Juan Mata facts for kids
Mata with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2024
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Juan Manuel Mata García | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 28 April 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Burgos, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder, winger | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Western Sydney Wanderers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 64 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2003 | Real Oviedo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2006 | Real Madrid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Real Madrid Castilla | 39 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2011 | Valencia | 129 | (33) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2014 | Chelsea | 82 | (18) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2022 | Manchester United | 196 | (34) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Galatasaray | 16 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Vissel Kobe | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Western Sydney Wanderers | 23 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Spain U16 | 3 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Spain U17 | 2 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Spain U19 | 13 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Spain U20 | 5 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2011 | Spain U21 | 20 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Spain Olympic | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2016 | Spain | 41 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 June 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Juan Manuel Mata García (born on 28 April 1988) is a Spanish professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder for the A-League Men club Western Sydney Wanderers. Juan Mata usually plays as an attacking midfielder, but he can also play as a winger.
Mata started his career in Real Madrid's youth academy. He played for Real Madrid Castilla before joining Valencia in 2007. At Valencia, he became a key player and won the Copa del Rey in 2008. In 2011, Mata moved to the English club Chelsea. There, he helped the team win the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Europa League.
In 2014, Mata joined Manchester United. He played for nine seasons, winning the Europa League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and FA Community Shield. After leaving United in 2022, he played for Galatasaray in Turkey, where he won his first league title. He then played for Vissel Kobe in Japan, winning another league title. Since 2024, he has been playing for Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia.
Juan Mata first played for the Spanish national team in 2009. He was part of the squad that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012. He also helped Spain win the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Juan Mata was born in Burgos, Spain. His father, Juan Manuel Mata Rodríguez, was also a footballer. He played as a forward for Burgos CF. Juan Mata grew up in Oviedo, Spain, his father's hometown. His father later became his agent. In his free time, Juan Mata enjoys playing table tennis.
Club Football Journey
Starting His Career
Mata began his football journey at Real Oviedo in 2000. This was the same club where his father played. In 2003, when he was 15, he joined Real Madrid's youth academy, known as La Fábrica. He quickly moved up through the youth teams. In his last youth season (2005–06), he scored important goals, including the winning goal in the Copa de Campeones final.
For the 2006–07 season, Mata played for Real Madrid Castilla, Real Madrid's reserve team. Even though the team was relegated, he was their second-highest scorer with nine goals.
Time at Valencia
In 2007, Mata signed with Valencia CF, another top Spanish club. He quickly became an important player for Valencia. On 20 March 2008, he scored two goals in the Copa del Rey semi-final against FC Barcelona. This helped Valencia reach the final, where they beat Getafe CF 3–1, with Mata scoring the first goal. Fans and players voted him the team's Best Young Player that season.
In the 2008 Spanish SuperCup, Mata scored against his old club Real Madrid. He continued to play well in the 2008–09 season, scoring and setting up goals for his teammates. He finished that season with 11 goals and 13 assists, making him one of the best in the league.
For the next two seasons, Mata was a key attacking player for Valencia. He scored 17 goals in 68 league games. Valencia finished third in the league in both seasons.
Moving to Chelsea
Joining the Blues
On 21 August 2011, Valencia announced that Mata would join Premier League club Chelsea. The transfer fee was about £23.5 million. Mata signed a five-year deal with Chelsea on 24 August 2011. He shared that his Spanish teammate Fernando Torres helped convince him to move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea player Yossi Benayoun offered Mata his number 10 shirt, which was Mata's favorite number. Mata was very thankful for this gesture.
Winning European Trophies
Mata made his first appearance for Chelsea on 27 August 2011 against Norwich City. He came on as a substitute and scored Chelsea's third goal in a 3–1 win. He also scored in his UEFA Champions League debut for Chelsea, helping them beat Bayer Leverkusen 2–0.
Mata continued to impress, scoring and assisting goals. On 29 October 2011, he assisted Chelsea's 6,000th league goal and scored a fantastic goal himself in a match against Arsenal. He was named Man of the Match for his performance against Newcastle United.
In December 2011, Mata provided two assists in Chelsea's 3–0 Champions League win against his former club Valencia. He also scored in the FA Cup and against Manchester United in a thrilling 3–3 draw.
After Roberto Di Matteo became the interim coach, Mata played more as a central attacking midfielder. He scored in the FA Cup against Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic. In the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur, Mata scored a goal and assisted two others. Chelsea won 5–1.
Mata also played a key role in Chelsea's Champions League semi-final win against FC Barcelona. In the 2012 UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich, Mata assisted Didier Drogba's late equalizer. Although Mata missed his penalty in the shootout, Chelsea won the trophy for the first time. He finished his first season with 14 assists in the Premier League.
Mata continued his excellent form in the 2012–13 season. He scored his first goal of the season in a 6–0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He also scored directly from a free-kick in a 2–1 win against Arsenal. Mata scored twice and assisted another goal in a 4–2 win against Tottenham Hotspur. He won the Premier League Player of the Month award for October 2012.
Mata scored in the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey, helping Chelsea reach the final. Chelsea lost the final to Corinthians. In December 2012, Mata signed a contract extension with Chelsea until 2018. He scored a brilliant winning goal against Norwich City on Boxing Day.
In March 2013, Mata made his 100th appearance for Chelsea. He was nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award. On 15 May, Mata gave a great performance in the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final against Benfica. He assisted Branislav Ivanović's winning goal in injury time, helping Chelsea win the Europa League. He was also named Chelsea's Player of the Year for the second season in a row.
Leaving Chelsea
Under new Chelsea manager José Mourinho, Mata played less often. Mourinho preferred Oscar in the attacking midfield role. Mata struggled to get a regular spot in the starting team. He scored 33 goals and provided 58 assists in 135 games for Chelsea over two and a half seasons.
Time at Manchester United
Joining the Red Devils
On 24 January 2014, Chelsea accepted a transfer offer from Manchester United. Mata was "really happy to go" and signed a contract until 2018. Manchester United paid a club record fee of £37.1 million for him.
Mata made his debut for United on 28 January against Cardiff City, assisting a goal in a 2–0 win. He scored his first goal for United on 29 March 2014 against Aston Villa. He scored six goals for Manchester United in his first half-season.
Key Player and FA Cup Win
Mata started the 2014–15 season well, scoring against Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers. On 22 March 2015, Mata scored two goals, including a fantastic bicycle kick, in a 2–1 victory over Liverpool. He said this was his best performance for Manchester United. His second goal against Liverpool was voted Premier League Goal of the Month.
In the 2015–16 season, Mata continued to perform well. He was made captain for a home game against Watford and scored the winning goal from a free kick. On 21 May 2016, Mata scored for United in the FA Cup Final against Crystal Palace. United won the match in extra time, lifting the FA Cup.
Europa League and League Cup Victories
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In the 2016–17 season, Mata was reunited with his former Chelsea manager, José Mourinho. Despite some reports of tension, Mata stated there were no issues. He scored United's first Premier League goal of the season against AFC Bournemouth. Mata helped United win the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League that season.
Later Years at United
Mata scored two goals against Leicester City on Boxing Day 2017. He finished the 2017–18 season with three goals in 40 appearances. On 7 November 2018, Mata scored a free kick goal in a late 2–1 comeback win over Juventus in the Champions League.
On 19 June 2019, Mata signed a new two-year contract with Manchester United. He scored his first goal of the 2019–20 season in a 4–0 Europa League win against AZ. He also scored in the FA Cup and against LASK before football was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the 2020–21 season, Mata scored in the League Cup against Luton and Brighton. He received praise for his performance in a 4–1 win against Newcastle United. On 23 May 2021, he scored his only Premier League goal of the season from a penalty.
On 2 July 2021, Mata signed another one-year contract extension with Manchester United. He made 12 appearances in the 2021–22 season. After eight years at Old Trafford, Mata left the club in May 2022. He played 285 games and scored 51 goals for United, winning four trophies.
Recent Club Experiences
On 8 September 2022, Mata signed a one-year contract with Turkish team Galatasaray. He scored his first goal for them on 28 October. Mata won the 2022–23 league title with Galatasaray, their 23rd championship. He left the club on 1 July 2023.
On 3 September 2023, Mata joined Japanese club Vissel Kobe. He made only one appearance for the club. However, he still received a medal as Vissel Kobe won the J1 League title that season. Mata's contract with Vissel Kobe ended on 6 January 2024.
On 5 September 2024, Mata joined Australian club Western Sydney Wanderers. He scored his first goal for the club on 1 January 2025.
Playing for Spain
Juan Mata played for Spain at many youth levels from 2004 to 2016. These included the under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20, under-21, and Olympic teams, as well as the senior national team.
He was a key player when Spain won the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He was the second-highest scorer in that tournament with four goals.
Mata made his debut for the Spain under-21 team on 6 February 2007, at 18 years old. On 14 November 2008, he was called up to the senior Spain squad. He made his senior international debut on 28 March 2009 in a World Cup qualifier against Turkey.
In June 2009, Mata was part of Spain's squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. On 9 September 2009, he scored his first goal for the senior team in a 3–0 win against Estonia. This win secured Spain's spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Mata played once in the World Cup, which Spain went on to win.
In 2011, Mata helped Spain win the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He was named the tournament's Golden Player and was part of the Team of the Tournament.
Mata was also in the squad for UEFA Euro 2012. He came on as a substitute in the final and scored Spain's fourth goal. Spain defeated Italy 4–0 to win the European Championship.
He was included in Spain's squad for the 2012 Olympic football tournament. In June 2013, he played in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring in a 10–0 win over Tahiti. Spain lost 3–0 to Brazil in the final.
Mata was part of the Spanish squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He scored Spain's final goal in a 3–0 win against Australia.
How Juan Mata Plays
Juan Mata is known for his role as a playmaker or attacking midfielder. He can also play on either wing. He is not the fastest player, but he has excellent ball control, technique, and vision. This allows him to make many assists and score goals.
He is a smaller player, standing at 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches). He is quick, agile, and nimble in his movements. Mata is mainly left-footed and is very good at taking free kicks.
Other Activities
In November 2012, Juan Mata and other Premier League players bought shares in his former club Real Oviedo. The club was struggling financially and needed to raise money to stay in the Spanish third division.
Mata and his father, Juan Manuel Mata, used to own a Spanish restaurant called Tapeo and Wine in Manchester. It opened in 2016 but closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They wanted to create an authentic Spanish food experience in Manchester.
In August 2017, Mata announced he was donating one percent of his salary to a charity called Common Goal. He encouraged other football players to do the same.
In 2023, Mata joined the investment group for the Alpine racing team in Formula One. On 20 November 2024, Mata also became part of the ownership group for the Major League Soccer club San Diego FC.
Honours
Valencia
- Copa del Rey: 2007–08
Chelsea
- FA Cup: 2011–12
- UEFA Champions League: 2011–12
- UEFA Europa League: 2012–13
Manchester United
- FA Cup: 2015–16
- EFL Cup: 2016–17
- FA Community Shield: 2016
- UEFA Europa League: 2016–17
Galatasaray
- Süper Lig: 2022–23
Vissel Kobe
- J1 League: 2023
Spain U19
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2006
Spain U21
Spain
Individual Awards
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Golden Player: 2011
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2011
- Chelsea Player of the Year: 2012, 2013
- Chelsea Players' Player of the Year: 2013
- Premier League Player of the Month: October 2012
- PFA Team of the Year: 2012–13 Premier League
- Most assists in the Premier League: 2012–13
- Manchester United Goal of the Season: 2014–15 (vs. Liverpool, 22 March 2015)
See also
In Spanish: Juan Mata para niños
