Raúl Jiménez (footballer, born 2006)
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Raúl Jiménez Latorre[1] | |||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 16 February 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Catral, Alicante, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1½ in) | |||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||||||||
Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Valencia CF | |||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||
2013–2014 | CF Sporteam | |||||||||||||||||||
2014–2015 | Benferri CF | |||||||||||||||||||
2015–2017 | Kelme CF | |||||||||||||||||||
2017–2018 | Villarreal CF | |||||||||||||||||||
2018–2019 | CD Roda | |||||||||||||||||||
2019–2020 | Elche CF | |||||||||||||||||||
2020– | Valencia CF | |||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||
2024– | Valencia CF Mestalla | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | Spain U16 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
2022–2023 | Spain U17 | 16 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
2023–2024 | Spain U18 | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
2024– | Spain U19 | 19 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 26 June 2025 |
Raúl Jiménez Latorre (born 16 February 2006) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Valencia CF Mestalla and served as the captain of Spain U19 at the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.[2]
Jiménez has represented Spain at various youth levels, and was part of the squad that won the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
Club career
[edit]Jiménez is a product of Valencia's youth academy, having joined the club at the age of 14 in 2020.[3] He progressed through the youth ranks, from the U14s to the U19 level. In 2022, he signed a contract extension with the club until June 2024.[4]
In 2023, while representing the Spain U17 at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Jiménez extended his contract with Valencia until 2026.[5]
Although primarily playing for Valencia U19, he occasionally trained with Valencia CF Mestalla, the club's reserve team. He made his debut with the reserves during the 2024–25 season.[6][7]
International career
[edit]Jiménez received his first call-up to the Spain U16 in February 2022 under manager Juan David Gordo.[8]
He was later called up by manager Julen Guerrero to the Spain U17 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Hungary.[9] Later that year, he participated in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia under coach José Lana.[10]
In 2024, Jiménez was called up to the Spain U19 for the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Northern Ireland, again under José Lana, who at the time coached the U19s team.[11] Despite being a year younger than most of the squad, he was the team's starting goalkeeper throughout the tournament.[12] He later won the tournament as Spain defeating France U19 2–0 in the final.[13]
He was again selected for the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Romania, where he served as team captain.[14] [15] Spain finished as runners-up, losing 1–0 to the Netherlands U19 in the final following an own goal by Jiménez.[16]
Style of play
[edit]Jiménez is a left-footed, well-rounded goalkeeper known for his excellent footwork. While he is still developing his aerial ability and game-reading skills, he compensates with strong reflexes, agility, confident positioning, and bravery when coming off his line. He has received comparisons with Valencia's first-choice goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.[17]
Former player Javi Venta, who currently part of Valencia's talent development department, described Jiménez as a player who "excels at starting off the game, making long runs... and also has great height."[18]
Honours
[edit]Spain U19
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2024;[19] runner-up: 2025[20]
References
[edit]- ^ "Raúl Jiménez". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "El tesoro escondido del Valencia". Las Provincias (in Spanish). 24 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Raúl Jiménez: "Es un honor renovar con el Valencia CF"". Valencia CF (in Spanish). 8 November 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "El Valencia CF renueva a Raúl Jiménez hasta junio de 2024". Esportbase (in Spanish). 5 April 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Raúl Jiménez: "Es un honor renovar con el Valencia CF"". Valencia CF (in Spanish). 8 November 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Mucho más que Lamine Yamal: así son los 20 'Guerreros' de Julen para el Europeo". Relevo (in Spanish). 18 May 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "El tesoro escondido del Valencia". Las Provincias (in Spanish). 24 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Raúl Jiménez, el portero del futuro del Valencia". Superdeporte (in Spanish). 8 February 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Representación de la Academia VCF con España Sub-17: Raúl Jiménez". Valencia CF (in Spanish). 4 May 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Oficial: la convocatoria de José Lana para el Mundial Sub-17". RFEF (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Spain U19 Euro 2024 call-up". Marca (in Spanish). 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Raúl Jiménez, el 'Giorgi Mamardashvili' del Europeo Sub-19". ElDesmarque (in Spanish). 22 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "2024 Under-19 EURO final highlights: Spain 2–0 France". UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Esta es la lista definitiva para el Europeo Sub-19". RFEF (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Raúl Jiménez da el paso a semifinales del Europeo". Superdeporte (in Spanish). 15 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Euro U19 final: Spain vs Netherlands – Match Info". UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Raúl Jiménez, el 'Giorgi Mamardashvili' del Europeo Sub-19". ElDesmarque (in Spanish). 22 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Mucho más que Lamine Yamal: así son los 20 'Guerreros' de Julen para el Europeo". Relevo (in Spanish). 18 May 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "2024 Under-19 EURO final highlights: Spain 2–0 France". UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Euro U19 final: Spain vs Netherlands – Match Info". UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
External links
[edit]- Raúl Jiménez at WorldFootball.net
- R. Jiménez – Player profile at BeSoccer
- Raúl Jiménez at UEFA
- Raúl Jiménez at Soccerway
- Raúl Jiménez at BDFutbol