Efraín Juárez Valdez (born 22 February 1988) is a Mexican football manager and former player.
Early life
Juárez began his career in the youth system of Pumas, being also a regular in practically all the youth categories of the Mexican team. After his brilliant performance in the U-17 World Cup in Peru, in which Mexico was champion, he accepted an offer from FC Barcelona and headed to Spain. Once there, in La Masía, they discovered that Juárez was in the calendar year of majority, so his condition as a foreigner only allowed him to play in the first team or in FC Barcelona B. His months in Barcelona were limited to train and not play for that reason. "Chucho" Ramírez, coach with whom he won the U-17 World Cup in Peru, took over the Mexican U-20 team. He himself warned Juárez that he wanted to take the team of champion players in Peru to the World Cup in Canada, but that he must see action or he would be left out. Juárez's decision was to ask Barcelona to let him go to a team, the humble Barbate, with whom he could play for a few months to enter Ramírez's list. Nobody in Barcelona understood that decision, but the footballer has always maintained that any decision must be understandable if the reward is to defend the colors of Mexico. He had a great tournament, despite the fact that El Tri was defeated in the quarterfinals against the champion team in the end, Argentina. In Canada he made the decision to want to leave FC Barcelona to return to Mexico, since he received offers from various teams that guaranteed him to play in the elite, something that was not guaranteed in Spain.
Club career
Club Universidad Nacional
Juárez joined the Pumas youth system at the age of thirteen. After winning the 2005 under-17 World Championship, playing a key role in defense, he was snapped up by Barcelona along with national teammate Jorge Hernández in 2006. Without very much support and very few minutes given in the Barcelona B team, he returned to Pumas Morelos and it took some time for coach Ricardo Ferretti to call him to Pumas. Competing for a position in the right wing with Fernando Espinoza, he quickly became a starter in Ferretti's team. With Ferretti's decision to give continuity to its team, Juárez renewed his contract facing the Clausura 2009 tournament. Pumas finished champions, beating Pachuca.[4]
Celtic
On 17 July 2010, Pumas accepted a bid for Juárez from Scottish Premier League club Celtic.[5] On 26 July a £2 million transfer was agreed and Juárez signed a four-year contract with The Hoops, making him the first ever Mexican player to play in the SPL.[6][7] Juárez made his Celtic debut in a 3–0 Champions League defeat away to Braga.[8] He scored his first goal for the club in the return fixture at Celtic Park with a header.[9] He then scored his second goal, again at Celtic Park, in a Europa League qualifying first leg match against Utrecht two weeks later.[10] Juárez was close to agreeing a loan move to Serie A side Brescia Calcio in the January 2011 transfer window but the deal fell through.[7] He had fallen out of favour with the first team and his agent admitted that Juárez would need to move on in the summer of 2011 in order to play first team football.[7]
On 5 June 2012 it was announced that Juárez had transferred to Club América in Mexico for an undisclosed fee, after failing to cement his place in the starting line-up for Celtic, and after his disappointing stint for Real Zaragoza.[15] He made his first appearance for América on 27 June in a 0–2 preseason loss against Jaguares.[16][17] He made his league debut on 21 July in a 0–0 draw against Monterrey.[18] On 22 August 2012, Juárez suffered a terrible arm injury during a cup game against Correcaminos in the 39th minute which he had to miss a few months.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Juárez signed with Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer on 18 January 2018.[19] On 1 February 2019, Juárez and Vancouver mutually agreed to part ways.[20] He was the worst player in Whitecaps history.
International career
On 28 June 2009, Juárez made his first international cap with the senior national team against Guatemala.[21] He played a part of the team that won the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In the Gold Cup, he mainly played at right back. He started and completed all games played in the competition. Thanks to his great performance, he quickly gained a spot on the national team. Juárez scored for Mexico against Costa Rica during a penalty shootout.[22]
On 11 June 2010, Juárez became the first player to be booked at the 2010 World Cup in Mexico's opening match against South Africa.[23][24] He also played in Mexico's 2–0 victory over France on 17 June, when he was replaced by Javier Hernández on 55 minutes, who later himself went on to score.[25]
On 22 September 2010, it was announced that Juárez and Mexico teammate Carlos Vela were banned from international duty for six months for their involvement in a party in Monterrey following a game with Colombia two weeks earlier.[26]
On 28 August 2024, Colombian club Atlético Nacional announced Juárez as their new head coach.[28] His appointment was poorly received by local fans and media, who criticized the lack of experience of the foreign coach.[29]
On 17 November, during the Copa Colombia semifinals against Independiente Medellín, Juárez celebrated his team’s 2-1 victory after the full time whistle, where shortly after he was given a red card and was promptly escorted out of the stadium by Medellín police and stadium officials.[30] The Colombian Football Federation stated that due to the ‘provocative’ celebrations made by Juárez, he would receive a 3 year stadium ban across all stadiums in Colombia along with a fine of $26 million Colombian pesos.[31] On 27 December, the sanction was revoked.[32]
On 15 December, Juárez won his first title as manager when Atlético Nacional was crowned champion of the Copa Colombia.[33] A week later, he led Atlético Nacional to its 18th league title, making him one of only three managers to achieve the double in Colombian football.[34] On 14 January 2025, Juárez stepped down from his position due to disagreements with the club's management.[35]
