Full name Arnau Caldentey Riera 1999–2001 Mallorca Position Midfielder Years Team Height 1.74 m | Playing position Role Footballer Place of birth Manacor, Spain Name Arnau Riera Date joined 2006 | |
Date of birth (1981-10-01) 1 October 1981 (age 34) | ||
Arnau Caldenteny Riera (; born 1 October 1981) is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a midfielder.
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Early career
Riera was born in Manacor, Mallorca. He played for Real Mallorca's youth team aged 18 and played for Balearic Island selection U17 when they were champions of Spain. Aged 18, he moved to Mataro (on loan from Mallorca) in Spain's Second Division B. A year later he moved to FC Barcelona B where he was an ever present in the side which won the league in 2001. He stayed with the B-team until 2006 and trained with the first team in Peralada in 2004. He was Lionel Messi's captain for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons.
Senior career
Riera made substitute appearances for the Barcelona first team in 2004–05. He also played with the first team in friendlies against Marseille 04/05, China 03/04, Shaktar Donetsk 03/04.
On 10 August 2006 Riera signed for Sunderland, and made his debut in the 3–1 defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall on 19 August 2006. He played well in his debut game, but was sent off just three minutes into the following match, a League Cup match against Bury which Sunderland lost 2–0 at Gigg Lane. And although signed to Sunderland for three more years, he never played for them again.
Whilst signed to Sunderland, Riera joined Southend United on a month's loan, the team against which he made his Sunderland debut. He also joined Scottish Premier League side Falkirk on a season-long loan, on 17 July 2007. At Falkirk he scored twice; once in a 7-2 defeat to Rangers and once in a Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen. He joined Blackpool for a week's trial in July 2008, which he left prematurely. Riera eventually rejoined Falkirk on another season-long loan.
He was finally released by Sunderland on 28 May 2009.
He currently resides in his hometown and runs a hotel.