Uno de los futbolistas ecuatorianos más exitosos a nivel internacional le dice adiós al fútbol.
A los 35 años y tras una carrera que lo llevó a vestir la camiseta del Manchester United por 10 años le dice adiós al fútbol profesional.
Valencia durante el último período había estado jugando en México con el Queretaro, equipo al que llegó luego de haber estado una temporada en su natal Ecuador.
Valencia empezó su carrera en 1998 jugando para el Caribe Junior en donde estuvo hasta 2001, dio el paso a El Nacional en donde jugó hasta el 2005, pasó al Villarreal de España en donde solamente estuvo media temporada, tuvo una pasantía en el Huelva, luego el Wigan Athletic lo contrata y allí estuvo hasta 2009.
Tras un paso por el Wigan, el Manchester United se fija en el polivalente jugador, terminó estando 10 años en el United.
En 2019 decide jugar una temporada con la Liga de Quito, para 2021 decide irse a jugar al Querétaro de México.
Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane (C) is brought down by Manchester United’s Ecuadorian midfielder Antonio Valencia (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on August 27, 2018. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United’s Ecuadorian defender Antonio Valencia runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Cardiff City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on May 12, 2019. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United’s Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks with Manchester United’s Ecuadorian defender Antonio Valencia (R) on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Cardiff City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on May 12, 2019. – Cardiff won the game 2-0. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL – JUNE 16: Antonio Valencia of Ecuardor looks on during the Copa America Brazil 2019 group C match between Uruguay and Ecuador at Mineirao Stadium on June 16, 2019 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Argentina’s Boca Juniors Ramon Abila (L) vies for the ball with Ecuador’s Liga de Quito Antonio Valencia during a Copa Libertadores football match between Ecuador’s Liga de Quito and Argentina’s Boca Juniors in Quito, Ecuador, on August 21, 2019. (Photo by RODRIGO BUENDIA / AFP) (Photo credit should read RODRIGO BUENDIA/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane (C) is brought down by Manchester United’s Ecuadorian midfielder Antonio Valencia (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on August 27, 2018. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Ecuador’s Antonio Valencia (L) and Japan’s Daiki Sugioka vie for the ball during their Copa America football tournament group match at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on June 24, 2019. (Photo by Luis ACOSTA / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images)