| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marcos Vales Illanes | ||
| Date of birth | 5 April 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | A Coruña, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Deportivo La Coruña | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1993–1994 | Deportivo La Coruña | 19 | (1) |
| 1994–1997 | Sporting Gijón | 60 | (3) |
| 1997–2002 | Zaragoza | 103 | (11) |
| 2002–2004 | Sevilla | 40 | (3) |
| 2004–2005 | Mallorca | 6 | (0) |
| Total | 228 | (18) | |
| International career | |||
| 1993 | Spain U18 | 4 | (2) |
| 1993–1998 | Spain U21 | 15 | (1) |
| 1998 | Spain | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Marcos Vales Illanes (born 5 April 1975) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a midfielder.
Born in A Coruña, Vales made his professional debut with local Deportivo de La Coruña. As Super Depor came to fruition, he was sparingly used during his two-year spell with the Galicians, leaving at the age of 19. [1] Only linked to the club with an amateur contract, he moved to Asturias and signed for Sporting de Gijón, with Deportivo president Augusto César Lendoiro proceeding to engage in a lengthy court battle, which was eventually resolved in the footballer's favour. [2]
After three seasons with Sporting, only starting in the latter as the team finished 15th in La Liga, Vales joined Real Zaragoza in the same league for 200 million pesetas . He started regularly in his first years, but was already a fringe player in the 2000–01 campaign when the Aragonese side won the Copa del Rey. [3]
In the summer of 2002, following Zaragoza's relegation, Vales moved to Sevilla FC also of the top flight. [4] In his first season he was first choice, notably scoring the game's only goal in a local derby against Real Betis on 2 March 2003. [5]
Vales missed the vast majority of 2003–04, due to a foot injury. [6] [7] [3] He then signed with RCD Mallorca, [8] but suffered a relapse in his condition and eventually decided to retire at age 30, with Spanish top tier totals of 228 matches and 18 goals. [9]
On 14 October 1998, Vales earned his first – and only – cap for Spain: it consisted of one minute in a 2–1 win in Israel for the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifiers after coming on as a substitute for Real Madrid's Raúl. [10]
Previously, he helped the under-21 side win the 1998 European Championship in Romania. [1]
Vales' father, José Pedro (born 1950), was also a footballer. He represented Deportivo for two decades. [11]
After retiring, Vales worked in a law firm in his hometown alongside his father. [1] [11]
Spain U21