Zarek Valentin

At 32 years old, Zarek Valentin has this physical status:

Zarek Chase Valentin (born August 6, 1991) is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.

Personal life

Valentin has two brothers and one sister. Julian Valentin, a former soccer player who competed for MLS team LA Galaxy and NASL club FC Tampa Bay, is one of his elder brothers. He likes cooking and playing the guitar. Zarek was named as one of eleven Next-Gen American Soccer players in The New York Times Magazine in 2010. Valentin is a descendent of Puerto Rican descent and speaks fluent Spanish.

While playing for Montreal, Valentin met his then-wife Liz McAteer. They have one son and a daughter.

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Career

Valentin graduated from Manheim Township High School before enrolling in Akron University in 2009. In his freshman year, he played in all 25 games for the Zips and was only off the field for a brief period of time. He was a key participant in defense and scored just seven goals in the season, leading them to a 23-1-0 record, but he lost on penalties during the NCAA National Championship in 2009. Despite the fact that the team didn't win the title, this was their first year competing in the finals. In just his first year in Ohio, he was named Mid-American Conference Newcomer of the Year, College Soccer News All-Freshman First Team, and the All-MAC First Team.

Valentin helped guide his team to the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship in 2010, where the team won the school's first ever National Championship. Valentin played every game at centerback to lead a defense that allowed only 16 goals on the entire season. He was named to the College Soccer News All-America Second Team, All-MAC First Team, and was selected to the College Cup All-Tournament Team.

Valentin also competed with Reading Rage and the Michigan Bucks in the USL Premier Development League during his college years.

Valentin decided against his final two seasons of college play by claiming the MLS SuperDraft and signing a Generation Adidas deal with Major League Soccer as one of eleven players this year.

Valentin was drafted in the first round, fourth overall, of Chivas USA's 2011 MLS SuperDraft draft. In Chivas' first game of the 2011 MLS Season, he made his professional debut on March 19, 2011. He lost by 3–2 to Sporting Kansas City in Chivas' first game of the 2011 season. Valentin made 25 appearances in his rookie season, but Chivas USA's season was rocky, with the team losing by 13 points in the playoffs.

After Chivas USA left him unprotected in the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft, Valentin joined the Montreal Impact ahead of the 2012 season. In a 5–2 loss to the New York Red Bulls on March 31, he made his impact debut on March 31. On July 8, he scored his first goal of his professional career, leading Montreal to a 2–1 victory over the Columbus Crew. Valentin sustained an ankle injury on July 21. He returned to play some games with the reserves, but not with the first team again. He made 15 appearances in his first season in Montreal, but the Impact finished 7th in the Eastern Conference, missing out by 11 points in the playoffs. Marco Schällibaum took over as Impact manager at the 2013 season. Schällibaum said with Valentin that he would not get much playing time in 2013 and that he should avoid situations in which he will get more minutes.

Valentin joined Norwegian Adeccoligan club FK Bod/Glimt until the end of the year on March 27, 2013. In the first match of the Adeccoligan season, he made his Bod/Glimt debut on April 7 in a 3–1 win over Ullensaker/Kisa IL. He was named in the first round of the NM Cupen first round on April 18 for Bod/Glimt's victory over IK Junkeren. Bod/Glimt defeated Follo FK 3–0 on May 5 after he had two assists. In the NM Cupen Round of 16, Valentin provided an assist to Bods/Glimt's victory over Odds BK on June 19. He scored his first goal for the club on November 3 to help Bod/Glimt beat Stab 1-1. Valentin helped Bod/Glimt place first in the league and earn promotion to the Tippeligaen.

Valentin negotiated a long-term deal with Bod/Glimt on December 19, 2013. In a 1–1 draw with Aalesunds FK on March 30, 2014, he made his Tippeligaen debut. Valentin suffered a torn achilles in preparation on April 9. Valentin returned to the field on November 9 in the final match of the season, defeating Viking FK 32-0. Valentin was missing throughout the season, finishing just one spot above the relegation playoffs and allowing 60 goals, tied for the most in the league.

Valentin lost by 3–1 to Sandefjord in matchweek one on April 6, making his first appearance of the 2015 season. In a 2–1 loss to FK Haugesund on April 30, he had his first assist of the season. In a 2–1 victory over Molde FK on July 18, he scored his first goal of the season. Valentin finished in ninth place in 24 appearances on the season with a single goal and four assists.

Valentin joined the Portland Timbers on January 12, 2016, reuniting with Caleb Porter, who was his coach at Akron. Portland sold a 2016 season international roster spot to Montreal in order to purchaseValentin's rights. Valentin made his Timbers debut on March 13 in a 2–1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes. In a 2–1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 23, he scored his first goal for Portland. Valentin returned to the lineup on September 3, giving him his first assist for the Timbers in a 3–1 loss to FC Dallas after missing 5 games due to a bone bruise. On September 14, he made his first appearance in a continental tournament, contributing to Deportivo Saprissa's 4–1 loss in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage. Valentin played in all leagues for his first season in Portland. The Timbers finished the season in 7th place in the Western Conference, two points behind the lost playoff spot.

Valentin made his first appearance of the 2017 season on March 18, a single assister in a 4–2 victory over the Houston Dynamo in matchweek 3. Valentin spent time with Timbers 2 in the United StatesL after not being prominent at the start of the year. On May 20, he returned to the first team after losing by 4–1 to his old team the Impact. In a 2–0 victory over San Jose on June 2, Valentin earned his second assist of the season. In a 2–2 draw with Houston on July 29, he earned his third assist of the year. Valentin made 19 appearances in the regular season to help the Timbers finish first place in the Western Conference. Valentin will not participate in the playoffs, with the Timbers losing in the Conference Semi-finals to Houston.

Valentin made his first appearance of the 2018 season on March 4, 2018, when he came as a replacement in a 2–1 loss to LA Galaxy in matchweek 1. He would make his first appearance of the season against the New York Red Bulls in a 4–0 loss. Valentin played 32 games for the Timbers, including helping them finish fifth in the Western Conference and qualify for the playoffs for the second time in a row. He made his first playoff appearance on October 31, playing the full 90 minutes of the Timbers' 2–1 victory over FC Dallas in the knockout round. Valentin started the first leg, a 2–1 win, and came as a late replacement in the second leg, a 3–2 loss, with Portland progressing on penalties. He started both legs of the conference final, assisting Portland in their 2–1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on aggregate and advance to the 2018 MLS Cup Final. Valentin will make the final, but the Timbers will face Atlanta United 2–0. In 40 of a possible 43 games for Portland in 2018, Valentin set career records for MLS appearances, starts, and minutes, earning career highs for MLS appearances, starts, and minutes. Valentin renewed his deal with Portland on December 10, 2018.

Valentin made his 2019 season debut on March 2, a 3–3 draw with the Colorado Rapids in the season's first game. Due to a leg injury, he missed the game on August 31 and September 7, then postponed the game on September 15 due to his son's birth before returning to the squad. Valentin made 21 appearances in the league, including zero goals and assists, to help the Timbers qualify for their third straight playoffs. However, Valentin will not be able to participate in the Timbers' first round match against Real Salt Lake, which saw them lose 2–1 in the first round.

Valentin was initially selected by Nashville SC in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft on November 19, 2019 and was subsequently traded to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Joe Willis. On February 29, he made his Dynamo debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy, while assisting with a through ball to Mauro Manotas. Houston defeated Sporting Kansas City 2–1 on September 5, Valentin had an assist off a cross to Manotas in the 85th minute. Valentin made 19 appearances and had three assists in a short season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dynamo finished last in the Western Conference, making it a bad season for Houston as a team. Valentin signed a labor pact with Houston until 2022, with a team option available for 2023.

Valentin made 29 appearances in the 2021 season, 28 of whom started with 28 of them. In a 2–2 draw against Texas Derby rivals FC Dallas, he had his one assist of the season on August 21, setting up Matas Vera for the equalizing goal. Houston finished last in the West last year as a team, with Houston finishing last.

Valentin has been a member of many US Youth National teams, including the U-20s, U-18s, U-17, and U-15s. He has played for the United States' national soccer team, totaling 29 caps. Valentin was a key member of the 2010 Milk Cup winning squad. In the 3–0 victory over Northern Ireland in the final, he played the final goal.

Valentin was called up to the Puerto Rico national team by coach Carlos Garca Cantarero on September 15, 2016, but he did not appear in those matches.

Zarek Valentin agreed to represent Puerto Rico internationally in the forthcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, which is expected to begin in 2021. In a 7–0 win over the Bahamas on June 2, 2021, Valentin made his Puerto Rico debut in a 7–0 victory over the Bahamas.

At the 84th minute, Valentin scored his first international goal in a Concaf Nations League match against Cayman Islands.

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