Juan Pena

Experience

2007-2009: Juan Manuel Peña appeared six times  for Villareal during the 2007 season, and secured a transfer to Celta Vigo in the Spanish Segunda (Second) Divison. At Celta Vigo he made 33 appearances and subsequently retired at the end of the 2009 season.

2004-2007: During his three-year stint at Villareal, Peña was able to help his club into the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s most prestigious football tournament. Additionally, Peña anchored Villareal’s backline through a successful run in the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup. In total the defender appeared 56 times for the Yellow Submarine, and he also notched a rare goal during his first campaign at the Madrigal.

1995-2004: Peña became a defensive lynchpin at Real Valladolid, playing for the Pucela for nine seasons and totaling 249 appearances for the Castilian club. Real Valladolid was relegated in 2004 and Peña soon moved to Villareal thereafter.

1993-95: The Bolivian defender appeared in 62 games from 1993 to 1995 for Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia. Here he started attracting interest from Spain – a move he would eventually secure at the end of the 1995 season.

1990-93: Juan Manuel Peña started his playing career at Club Blooming in his home country of Bolivia. Playing as a central defender, Peña appeared in 48 games with no goals. During this time the stalwart defender played with current D.C. United captain Jaime Moreno. At the end of the 1993 season Peña moved to Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia.

International experience

1991- 2009: From his first cap for Bolivia in 1991, Juan Manuel Peña would figure prominently in his country’s international plans. The central defender went on to feature in 85 games for Bolivia, becoming the fifth most capped player in Bolivian history and captaining his side on numerous occasions throughout. Peña is a longtime national teammate of Bolivian and D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno.

Honors

2004: UEFA Intertoto Cup with Villareal