Wrexham fans are now loving seeing Arthur Okonkwo between the sticks but one former stopper finds himself in the Premier League.
A quality goalkeeper is often the backbone of any successful team.
Wrexham certainly have that right now with Arthur Okonkwo serving as Phil Parkinson’s first-choice stopper.
Okonkwo recently broke his wrist but is now back in action and kept a clean sheet against Peterborough United on Saturday.
Wrexham are chasing a third straight promotion under Parkinson and Okonkwo will play a key role in any success.
Wrexham fans have seen so many goalkeepers over the years, from Gavin Ward to Joslain Mayebi, Chris Maxwell to Shwan Jalal, Ben Foster to Rob Lainton.
Who is Xavi Valero and how many times did he play for Wrexham?
Xavi Valero fits into that bracket too, though few Wrexham fans may actually remember his stint at the STōK Cae Ras.
Spanish stopper Valero had spent his entire career in Spain before joining Wrexham in 2005.
Valero turned out for Castellon, Mallorca, Logrones, Real Murcia and Cordoba, managing to catch the eye of Denis Smith in the process.
Valero signed a short-term deal with Wrexham with Wales Online noting that he was signed ‘on the basis of video footage’.
Wrexham handed Valero a debut in January 2005 with his first start coming in a 2-2 draw at Peterborough United.
Further appearances against Tranmere Rovers and Chesterfield arrived whilst Valero even played against Haverfordwest in an FAW Premier Cup clash.
The Spaniard then quietly departed after just four appearances for Wrexham with Valero going on to play for Recreativo de Huelva and Gramenet before retiring.
Xavi Valero retains Premier League job
Now 51, Valero has carved out a hugely successful coaching career for himself since leaving Wrexham.
Valero’s coaching career was spent alongside Rafael Benitez for the first nine years.
That meant Valero working for Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli and Real Madrid alongside Benitez.
Valero may not have made a huge or lasting impact at Wrexham but his coaching career saw him land some lofty job.
Manuel Pellegrini then lured Valero to Hebei FC in China and took him to West Ham United in 2018.
Valero is still working in East London and was kept on by David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui following Pellegrini’s exit.
West Ham have just sacked Julen Lopetegui and confirmed on their official website that they have axed a number of staff members – but Valero isn’t one of them.
The Sun claim that Graham Potter is set to take the job and Valero is expected to stay and work alongside the former Chelsea boss.
That just goes to show how highly regarded Valero is as a coach as he approaches seven years at the London Stadium.
A number of former Wrexham players are working with League One rivals but none can really match the heights Valero has managed in his superb coaching career.