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Raúl Albiol

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Raúl Albiol
Albiol in action for Real Madrid
Personal information
Full name Raúl Albiol Tortajada
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Real Madrid
Number 18
Youth career
1994–1996 Ribarroja
1996–1997 Vilamarxant
1997–2003 Valencia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Valencia B 49 (5)
2004–2009 Valencia 131 (5)
2004–2005 → Getafe (loan) 17 (1)
2009– Real Madrid 58 (0)
International career‡
2004 Spain U19 7 (0)
2003–2005 Spain U20 4 (0)
2005–2006 Spain U21 7 (0)
2007– Spain 31 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:49, 17 December 2011 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 October 2011

Template:Spanish name Raúl Albiol Tortajada (Spanish pronunciation: [ra'ul al'bjol toɾta'xaða]; born 4 September 1985 in Vilamarxant, Valencia) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.

His main asset is his versatility, as he can play as a central defender, right back or defensive midfielder.

Club career

Valencia

Albiol started playing football with two modest clubs in the Valencian Community, moving to local giants Valencia CF before celebrating his 10th birthday. He made his first-team debut on 24 September 2003, at 18 years and four days, in a UEFA Cup first-round contest against AIK Fotboll, but spent the first year still registered with the B side.

In August 2004, whilst travelling to sign a deal to join Getafe CF on loan, Albiol was involved in a serious car accident, being put in intensive care.[1] He managed to recover completely and, after reappearing in January, played a very important part in the Madrid side surviving the relegation scrap: he made his La Liga debut on 15 January 2005, in a 1–1 home draw with Atlético de Madrid, he scored against another side from the capital, Real Madrid, in a 2–1 home triumph, two months later.

Albiol then returned the following season to Valencia, and quickly established himself as first-choice due to his versatility. In the opening game of the 2006–07's league campaign, he scored the winner (his only goal of the season) against Real Betis, as the game finished 2–1. He also scored from long distance against Olympiacos FC on 12 September 2006, in that year's UEFA Champions League, which Valencia won 4–2 away.[2] During his four-season spell with the first team, his smallest output consisted of 29 matches, and he helped the Che to the 2007–08 Copa del Rey.

Real Madrid

On 25 June 2009, Albiol joined Real Madrid, for a fee thought to be in the region of €15 million,[3] becoming the first Spanish player signed by Florentino Pérez upon his return to the presidency. On 2 July, he was officially presented at the Santiago Bernabéu, receiving the #18 jersey from Rubén de la Red, who was absent for the season due to unresolved heart problems.[4]

Albiol scored his first goal for the Merengues on 8 December, in a 3–1 Champions League win at Olympique de Marseille. During the league campaign he was an undisputed starter for Real, mainly due to Pepe's serious knee injury.

In 2010–11, Albiol was relegated to the bench as Real Madrid brought in another player for his position, Ricardo Carvalho (a compatriot of newly-appointed manager José Mourinho), only appearing in the league through injury or suspension to teammates (Pepe again missed several matches due to physical problems). He did start, however, in the club's domestic cup campaign, helping Real to reach the final. On 26 January 2011, in the semi-final first leg against Sevilla FC (1–0 away win), he cleared a Luís Fabiano shot just before it crossed the goal line.[5] On 16 April, he was sent off for fouling former Valencia teammate David Villa inside the box during the El Clásico, which resulted in the first goal in a 1–1 home draw,[6] going on to miss the Spanish Cup final four days later – through suspension – a 1–0 win against the same opponent.

International career

After having represented Spain's U-21, Albiol first appeared for the main squad on 13 October 2007, in an UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Denmark (3–1 away win). In the competition's final stages, he appeared twice for the eventual continental champions, against Sweden (subbing in for the injured Carles Puyol) and Greece.

New national team coach Vicente Del Bosque included Albiol in the squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. He started in Spain's first game, partnering Puyol in central defence ahead of Valencia teammate Carlos Marchena, helping defeat New Zealand 5–0.

Albiol was picked for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but did not leave the bench for the eventual World champions, after having suffered an injury in training.

Club statistics

Last update: 17 December 2011.

Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Valencia B 2003–04 35 2 1 0 – 36 2
Total 35 2 1 0 0 0 36 2
Getafe 2004–05 17 1 1 0 0 0 17 1
Total 17 1 1 0 0 0 17 1
Valencia 2005–06 29 1 0 0 0 0 29 1
2006–07 36 1 2 1 12 1 50 3
2007–08 32 1 3 0 7 0 42 1
2008–09 34 2 2 0 6 0 42 2
Total 131 5 7 1 25 1 163 7
Real Madrid 2009–10 33 0 2 0 8 1 43 1
2010–11 20 0 6 0 6 0 32 0
2011–12 5 0 1 0 3 0 9 0
Total 58 0 9 0 17 1 84 1
Career total 241 8 17 1 42 2 300 11

Honours

Club

Valencia
Real Madrid

Country

Individual

Personal

  • Albiol and his wife Alicia have two daughters, Azahara (born 16 March 2009) and Alma (7 January 2010).[7]

References

  1. ^ "Albiol reaparece tras su accidente (Albiol reappears after accident)" (in Spanish). El Mundo. 12 January 2005.
  2. ^ Olympiacos undone by magic Morientes; UEFA.com, 12 September 2006
  3. ^ Madrid sign Raul Albiol and step up Karim Benzema chase; The Daily Telegraph, 25 June 2009
  4. ^ "De la Red will get his number back when he returns – Real Madrid's Albiol". Goal.com. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  5. ^ Benzema advantage; ESPN Soccernet, 26 January 2011.
  6. ^ Ronaldo earns draw in el clasico; ESPN Soccernet, 16 April 2011
  7. ^ "Acuerdo entre el Valencia y el Madrid por Albiol (Agreement between Valencia and Madrid for Albiol)" (in Spanish). El País. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.

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