Valero Rivera Folch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Valero Rivera Folch
Personal information
Born	(1985-02-22) 22 February 1985 (age 40) Barcelona, Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Left wing
Club information
Current club	HBC Nantes
Number	7
Youth career
Team
–	FC Barcelona
Senior clubs
Years	Team
2001–2005	FC Barcelona
2005–2007	BM Aragón
2007–2008	Algeciras BM
2008–2009	AD Ciudad de Guadalajara
2009–2010	SD Octavio Vigo
2010–2016	HBC Nantes
2016–2018	FC Barcelona Lassa
2018–	HBC Nantes
National team
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Spain	91	(364)
Medal record World Championship Gold 2013 Spain European Championship Gold 2018 Croatia Silver 2016 Poland Bronze 2014 Denmark

Valero Rivera Folch (born February 22, 1985) is a famous Spanish handball player. He plays as a left wing for HBC Nantes in France. He also plays for the Spanish national team. His father, Valero Rivera López, was also a handball player and coach. Valero has won big titles, including a World Championship in 2013 and a European Championship in 2018 with Spain.

Playing Career Highlights

Valero Rivera Folch started his handball journey at FC Barcelona. This was the same club where his father worked as a coach.

Early Success at FC Barcelona

• In 2001, he joined the first team at FC Barcelona.
• He helped his team win the Liga ASOBAL in 2003. This is a top Spanish handball league.
• He also won the EHF Cup in 2003–04.
• His team won the 2004-05 EHF Champions League, which is a very important European club competition.

Time with HBC Nantes

• In 2010, Valero moved to France to play for HBC Nantes.
• He was one of the best goal scorers in the French league for two seasons (2011-12 and 2012-13).
• In the 2011-12 season, he was even chosen as the best player in the French league.
• With Nantes, he won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2021.
• He also won the Trophée des Champions in 2022.
• Most recently, he won the Coupe de France in 2024.

Return to FC Barcelona

• Valero returned to FC Barcelona in 2016.
• During this time, he won the Spanish championship in 2017 and 2018.
• He also won the Spanish cup in both 2017 and 2018.
• In 2018, he moved back to HBC Nantes, where he still plays today.

National Team Achievements

Valero Rivera Folch has been a key player for the Spanish national team.

Debut and World Championship Gold

• He played his first game for Spain on November 3, 2011, against Sweden.
• In 2013, Spain hosted the World Championship.
• Valero and his team won the gold medal at this championship.
• His father, Valero Rivera López, was the coach of the Spanish team at that time.

European Championship Medals

• At the 2014 European Championship in Denmark, Valero won a bronze medal with Spain.
• In 2016, Spain won a silver medal at the European Championship in Poland.
• In 2018, he was part of the Spanish team that won the gold medal at the European Championship in Croatia.

Individual Awards

Valero Rivera Folch has received several personal awards for his excellent performance.

• He was named the All-Star Left Wing of the EHF Champions League in 2021.
• He was chosen as the Best Player in the French Handball League for the 2011-12 season.

See also

In Spanish: Valero Rivera Folch para niños