to relish the responsibility of captaincy and impressed during his 90-minute display. Graciously, he passed the armband to Rooney upon the club skipper's late introduction and allowed him to lift the trophy alone.

Only two days later, Tony V tellingly inked a new contract and said: “Wednesday evening provided the one trophy this club had never won and it was a true honour for me to captain the team for the final. I would like to thank the manager for the confidence he has given me this season.”

4: PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Recognition from your peers is among the finest honours in football and Valencia’s 2016/17 Players’ Player of the Year award must therefore rank highly in his career. The 31-year-old made 43 appearances and scored one goal in the campaign, yet those statistics do not tell the whole story.

The former Wigan Athletic winger was the personification of consistency, always producing a seven out of 10 display at least, while providing much-needed reliability in an ever-changing defence. The 21 games (from 64) that he missed were mainly due to Mourinho resting him for bigger occasions.

“Antonio has been so dependable,” said previous Players' Player of the Year winner Chris Smalling. “Not just in an attacking sense, but also when he's defending. Any winger or striker that comes up against him has to get around him. That means they have to be stronger or quicker than him, and neither of those is easy!”

3: AWARDS HAT-TRICK

Valencia took home the three major awards from the 2011/12 awards night after a stellar campaign in Sir Alex Ferguson’s penultimate year as boss. The fans and players voted him as their top man, with supporters also declaring his venomous strike at Blackburn Rovers as the Goal of the Season. Sir Alex also praised the award-winner, saying: “The form he's produced since coming back from injury has been amazing. He's a great professional and he has the qualities that we love in our game.”

2: RETURN FROM INJURY

On 16 September 2010, Valencia broke his leg and fractured an ankle during a Champions League group-stage game against Glasgow Rangers at Old Trafford. It was widely reported that he would miss the rest of the season, but that absence estimate clearly overlooked his miraculous spirit.

To the shock and awe of every United supporter, he returned on 12 March as a substitute in a 2-0 home win against Arsenal and team-mate Rooney was delighted. “I can't tell you how good it is to see him back out there,” Wayne told us that day. “It was Antonio's first game back after six months out and he looked like he'd never been away. It’s fantastic for him to be back playing so soon.”

Valencia tallied another 15 appearances, helping to win our 19th Premier League title and starting the European Cup final. To suffer two serious leg injuries in one hit, yet return as a better athlete, is a feat which beggars belief and marks him out as a curiosity in the kindest possible sense.

1: WINGER TO RIGHT-BACK

Back in September 2011, eyebrows were raised when Sir Alex fielded Valencia at right-back for the first-ever time in a League Cup tie at Leeds United, but nobody is confused to see him in defence now. In fact, he is among the finest players in his position following a detailed education under a variety of managers.

Yes, while learning the tactical and positional nuances of being a top-level defender, Antonio has often called upon the insurance of his staggering pace and power. With arms the size of legs and legs akin to tank tread, he is a physical specimen the like of which Old Trafford has seldom seen.


It’s that rare blend of attributes that sets Valencia apart among modern full-backs and his fine form has prompted Jose Mourinho to say: "I just think Antonio is the best you can have. There is no better right-back in football." Tellingly, the manager has already sanctioned two contract extensions for him - one in January, another in May - the future looks bright for the "best right-back in football".

Reinventing himself so successfully represents, for us, the greatest achievement of Antonio Valencia's United career.