Jeffrén Isaac Suárez Bermúdez (born 20 January 1988), known simply as Jeffrén, is a Venezuelan former professional footballer who played as a forward or a winger.
He started his career with Barcelona, appearing rarely and signing for Sporting CP in 2011. Other than in Spain, he also played in Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Cyprus, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand.
Jeffrén won 30 caps for Spain at youth level, winning the European Championships with the under-19 and the under-21 teams. In 2015, he made his senior debut for Venezuela.
Early life Born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, Jeffrén was just one year old when his family left the country for the Spanish island of Tenerife.
FC Barcelona talent scouts spotted him and, in 2004, he was signed for its youth teams from CD Tenerife, first being coached by Guillermo Hoyos, who played him as a midfielder.
Club career Barcelona Jeffrén played three full seasons with FC Barcelona B, suffering Segunda División B relegation in 2006–07 and scoring six goals in 30 games the following season in an immediate promotion. On 8 November 2006, at the age of 18, he made his debut with the first team, against CF Badalona in a Copa del Rey round-of-32 match, coming on as a substitute for Javier Saviola in the 83rd minute of a 4–0 home win (6–1 on aggregate).
Impressed at the player's performance for the reserves, first-team manager Pep Guardiola called Jeffrén for the 2008–09 pre-season, where he played all seven matches scoring twice, including once on 30 July against ACF Fiorentina in the 47th minute of a 3–1 victory. On 17 May 2009, he made his first La Liga appearance (of two in the season), as already crowned champions Barcelona lost 1–2 at RCD Mallorca.
On 19 December 2009, Jeffrén replaced Thierry Henry late into the FIFA Club World Cup final against Estudiantes de La Plata. Two days later, he picked up a leg muscle injury that left him out for 4–5 weeks in a 1–1 friendly draw with Kazma SC in Kuwait, in commemoration of the Asian side's 45th anniversary.
On 10 February 2010, Barcelona announced Jeffrén had signed a contract extension with the club, keeping him at the Camp Nou until 30 June 2012 with a buyout clause set at €10 million. On the 14th, he started as right-back in a 2–1 loss at Atlético Madrid.
On 3 April 2010, Jeffrén scored his first top-division goal after a low cross from Eric Abidal, in a 4–1 home defeat of Athletic Bilbao. On the 24th he added another in spectacular fashion, in a 3–1 home win over Xerez CD and, as the Catalans renewed their domestic supremacy, finished the campaign with 18 official appearances.
Jeffrén appeared less for Barças first team in 2010–11. On 29 November 2010, he came from the bench to close the scoring in El Clásico against Real Madrid, in a 5–0 home victory.
Sporting CP On 4 August 2011, Sporting CP signed Jeffrén for €3.75 million, plus €200,000 in bonus. He penned a five-year contract with a buy-out clause of €30 million. In addition, if the Lisbon club sold the player for a fee higher than €3.75M, Barcelona would receive 20% of the added value/differential value;Comunicado (announcement) ; Portuguese Securities Market Commission, 3 August 2011 (in Portuguese) the Catalans also retained an exclusive buy-back option for €8 million and €12 million, in 2012 and 2013 respectively.Comunicado (Announcement) ; Portuguese Securities Market Commission, 4 August 2011 (in Portuguese)
Jeffrén played his first competitive match with Sporting on 13 August 2011, in a 1–1 home draw against S.C. Olhanense. He spent the vast majority of the first half of his first season sidelined with physical problems.
Jeffrén returned to action on 11 March 2012, and only needed 12 minutes on the pitch to score two goals in a 5–0 home victory over Vitória de Guimarães. He contributed only 13 league games in his second year, and was deemed surplus to requirements subsequently.
Valladolid On 1 February 2014, Jeffrén returned to the Spanish top flight when he joined Real Valladolid on a two-and-a-half-year deal. He made his debut on 9 February at home against Elche CF, coming on at half time for Víctor Pérez: he crossed the ball for Humberto Osorio's 2–2 equaliser, but only a minute later left the pitch with a muscular injury after his team had already used all three substitutes.
Jeffrén scored his first goal for Valladolid on 2 November 2014, coming off the bench to score an 81st-minute winner in a 2–1 win against Girona FC at the Estadio Nuevo José Zorrilla that put his team on top of the second division table. He finished the campaign with three goals from 35 appearances, the other two coming in each fixture against former side Barcelona B – the first being a 7–0 thrashing on 21 December.
On 29 August 2015, Jeffrén terminated his contract with the Castile and León club.Jeffren sale del Pucela (Jeffren leaves Pucela) ; Real Valladolid, 29 August 2015 (in Spanish)
Eupen On the same day as leaving Valladolid, Jeffrén signed a three-year deal at K.A.S. Eupen from the Belgian Second Division. He made his debut on 13 September, replacing Guy Dufour in the 57th minute of a 1–4 home loss to K. Lierse SK. He scored his first goal for his new team thirteen days later, an added-time strike to seal a 3–1 win over R. White Star Bruxelles at the Kehrwegstadion.
On 3 October 2015, Jeffrén netted twice in a 5–1 rout at K.S.K. Heist. He finished the season with three goals in 17 matches, as the side came third and were promoted to the Belgian First Division A for administrative reasons.
Later career Jeffren signed for Grasshopper Club Zürich of the Swiss Super League on a two-year deal on 9 July 2017. He left in late January 2019 for AEK Larnaca FC in the Cypriot First Division and, one year later, switched to the Croatian First Football League with NK Slaven Belupo.
After a brief spell with Al Dhaid SC in the United Arab Emirates, Jeffrén signed with Lamphun Warriors F.C. of the Thai League 2 in June 2021.
International career Spain
Jeffrén was part of the Spain under-19 squad that won the 2006 UEFA European Championship, playing eight matches and scoring three goals. Shortly after, he was called by Venezuela national team coach Richard Páez for the 2007 Copa América, but eventually did not switch allegiance due to injury.
On 6 February 2009, Jeffrén received his first under-21 callup. In 2011 he was selected by manager Luis Milla for the European Championships in Denmark, appearing in three games and scoring in the semi-final against Belarus (3–1 win)Spain's late redemption breaks Belarus hearts; UEFA, 22 June 2011 as the national team won their third trophy in the category.
Venezuela Following his Spanish international youth spell, Jeffrén showed openness to represent Venezuela at senior level,Jeffren Suárez quiere ser Vinotinto (Jeffren Suárez wants to be a Vinotinto) ; Líder en Deportes, 14 August 2013 (in Spanish) an option he himself had discarded in 2010 when he was consulted by a journalist of his native country.Jeffren Suárez le cierra la puerta a la vinotinto (Jeffren Suárez closes door on the vinotinto) ; En La Pizarra, 4 May 2010 (in Spanish) On 19 March 2015, however, he acquired the necessary paperwork,Jeffren: "Voy a trabajar duro para recuperar la titularidad" (Jeffren: "I will work hard to recover my starting spot") ; Marca, 19 March 2015 (in Spanish) being called up for the first time on 18 AugustEl exbarcelonista Jeffren Suárez, convocado por vez primera con Venezuela (Former barcelonista Jeffren Suárez, called up for the first time with Venezuela); Sport, 18 August 2015 (in Spanish) and winning his first cap on 8 September by playing 31 minutes in a 1–1 friendly with Panama.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupIncludes the Copa del Rey, Taça de Portugal, Belgian Cup, Swiss Cup, Cypriot Cup, Croatian Football Cup and Thai FA CupContinentalIncludes the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa LeagueOtherIncludes other competitive competitions, including the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Europa League play-offsTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBarcelona C2005–06Tercera División50–––502006–07Tercera División21–––21Total7100000071Barcelona B2006–07Segunda División B323–––3232007–08Tercera División306–––3062008–09Segunda División B205–––205Total82140000008214Barcelona2006–07La Liga001000–102007–08La Liga000000–002008–09La Liga200000–202009–10La Liga1222020201822010–11La Liga81302000131Total223604020343Sporting CP2011–12Primeira Liga1131010101432012–13Primeira Liga132103040212Total245204050355Valladolid2013–14La Liga11000––1102014–15Segunda División35310––363Total463100000473Eupen2015–16Belgian Second Division1731000001832016–17Belgian First Division A190500072312Total363600072495Grasshoppers2017–18Swiss Super League3253100–3562018–19Swiss Super League1001000–110Total425410000466AEK Larnaca2018–19Cypriot First Division1402000–160Slaven Belupo2019–20Croatian First Football League1111000–1212020–21Croatian First Football League801000–90Total191200000211Al Dhaid2020–21UAE Second Division League4500––45Lamphun Warriors2021–22Thai League 227121000–28122022–23Thai League 11721000–182Total44142000004614Career total340542518014238757
HonoursBarcelona BTercera División: 2007–08BarcelonaLa Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11 Supercopa de España: 2009, 2010 UEFA Champions League: 2010–11 FIFA Club World Cup: 2009 Copa del Rey runner-up: 2010–11Sporting CPTaça de Portugal runner-up: 2011–12Lamphun WarriorThai League 2: 2021–22Spain U21UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2011Spain U19' UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2006
References
External links