Álvaro Arbeloa

Álvaro Arbeloa

Arbeloa playing for Real Madrid in 2012
Personal information
Full name Álvaro Arbeloa Coca[1]
Date of birth (1983-01-17) 17 January 1983
Place of birth Salamanca, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position Full back
Club information
Current team
 Real Madrid
Number 17
Youth career
1995–2001 Zaragoza
2001–2002 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2002–2003 Real Madrid C 16 (0)
2003–2006 Real Madrid B 84 (0)
2004–2006 Real Madrid 2 (0)
2006–2007 Deportivo La Coruña 20 (0)
2007–2009 Liverpool 66 (2)
2009– Real Madrid 152 (3)
National team
2001 Spain U17 1 (0)
2001 Spain U19 4 (0)
2005 Spain U21 1 (0)
2008–2013 Spain 56 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 08:54, 10 April 2016 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Arbeloa and the second or maternal family name is Coca.

Álvaro Arbeloa Coca (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈalβaɾo arβeˈloa ˈkoka]; born 17 January 1983), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Madrid. He is predominantly a right back, although he can also play on the left side.[3][4]

He started his career with Real Madrid, playing mostly with the reserves. In 2006 he moved to Deportivo de La Coruña, joining Liverpool after half a season and going on to appear in 98 official games over the course of three Premier League seasons. In 2009 he returned to Real Madrid, for a fee of £3,500,000.

Arbeloa gained 56 caps for Spain, representing the country at the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 and winning all tournaments.

Club career

Real Madrid

Arbeloa was born in Salamanca, Castile and León, relocating with his family to Zaragoza at the age of four. He started playing football at local Real Zaragoza, joining Real Madrid's youth system at the age of 18.[5]

Arbeloa spent three full seasons with Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve team, two of those spent in Segunda División B. In 2004–05 he contributed with 32 games and one goal – playoffs included – as the team returned to Segunda División after a 14-year absence; on 16 October 2004 he made his La Liga debut with the main squad, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 away draw against Real Betis.[6]

Deportivo

On 24 July 2006, Arbeloa signed for Deportivo de La Coruña, with Real Madrid being entitled to 50% of any transfer occurring in the following three years.[7] He said of his departure: "This is a strange situation for me; I have been playing for Real Madrid for five years, since I was 16", adding "Real always has the best players. There were eight defenders in the squad, something had to give in."[8]

During his six-month spell with the team from Galicia, Arbeloa featured in 21 official games, 18 of his league appearances being complete.

Liverpool

Reina.
Arbeloa playing for Liverpool in 2007

On 31 January 2007 Arbeloa signed for English club Liverpool, which was managed by countryman Rafael Benítez.[9][10] He made his Premier League debut on 10 February, coming as a substitute for Jermaine Pennant against Newcastle United.[11]

Arbeloa made his first start for the Reds against FC Barcelona, in the 2006–07 edition of the UEFA Champions League. He featured as a left-back at the Camp Nou as his stronger right foot could stop Lionel Messi who had a tendency to cut his runs towards the center of the field – Liverpool won it 2–1[12] and eventually 2–2 on aggregate, with the player also playing the full 90 minutes at Anfield.[13]

Arbeloa scored his first goal for Liverpool against Reading, on 7 April 2007.[14] He replaced Steve Finnan in the last minutes of the Champions League final, a 1–2 loss to A.C. Milan.[15]

Arbeloa's squad number changed from 2 to 17 for the 2007–08 season, due to personal preference. He cemented a first-team place in that campaign, playing 41 matches all competitions comprised as Liverpool finished in fourth position.

On 17 May 2009, in a match against West Bromwich Albion, Arbeloa was involved in an on-field clash with Liverpool teammate Jamie Carragher – the two had to be separated by Daniel Agger, Xabi Alonso, Emiliano Insúa and Pepe Reina. Carragher later explained that he clashed with Arbeloa as a moment of poor defending from the latter threatened the clean sheet, further explaining "we want to keep a clean sheet and we want Pepe to have a chance of the Golden Glove for the fourth season running"; Benítez refused to comment about the incident.[16][17]

Return to Real Madrid

Arbeloa against Espanyol in 2009

On 29 July 2009, it was announced that Real Madrid and Liverpool had reached an agreement on the transfer of Arbeloa, for a fee of £5 million and a five-year contract.[18][19]

After the departure of Míchel Salgado and Miguel Torres, Arbeloa was handed the number 2 jersey. He played the vast majority of his first season in his second stint as a left-back, netting his first goal on 13 February 2010 in a 3–0 away win against Xerez CD.[20] His second came in El Derbi madrileño on 28 March, scoring with his right foot past David de Gea in the 3–2 win over Atlético Madrid;[21] under new manager José Mourinho, he celebrated his 10th appearance in the Champions League with his first goal in the competition, netting from outside the penalty area in a 4–0 group stage success at AFC Ajax.[22]

In the 2011–12 campaign, due to Ricardo Carvalho's lengthy injury, Sergio Ramos was relocated to centre-back, and Arbeloa begun appearing almost exclusively on the right side of the back four. On 1 August 2012 he extended his link to the club, until June 2016.[23]

International career

Arbeloa on the ball during the Euro 2012 final.

On 1 February 2008 Arbeloa was called up to the Spanish national team for the first time, for a friendly with France in Málaga, but he was forced to pull out because of injury.[24] He made his international debut on 26 March against Italy, and was picked for UEFA Euro 2008's final stages, appearing in the first round match against Greece (2–1 win)[25] as the nation emerged victorious.

Arbeloa's versatility saw him being called up for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, again as Ramos understudy. His contribution in the latter tournament, which also ended in victory, consisted of 14 minutes in the group stage against Honduras.[26]

Vicente del Bosque selected Arbeloa for the following tournament, Euro 2012: due to Carles Puyol's absence, however, he was now part of the starting XI, alongside Ramos, Gerard Piqué and Jordi Alba, with Spain only conceding once in six contests and winning the tournament.

Club statistics

As of 9 April 2016[27][28]
Club Season La Liga Copa del Rey Supercopa de España Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Castilla 2003–04 220———220
2004–05 280———280
2005–06 340———340
Total 840———840
Real Madrid 2004–05 2020—0040
Deportivo 2006–07 20000—00200
Season Premier League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool 2006–07 91000050141
2007–08 280103090410
2008–09 2912000120431
Total 6623030260982
Club Season La Liga Copa del Rey Supercopa de España Europe1 Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Madrid 2009–10 30220—60382
2010–11 26080—91431
2011–12 260300090380
2012–13 250602070400
2013–14 18080—41301
2014–15 2213000101352
2015–16 5010—2080
Total 1523310204732326
Career total 3245360507334388

1 Includes UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Honours

Club

Real Madrid

Country

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of players" (PDF). FIFA.com. 4 June 2010. p. 29. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Player profile". Real Madrid. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Arbeloa es el jugador 'número 12'" [Arbeloa is player 'number 12'] (in Spanish). Marca. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "El comodín de la defensa" [The joker in defense] (in Spanish). El País. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Álvaro Arbeloa, el espartano incansable" [Álvaro Arbeloa, tireless spartan] (in Spanish). Defensa Central. 19 February 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Ni ambición" [No ambition] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 17 October 2004. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "El Madrid traspasa a Arbeloa al Deportivo" [Madrid sells Arbeloa to Deportivo] (in Spanish). Merca Fútbol. 24 July 2006. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Alvaro Arbeloa se marcha al Depor" [Alvaro Arbeloa goes to Depor] (in Spanish). 86400. 25 July 2006. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Reds swoop for Spanish pair". Liverpool F.C. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "Arbeloa and Duran join Liverpool". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Tactical formation". Football-Lineups. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2007.
  12. ↑ "Barcelona 1–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 21 February 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Liverpool 0–1 Barcelona (agg 2–2)". BBC Sport. 6 March 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Reading 1–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 7 April 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  15. ↑ "AC Milan 2–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 23 May 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "West Brom 0–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "Smells like team spirit – when things are so bad, even your team-mates attack...". Mail Online. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "Comunicado oficial" [Official announcement] (in Spanish). Real Madrid. 29 July 2009. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Arbeloa completes return to Madrid". UEFA.com. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "Xerez 0 – Real Madrid 3". ESPN Soccernet. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "Real Madrid 3–2 Atlético Madrid". ESPN Soccernet. 28 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  22. ↑ "El Madrid da una exhibición ante el Ajax y pasará como primero a octavos" [Madrid performs solidly against Ajax and will reach knockout stage as first] (in Spanish). Real Madrid. 23 November 2010. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "Official announcement". Real Madrid. 1 August 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  24. ↑ Elkington, Mark (1 February 2008). "Update 2-Soccer-Krkic called up by Spain for France friendly". Reuters. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
  25. ↑ "Russia 2–0 Sweden & Greece 1–2 Spain". BBC Sport. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  26. ↑ "Spain 2–0 Honduras". BBC Sport. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  27. ↑ Álvaro Arbeloa at ESPN FC
  28. ↑ "Arbeloa". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 May 2014.

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