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Arnau Riera

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Arnau Riera
Personal information
Full name Arnau Caldenteny Riera[1]
Date of birth (1981-10-01) 1 October 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Manacor, Spain
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Manacor
Mallorca
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2001 Mallorca 0 (0)
1999–2001 → Ferriolense (loan)
2001 → Mataró (loan)
2001–2002 Barcelona C 1 (0)
2001–2006 Barcelona B 143 (5)
2006–2009 Sunderland 1 (0)
2006–2007 → Southend United (loan) 2 (0)
2007–2008 → Falkirk (loan) 19 (1)
2008–2009 → Falkirk (loan) 17 (0)
2009–2010 Atlético Baleares
2011–2012 Manacor 18 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 June 2012
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Caldentey and the second or maternal family name is Riera.

Arnau Caldenteny Riera (/ˈɑːrnaʊ/; born 1 October 1981) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Early career

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Riera was born in Manacor, Mallorca. He played for Real Mallorca's youth team aged 18 and played for Balearic Island selection U17 when they were champions of Spain. Aged 18, he moved to Mataro (on loan from Mallorca) in Spain's Second Division B. A year later he moved to FC Barcelona B where he was an ever present in the side which won the league in 2001. He stayed with the B-team until 2006 and trained with the first team in Peralada in 2004. He was Lionel Messi's captain for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons.

Senior career

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Riera made substitute appearances for the Barcelona first team in 2004–05. He also played with the first team in friendlies against Marseille 2004–05, China 2003–04, Shaktar Donetsk 2003–04.

On 10 August 2006, Riera signed for Sunderland,[2] and made his debut in the 3–1 defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall on 19 August 2006. He played well in his debut game, but was sent off just three minutes into the following match, a League Cup match against Bury which Sunderland lost 2–0 at Gigg Lane. And although signed to Sunderland for three more years, he never played for them again.

Whilst signed to Sunderland, Riera joined Southend United on a month's loan,[3] the team against which he made his Sunderland debut. He also joined Scottish Premier League side Falkirk on a season-long loan, on 17 July 2007.[4] At Falkirk he scored twice; once in a 7–2 defeat to Rangers[5] and once in a Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen.[6] He joined Blackpool for a week's trial in July 2008,[7] which he left prematurely.[8] Riera eventually rejoined Falkirk on another season-long loan.[9]

He was finally released by Sunderland on 28 May 2009.[10]

He currently resides in his hometown and runs a hotel.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Arnau Riera". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Black Cats sign Barca midfielder". BBC Sport. 10 August 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
  3. ^ "Southend clinch Riera loan deal". BBC Sport. 23 November 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
  4. ^ "Bairns sign up Spanish midfielder". BBC Sport. 17 July 2007. Archived from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
  5. ^ "Rangers 7–2 Falkirk". BBC Sport. 18 August 2007.
  6. ^ "Falkirk 2-2 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 12 January 2008.
  7. ^ "Blackpool bring in Arnau on trial". BBC Sport. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  8. ^ "Arnau ends Blackpool trial early". BBC Sport. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  9. ^ "Riera passed fit to rejoin Bairns". BBC Sport. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  10. ^ Setanta Sports (28 May 2009). "Sunderland announce major clear-out". Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  11. ^ Bleacher Report (15 October 2014). "Dreams to Dust: Life After Football for the Future Stars Who Never Quite Made It". Retrieved 15 October 2014.
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