Raúl Jiménez (footballer, born 2006)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Jiménez and the second or maternal family name is Latorre.
Raúl Jiménez
Personal information
Full name Raúl Jiménez Latorre[1]
Date of birth (2006-02-16) 16 February 2006
Place of birth Catral, Spain
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Valencia B
Number 31
Youth career
2013–2014 Sporteam
2014–2015 Benferri
2015–2017 Kelme
2017–2018 Villarreal
2018–2019 Roda
2019–2020 Elche
2020– Valencia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Valencia B 1 (0)
International career‡
2023 Spain U16 4 (0)
2022–2023 Spain U17 16 (0)
2023–2024 Spain U18 3 (0)
2024– Spain U19 19 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2024 Northern Ireland
Runner-up 2025 Romania
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 May 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 26 June 2025

Raúl Jiménez Latorre (born 16 February 2006) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Valencia CF Mestalla and served as the captain of Spain U19 at the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.[2]

Jiménez has represented Spain at various youth levels, and was part of the squad that won the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

Club career

Jiménez is a product of Valencia's youth academy, having joined the club at the age of 14 in 2020.[3] He progressed through the youth ranks, from the U14s to the U19 level. In 2022, he signed a contract extension with the club until June 2024.[4]

In 2023, while representing the Spain U17 at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Jiménez extended his contract with Valencia until 2026.[5]

Although primarily playing for Valencia U19, he occasionally trained with Valencia CF Mestalla, the club's reserve team. He made his debut with the reserves during the 2024–25 season.[6][7]

International career

Jiménez received his first call-up to the Spain U16 in February 2022 under manager Juan David Gordo.[8]

He was later called up by manager Julen Guerrero to the Spain U17 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Hungary.[9] Later that year, he participated in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia under coach José Lana.[10]

In 2024, Jiménez was called up to the Spain U19 for the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Northern Ireland, again under José Lana, who at the time coached the U19s team.[11] Despite being a year younger than most of the squad, he was the team's starting goalkeeper throughout the tournament.[12] He later won the tournament as Spain defeating France U19 2–0 in the final.[13]

He was again selected for the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Romania, where he served as team captain.[14] [15] Spain finished as runners-up, losing 1–0 to the Netherlands U19 in the final following an own goal by Jiménez.[16]

Style of play

Jiménez is a left-footed, well-rounded goalkeeper known for his excellent footwork. While he is still developing his aerial ability and game-reading skills, he compensates with strong reflexes, agility, confident positioning, and bravery when coming off his line. He has received comparisons with Valencia's first-choice goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.[17]

Former player Javi Venta, who currently part of Valencia's talent development department, described Jiménez as a player who "excels at starting off the game, making long runs... and also has great height."[18]

Honours

Spain U19

References

  1. ^ "Raúl Jiménez". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  2. ^ "El tesoro escondido del Valencia". Las Provincias (in Spanish). 24 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Raúl Jiménez: "Es un honor renovar con el Valencia CF"". Valencia CF (in Spanish). 8 November 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  4. ^ "El Valencia CF renueva a Raúl Jiménez hasta junio de 2024". Esportbase (in Spanish). 5 April 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Raúl Jiménez: "Es un honor renovar con el Valencia CF"". Valencia CF (in Spanish). 8 November 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Mucho más que Lamine Yamal: así son los 20 'Guerreros' de Julen para el Europeo". Relevo (in Spanish). 18 May 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  7. ^ "El tesoro escondido del Valencia". Las Provincias (in Spanish). 24 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Raúl Jiménez, el portero del futuro del Valencia". Superdeporte (in Spanish). 8 February 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Representación de la Academia VCF con España Sub-17: Raúl Jiménez". Valencia CF (in Spanish). 4 May 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Oficial: la convocatoria de José Lana para el Mundial Sub-17". RFEF (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Spain U19 Euro 2024 call-up". Marca (in Spanish). 12 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Raúl Jiménez, el 'Giorgi Mamardashvili' del Europeo Sub-19". ElDesmarque (in Spanish). 22 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  13. ^ "2024 Under-19 EURO final highlights: Spain 2–0 France". UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Esta es la lista definitiva para el Europeo Sub-19". RFEF (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Raúl Jiménez da el paso a semifinales del Europeo". Superdeporte (in Spanish). 15 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Euro U19 final: Spain vs Netherlands – Match Info". UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Raúl Jiménez, el 'Giorgi Mamardashvili' del Europeo Sub-19". ElDesmarque (in Spanish). 22 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Mucho más que Lamine Yamal: así son los 20 'Guerreros' de Julen para el Europeo". Relevo (in Spanish). 18 May 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  19. ^ "2024 Under-19 EURO final highlights: Spain 2–0 France". UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Euro U19 final: Spain vs Netherlands – Match Info". UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
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