Álex Vallejo has played in five countries for ten clubs, and the Basque midfielder is now adapting to life at FC Goa in India. The 34-year-old has also spent time in Hungary, Cyprus, Poland and England, and he has looked back on his career in an interview with flashscore.es, including his three seasons at Diósgyőr.
From Spain to India
Vallejo has been away from Spain for many years. He said he had the chance to return home about three years ago, but a Hungarian offer came instead and he stayed for three seasons. This summer he was approached again, but he pointed to the problems in Indian football the previous year, when the league began only in March and played around ten matches. Once the club’s situation was settled and he had weighed his age, he and his family decided on a more exotic adventure. Goa has a sizeable Spanish community, and the family looked into the move before committing to it.
Culture shock
Vallejo described the move as a huge cultural shock. Some everyday customs are taken for granted locally but are hard for an outsider to understand, and organising travel and fixtures runs at a much looser pace. Traffic, which he called chaotic and potentially dangerous for foreigners, requires adjustment, and the spicy food is another challenge. From a sporting perspective, he believes Asian markets like India particularly value Spanish players, and he thinks such opportunities should be seized.
Three years at Diósgyőr
Vallejo’s Hungarian spell, which yielded 83 appearances, two goals and four assists between 2023 and 2026, started better than he expected. He had known little about Hungarian football beyond Ferencváros, but he was pleasantly surprised by the high-standard facilities and the significant state support and investment the game had enjoyed for several years. He had originally planned to stay one year, but ended up staying three.
The final season brought problems, mainly on the coaching side, with many managerial changes. The club were relegated, and Vallejo wanted to stay with one year left on his contract. However, foreign players are not allowed to play in the second tier, so he had to leave. He said that otherwise he would probably have finished his career there, which is the message behind the headline.
Two happy years in England
Before Hungary, Vallejo had a memorable stint at Huddersfield. After leaving Fuenlabrada, he found himself without a club when the pandemic struck in March 2020. In October 2020 Huddersfield, who had already closed their transfer window and were short in certain positions, approached him through an agent looking for free agents who would not be a heavy financial burden. He called the experience fantastic and said it was perhaps the best club he had played for, at least in terms of standard. He praised the passionate English supporters and noted that his son was born in England. Huddersfield came close to promotion to the Premier League, but lost the play-off final at Wembley to Nottingham Forest, and he had to leave when his contract expired after the final. He also described English football as very physical and demanding.
Advice for players going abroad
Asked whether lower divisions or less known leagues can help revive a career, Vallejo said that Spanish players often dream of top-flight football or long years in the second tier, but there comes a point when they must be honest with themselves and accept that a change of environment may be necessary. Leagues such as Poland and Cyprus can open doors to the international market. He also argued that moving abroad can be financially and tax-wise advantageous, and that clubs often prefer players with foreign experience. He acknowledged the price, however: he is spending Christmas away from home, sees his parents only twice a year and misses many moments in the lives of his friends.
Source: www.csakfoci.hu
