Full name: Jeffrén Isaac Suárez Bermúdez
Squad No: 11
Position: Winger
Date of birth: 20 January 1988
Place of birth: Cuidad Bolívar, Venezuela
Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight: 72 kg (159 lbs)
Jeffrén was only a year old when his family moved from Venezuela to the island of Tenerife. He started playing football very early in his life and his skills earned him a place in the development system of the islands biggest club CD Tenerife. There he was quickly noticed by Barcelona's talent scouts and after only a year with the Insulares he left Tenerife and joined La Masia at the age of 16. Jeffrén started his Barcelona career as a midfielder, but as time progressed it became clear he was better suited as a winger. He spent two seasons with Barca's youth teams before he graduated and started playing for Barcelona B.
Jeffrén was a key member of the B team for three seasons and his good play earned him a handful of call-ups to the first team. He made his debut for the first team, as an 18 year old, against CF Badalona in the Copa del Rey as a late substitute. The winger was promoted to the first team in the 2009-10 season after he played 82 games and scored 14 times for Barcelona B.
Now in his second full season with Barcelona, Jeffrén has struggled to gain regular playing time, especially because of the emergence of Pedro. His development has also been severely slowed due to several injuries. Altogether he has 28 appearances for the first team. He has 3 tallies to his name, all of them in the Spanish league.
Internationally Jeffren Suaréz hasn't yet been able to make a name for himself, but he was a integral component of Spain's U-19 team that won the European Championship. He has been called to join the Venezuelan national team, but he hasn't decided if he will join Venezuela or if he will wait for a shot with La Furia Roja.
Profile
A natural left footer who can also play with his right and can play on either wing or as a striker. He can also play in the midfield and even as a right back. Known for his terrific crossing ability, Jeffrén has the skills to beat any defender with a combination of speed and his dribbling talent. Due to his lack of size he isn't considered as a threat in the air.
Honors
FC Barcelona
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La Liga (2): 2008-09, 2009-10
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Copa del Rey (1): 2008-09
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Supercopa de España (2): 2009, 2010
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UEFA Champions League (1): 2009
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UEFA Super Cup (1): 2009
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FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2009
Spain
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UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship (1): 2006
Jeffrén's contract expires at the end of the 2011-12 season and it is unclear if he will be offered an extension.
Next week I take a look at Barcelona's backup goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto
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