Óscar Vales

Óscar Vales

Personal information
Full name	Óscar Vales Varela
Date of birth	(1974-09-13) 13 September 1974
Place of birth	Bilbao, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1991–1994	Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1991	Basconia	1	(0)
1994	Bilbao Athletic	14	(0)
1994–2005	Athletic Bilbao	178	(1)
1997–1999	→ Celta (loan)	58	(0)
2008–2009	Gatika
Total		251	(1)
International career
1993	Spain U18	3	(0)
1993	Spain U20	3	(0)
1994–1995	Spain U21	4	(0)
1995–1997	Basque Country	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Vales and the second or maternal family name is Varela.

Óscar Vales Varela (born 13 September 1974 in Bilbao, Biscay) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a utility defender, and sometimes as a defensive midfielder.

Football career

Still in his teens Vales appeared in one game for CD Basconia, as the Basque club was in Segunda División B and still not acting as Athletic Bilbao's feeder team, which only took place in 1997. Aged 17 he was purchased by Athletic, and finished his football formation there.

After a handful of matches for the reserves, Vales made his first-team debut on 6 April 1994, playing as a defensive midfielder in a 0–3 away loss against Real Oviedo. In the following decade he would almost never be an automatic first-choice for Bilbao, but managed to appear regularly in various defensive positions; on 6 December 1994 he scored a rare goal, at Parma F.C. for the campaign's UEFA Cup, but his side lost it 2–4 and 3–4 on aggregate.

Vales was loaned for two years to fellow La Liga side Celta de Vigo, playing UEFA Cup in his second season. In the 1999 summer he returned to Athletic, managing to be regularly played during his second spell. However, after only two games combined from 2003–05, he decided to retire from the game at the age of 30.

In 2008–09, after three years out of football, Vales joined longtime Athletic Bilbao teammate Aitor Larrazábal at regional club Gatika, the latter acting as manager. After one season he retired for good, having appeared in 236 matches in Spain's top division.

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• Athletic Bilbao profile
• Celta Vigo biography (Spanish)