Fabián Orellana

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Orellana and the second or maternal family name is Valenzuela.

Fabián Orellana
Personal information
Full name Fabián Ariel Orellana Valenzuela
Date of birth (1986-01-27) 27 January 1986 (age 38)[1]
Place of birth Santiago, Chile[1]
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
Colo-Colo
2000–2005 Audax Italiano
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2009 Audax Italiano 117 (27)
2009–2011 Udinese 0 (0)
2009–2010 → Xerez (loan) 26 (2)
2010–2011 → Granada (loan) 39 (8)
2011–2013 Granada 17 (0)
2011–2012 → Celta (loan) 37 (13)
2013–2017 Celta 120 (19)
2017 → Valencia (loan) 16 (1)
2017–2018 Valencia 0 (0)
2018 → Eibar (loan) 17 (3)
2018–2020 Eibar 62 (11)
2020–2021 Valladolid 30 (6)
2021–2022 Universidad Católica 20 (0)
Total 501 (90)
International career
2008–2021 Chile 44 (2)
Medal record
Representing  Chile
Winner Copa América Centenario 2016
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Fabián Ariel Orellana Valenzuela (Latin American Spanish: [faˈβjan oɾeˈʝana]; born 27 January 1986) is a Chilean former professional footballer who played as a winger.

After starting out at Audax Italiano, he went on to spend most of his career in Spain, where he represented Xerez, Granada, Celta, Valencia, Eibar and Valladolid. Over ten seasons, he amassed La Liga totals of 288 games and 42 goals with all the clubs.

A Chilean international since 2008, Orellana appeared in two World Cups and the Copa América Centenario, winning the latter tournament.

Club career

Born in Santiago, Orellana began his career in Colo-Colo and then moved to Audax Italiano. He made his Primera División debut at only 18, and scored 12 league goals in 38 games in the 2007 season as his team finished third in the Apertura, won their Clausura group and reached the semi-finals in the play-offs.

Orellana signed with Udinese Calcio in Italy on 23 May 2009, for €3.2 million,[2] being immediately loaned to Xerez CD in the Spanish Segunda División.[3] In the following campaign he continued in that country and tier, joining Granada CF also in a temporary deal[4] and being a solid contributor as the Andalusians returned to La Liga after a 35-year absence, netting seven times – plus once in the play-offs[5]– in 2,673 minutes of play (he was also sent off three times).[6]

In the middle of 2011, Orellana became the property of Granada. In September he was loaned to another Spanish second-division club, RC Celta de Vigo.[7]

Orellana was acquired permanently by the Galicians in early January 2013.[8] On 5 April 2015, he was sent off in the dying minutes of a 1–0 home loss to FC Barcelona for throwing a piece of turf at Sergio Busquets' face.[9]

On 31 January 2017, after a serious run-in with manager Eduardo Berizzo,[10][11] Orellana signed a four-month loan with Valencia CF in the same league, with the possibility of making the move permanent until June 2018 at the end of the campaign.[12][13] He was completely ostracised by the latter's new coach Marcelino García Toral,[14] and on 1 December 2017 he moved to SD Eibar also of the Spanish top flight on loan until the following 30 June.[15] In April 2018, immediately after the Basque side confirmed their survival, a permanent €2 million contract was agreed after the pertinent clause was triggered;[16] he scored eight goals in 2019–20 and also provided more assists than anyone in the squad, as they again managed to stay afloat.[17]

On 20 July 2020, Real Valladolid announced Orellana had joined them on a two-year deal.[18] On 30 August 2021, however, after being relegated, he terminated his contract with the club.[19]

After leaving Club Deportivo Universidad Católica in his homeland, Orellana returned to Spain in 2023 with xBuyer Team in the Kings League.[20]

International career

Orellana made his debut for Chile in 2008. On 15 October of the same year he scored his first international goal, in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Argentina in Santiago (1–0 win).[21]

On 10 October 2009, for the same competition, Orellana closed the scoring in a 4–2 win in Colombia, securing the national team's qualification to the World Cup after 12 years.[22] In the final stages in South Africa, he came on as a substitute for Alexis Sánchez midway through the second half of a 2–1 group stage defeat against eventual champions Spain.[23]

Orellana played in the 2008 Toulon Tournament with the under-20s, helping them to the second position.[24]

International goals

Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Orellana goal.
List of international goals scored by Fabián Orellana
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 15 October 2008 Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile  Argentina 1–0 1–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification[21][22]
2 10 October 2009 Atanasio Girardot, Medellín, Colombia  Colombia 2–4 2–4

Post-retirement

In December 2024, Orellana graduated as a football manager at INAF [es] (National Institute of Football, Sports and Physical Activity of Chile).[25]

Personal life

Orellana's nickname, El Poeta (The poet), came from his resemblance to a Chilean comedy character who had the same name. After his goal against Argentina, he also began being referred to as El Histórico (The historic one).[26]

Honours

Universidad Católica

Chile

References

  1. ^ a b c "Fabián Orellana". Valencia CF. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Orellana: Ficha por el Udinese" [Orellana: Signs for Udinese] (in Spanish). Fichajes. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Orellana: Cedido al Xerez" [Orellana: Loaned to Xerez] (in Spanish). Fichajes. 30 August 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Mercado: Es oficial, el Granada ficha a Orellana, cedido por el Udinese" [Mercado: It's official, Granada sign Orellana, loaned by Udinese] (in Spanish). Goal. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Granada sigue adelante tras batir al Celta en los penaltis" [Granada progress after beating Celta on penalties]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 June 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Fabián Orellana se convierte en el jugador más expulsado de toda la Liga" [Fabián Orellana becomes player with most ejections in entire League]. Ideal (in Spanish). 22 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Pina decidió que Orellana fuera al Celta porque Udinese tiene muchos extranjeros" [Pina decided Orellana moved to Celta because Udinese has many foreign players]. Ideal (in Spanish). 11 September 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  8. ^ "El Granada mueve ficha en el mercado invernal" [Granada make a move in winter transfer market]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 January 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Celta Vigo 0–1 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 5 April 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  10. ^ Álvarez, Juan Carlos (18 January 2017). "Una respuesta, un incendio" [One reply, one fire]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  11. ^ ""¡Que se vaya a cagar!"" ["Let him eat shit!"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 18 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Orellana ya está en Valencia" [Orellana is already in Valencia]. Marca (in Spanish). 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  13. ^ "No dudé en ningún momento venir al Valencia" [I never had any doubts about coming to Valencia] (in Spanish). Valencia CF. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  14. ^ Álvarez, Fernando (31 July 2017). "Marcelino comunica a Orellana que no cuenta con él" [Marcelino tells Orellana he does not want him]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Orellana, cedido por el Valencia hasta final de temporada" [Orellana, loaned by Valencia until the end of the season] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  16. ^ Torres, David (27 April 2018). "Oficial: El Éibar [sic] ficha a Fabián Orellana" [Official: Eibar sign Fabián Orellana] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Orellana se va del Eibar como el "fenómeno" del equipo" [Orellana leaves Eibar as the team's "star"] (in Spanish). En Cancha. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Orellana 2022" (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Orellana no continúa en el Pucela" [Orellana does not continue at Pucela] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  20. ^ Fernández, José Tomás (4 February 2023). "Orellana da un giro radical y ya tiene nuevo equipo en Europa" [Orellana goes radical and he already has a new team in Europe]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  21. ^ a b "En vivo: La 'Roja' venció por 1–0 a Argentina con gol de Fabián Orellana" [Live: The 'Roja' beat Argentina 1–0 with goal from Fabián Orellana] (in Spanish). ADN Radio Chile. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Valdivia helps Chile clinch spot". FIFA. 11 October 2009. Archived from the original on 26 December 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  23. ^ Palomar, Roberto (25 June 2010). "España resuelve el pase en su peor partido" [Spain go through in their worst game]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  24. ^ "Chile no pudo con Italia y sólo obtuvo el vicecampeonato en Toulon" [Chile could not handle Italy and could only finish second in Toulon] (in Spanish). Al Aire Libre. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  25. ^ Almazan U., Felipe (11 December 2024). "Emblemáticos jugadores de la Generación Dorada reciben titulo de Director Técnico en Quilín" [Legendary players from Golden Generation get Technical Director title in Quilín] (in Spanish). Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  26. ^ Lamelas, R.; Puebla, Mariela (14 July 2012). "Orellana: Mejor 'histórico' que 'poeta'" [Orellana: Better 'historic' than 'poet']. Ideal (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  27. ^ Bernucci, Carla (4 December 2021). "La ruta del histórico primer tetracampeonato de Universidad Católica" [All the fixtures in Universidad Católica's historic first back-to-back-to-back-to-back championship] (in Spanish). Goal. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  28. ^ Timms, Aaron (27 June 2016). "Chile win Copa América once again as Argentina title drought continues". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2016.