The Spanish Jamie Vardy: From almost quitting football to a Spain debut at 30 – Jaime Mata is one of the great underdog stories

The Spanish Jamie Vardy: From almost quitting football to a Spain debut at 30 – Jaime Mata is one of the great underdog stories
Tired of modern football? For anyone looking for a story to restore their faith, the unlikely case of newly minted Spain international Jaime Mata should help.In his mid 20s, the striker was still only semi-pro, and a series of near-misses suggesting he was destined for no more than languishing in the lower leagues. Yet on Saturday, he stepped out in a Spain shirt at the Mestalla at the ripe old age of 30.Proof that with hard work, its never too late to get your break.3

Mata celebrates the end of Spain’s win over Norway with Marco Asensio.

Most top footballing talents these days are spotted as teenagers then carefully developed, with their path to the top meticulously planned by the big clubs.Mata, on the other hand, was about to turn 26 and had been deliberating over abandoning his football dream to become a customs officer, when then Girona sporting director Oriol Alsina spotted him playing with Lleida in the third tier.I had just finished studying and I thought going to Lleida would be a couple of sabbatical years, like an Erasmus, the now Spain international reflected in an interview with Cadena Cope last week.

View this post on Instagram 23319 Internacional absoluto espaol Victoria A post shared by Jaime Mata Arnaiz (@mata_jaime9) on Mar 23, 2019 at 6:31pm PDT

Its easy to see why Mata had little cause for optimism: with Lleida he had twice cruelly missed out on promotion to the second division at the play-off stage (setbacks are a recurring theme in his career).Far from the glamour of La Liga, in the Spanish third tier there is no money of note. Not getting any younger and seemingly not going to make it as a pro, switching to a different career with a steady income must have looked very tempting at that moment in time. Then Girona came calling: I had the chance to be a professional, and that was absolutely crazy for me. I thought, maybe I can keep doing this for a bit longer?.Alsina, the man who signed him, didnt last long at Montilivi, but the sporting directors punt on a lower-league striker marked the start of a domino effect that has carried on all the way to the very top. In the more immediate future, Mata would have an impact at Girona too, twice finishing as one of their top scorers as the Catalans made it to the play-offs for promotion to La Liga, only to yes, you guessed it fall at the final hurdle on two occasions.

View this post on Instagram Da de derbi A post shared by Jaime Mata Arnaiz (@mata_jaime9) on Feb 23, 2019 at 12:25am PST

Like with Lleida, two times with Girona was too many, and instead of sticking around for what seemed like more disappointment at Montilivi, the forward moved to Valladolid in the summer of 2016. The cruel irony? At the end of that season Girona were finally promoted to La Liga for the first time in the clubs history. Valladolid finished seventh. Just imagine how Mata felt then.

View this post on Instagram Paso a paso, golpe a golpe, asalto a asalto! Gameday A post shared by Jaime Mata Arnaiz (@mata_jaime9) on Jan 31, 2016 at 2:25am PST

But what followed was the most pivotal season in Matas career. While at Girona his talent was obvious, so too was his inconsistency: in two seasons of more than 40 games he scored only 21 goals, both capable of exciting periods of brilliance then frustratingly long dry spells.It wasnt form that suggested La Liga level regularity in front of goal. Nor was his first year at Valladolid, when he only managed five strikes in the league, and often ended games as an unused substitute.No one could have predicted what would happen next. In the 2017/18 season Mata morphed into the epitome of what the Spanish call a killer, a pure goalscorer. It felt like every shot he took ended up in the net: with 35 strikes including two in the play-offs, he was the key figure in taking Valladolid back to La Liga for the first time in five years. His numbers were so good it was the second best all-time goalscoring return for a striker in the Segunda, only bettered by Sporting Gijon forward Ricardos 46 in 1956/57.3

Mata celebrates play-off victory with Real Valladolid last season.

Mata puts the dramatic shift down to nothing more than confidence.Whatever it was, Getafe had seen enough, snapping him up on a free transfer last summer in what has now proven to be one of the deals of the season.Playing in a way only someone with no time to lose can, the signing has made remarkably easy work of the step up to La Liga, scoring 15 goals in 29 games so far in 2018/19. For Getafe, remember.

View this post on Instagram Gran trabajo, gran victoria!A post shared by Jaime Mata Arnaiz (@mata_jaime9) on Jan 18, 2019 at 11:17pm PST

Incredibly, Madrids least fashionable side are in fourth place and only 10 games away from qualifying for the Champions League for the first time ever. Mata, their top scorer who has turned half-chances into goals, and assisted seven for his teammates, is a huge part of that. No one really believes Getafe can do it, but then no one believed Mata could either.He is only the third Getafe player ever to be called up for Spain, evidence of just how exceptional a story it is for him to even be there alongside the likes of Sergio Ramos and Jordi Alba, let alone to make his debut as he did against Norway.3

Mata argues with Atletico Madrid ace Saul

For Mata, it is all a bonus. This is someone who last week admitted to being blown away by the luxury of not having to wash his own kit when he first debuted in the third tier: I used to come into the dressing room and think wow, there are two physios here, thats so cool!. He couldnt have imagined then just how much better things would get.

---

Chelsea transfer news: Blues create Callum Hudson-Odoi plan after Bayern Munich bids CHELSEA hope that offering Callum Hudson-Odoi consistent game-time between now and the end of the season can
Chelsea transfer news LIVE! Eden Hazard, Callum Hudson-Odoi

---

Belgian defender Dedryck Boyata has left Celtic for German side Hertha Berlin on what is described as a long-term deal.. The 28-year-old was available on a free transfer with his contract at the
Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata joins Hertha Berlin on free

---

Unimpressed: Morrison failed to convince Mike Phelan and Sir Alex Ferguson he had a future at Manchester United. Morrison's talent was never disputed but the constant battle to extract the best
Manchester United were right to get rid of wonderkid

---

Manchester United made Champions League history as Marcus Rashford's last-gasp penalty secured a 3-1 win away to Paris Saint-Germain, sending the English side through on away goals after a 2-0
Paris Saint-Germain have the second WORST defence in Europe's

---

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Chelsea live on talkSPORT 2

---

World No1 struggles to see off fellow German Carina Witthöft 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2 Venus Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova also into third round on day two One slightly pained smile
Vivero Imperial - Sicomoro Mexicano

---

Saudi prince abandons Man Utd takeover with Glazer family ready to take more hands-on approach has given up on buying Manchester United - for the time being at least. most involved with
Man Utd takeover: Saudi Arabia Crown Prince - mirror.co.uk

---

Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson 'like trying to charge an iPhone with a Nokia charger', says Anders 10 hours ago The Red Devils have secured just two top-four finishes since Sir Alex's 2013 departure, with no Premier League title won in the six seasons following the Scot's retirement. getty 3 Anders…
Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson 'like trying to

---

A double from Marcus Rashford saw Manchester United ease past Liverpool at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon. Here are six things you missed from the early kick-off.
Why Making Paul Pogba Captain Wont Fix Manchester Uniteds
videos002.com/video?v=why_making_paul_pogba_captain_wont_fix_manchester_uniteds_problems_premier_league
Paul Pogba has told Jose Mourinho that he wants to quit Manchester United as he tries to force through a move to Barcelona. Sportsmail understands that Pogba's desire to leave Old Trafford was the reason behind Mourinho's decision to strip the club's £89million record signing of captaincy duties.
Manchester United - All News Sources - 1 May 2019
atomicsoda.com/man-utd/news/all-sources/1-may-2019
Solskjaer told Sky Sports: There's no chance that anyone can blame him for losing many points for us. I think David is one that likes to play games, of course I'll have chats with him this week and I'm sure he'll respond in the right way.
manchester united - SecureWatch

---

Aston Villa and Derby County face off in the Championship play-off final - but just how much is winning it really. worth?. Often dubbed the richest game in football, Premier League promotion will bring either club a huge injection of cash as well as the chance to play against some of the world's best next season.
Aston Villa vs Derby County, Championship play-off final 2019

---

Sam Allardyce recently told talkSPORT he would consider returning to Bolton LISTEN: Sam Allardyce says he WOULD consider Bolton return if someone with big ambitions buys the club.
Sam Allardyce: What attracted Okocha, Hierro and Djorkaeff to

---

Chelsea charged by UEFA over Malmo crowd trouble. supporter unrest during their Europa League match in Sweden on Thursday. Eden Hazard was hugged by a pitch-invading fan at the final
UEFA charge Malmo and Chelsea after fan unrest in Europa

---

Mick McCarthy confirmed Republic of Ireland boss for the second time with Stephen Kenny to replace him after Euro 2020 to take charge of the nation he captained as a player. Republic of
New Ireland manager: Mick McCarthy appointed, Stephen Kenny

---

BY RICHARD CAWLEY. Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet has refused to sanction a move for out-of-contract striker Joe Mason. Addicks boss Lee Bowyer was looking to bring in the former Wolves and Cardiff City frontman, who became a free agent at the end of last month.
Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet: Talks over Lee Bowyer's

---