Juan Mata

Juan Mata is a Spanish attacking midfielder celebrated for his creativity, technique and intelligence on the ball. After establishing himself with Valencia, he became a major figure in English football with Chelsea and Manchester United, winning domestic and European honours with both clubs. Mata was also part of Spain’s extraordinary generation that dominated international football during the early 2010s.

Five Facts

1. World Cup and European Championship winner
   Mata was part of the Spain squads that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012, scoring in the Euro 2012 final victory over Italy.
2. Champions League winner with Chelsea
   Mata helped Chelsea win their first UEFA Champions League title in 2012, providing the corner from which Didier Drogba scored the equaliser in the final against Bayern Munich.
3. Back-to-back Chelsea Player of the Year
   Mata was voted Chelsea’s Player of the Year in both 2011/12 and 2012/13, highlighting the impact he made during his relatively short spell at Stamford Bridge.
4. Manchester United record signing
   Manchester United signed Mata from Chelsea in January 2014 for £37.1 million, which was a club-record transfer fee at the time.
5. Famous Anfield acrobatics
   One of Mata’s most memorable Manchester United performances came against Liverpool at Anfield in March 2015, when he scored twice – including a spectacular scissor-kick – in a 2–1 victory.