The Pride of Vallekas

At the age of just 30, striker Joaquín Larrivey decided to leave the sunny Balaidos for the even sunnier Abu Dhabi, joining Baniyas. Sorry, not "decided". "Decided" is a strong word. "Decided" means that the player had one or more options and picked one without coercion. "Decided" means that the player had a fair choice. Joaquin loves new challenges. While playing for Cagliari, he scored a hat-trick against Napoli, got on the European radar and then disappeared off it just as quickly by signing with Mexican Liga MX club Atlante. After scoring 12 goals for Celta Vigo in the 2014-15 season, Joaquín Larrivey was set for his next adventure. He had two years on his contract remaining, but clubs were willing to pay and Celta were willing to sell. Moreover, his playing style was much more similar with the stereotypical "English striker" - a hardworking, physical, opportunistic poacher who capitalizes amazingly well on sloppy positioning ...

Today's article is all about players who moved in 2015. Asunción-based club Cerro Porteño shockingly released legendary Spanish goalscorer Daniel Güiza, who was the Pichichi winner in 2008 playing for seventh place Mallorca – ahead of the likes of Luís Fabiano, Sergio Agüero, Raúl, David Villa, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Diego Forlán, Frédéric Kanouté and Samuel Eto’o. He was instrumental in Spain’s Euro 2008 win too. In 2015, the then 35-year-old, signed for third-tier Andalusia-based Cádiz. Whose fans were irritated by his origin from fierce rivals Xerez, and by his commitment made ten years ago to never play for – you guessed it – Cádiz. And yet, less than a year later, it was Güiza who scored the only goal at Hércules in the second leg of the play-off finals (2–0 on aggregate), helping the club return to the second division after six years. Look at Asturian player Miguel Marcos Madera aka “Míchel”. In January 2010 he was a Sporting Gijón legend, joined Birmingham and was ...