Roberto Soldado

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Soldado and the second or maternal family name is Rillo.
Roberto Soldado

Soldado playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2013
Personal information
Full name Roberto Soldado Rillo[1]
Date of birth (1985-05-27) 27 May 1985
Place of birth Valencia, Spain
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Villarreal
Number 9
Youth career
1990–2000 Don Bosco
2000–2002 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2002–2006 Real Madrid B 120 (63)
2006–2008 Real Madrid 16 (2)
2006–2007 → Osasuna (loan) 30 (11)
2008–2010 Getafe 60 (29)
2010–2013 Valencia 101 (59)
2013–2015 Tottenham Hotspur 52 (7)
2015– Villarreal 26 (5)
National team‡
2001 Spain U15 2 (0)
2001–2003 Spain U17 18 (12)
2003 Spain U18 3 (3)
2002–2004 Spain U19 9 (5)
2004–2007 Spain U21 9 (6)
2007–2013 Spain 12 (7)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:09, 3 April 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2013

Roberto Soldado Rillo (Spanish pronunciation: [roˈβerto solˈdaðo ˈriʎo]; born 27 May 1985) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Villarreal CF as a striker.

After emerging through Real Madrid's youth system, he went on to appear in only 27 official games for the first team (four goals). However, he became a more regular La Liga player and goalscorer for Osasuna, Getafe, and Valencia, and secured a £26 million move to Tottenham Hotspur. After two unsuccessful seasons in England, he returned to the Spanish top division with Villarreal.

An international since 2007, Soldado represented Spain at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

Club career

Real Madrid

Born in Valencia, Valencian Community, Soldado joined Real Madrid at the age of 15 from native region small club CF Don Bosco. After years of prolific goalscoring with the club's B-team, he made his first team debut on 23 October 2005 against Valencia CF, playing 18 minutes in a 1–2 home loss. Previously, on 28 September, he had scored an 86th-minute winner after just six minutes on the pitch, in the season's UEFA Champions League contest against Olympiakos FC (2–1 home win),[3] adding a late equalizer against CA Osasuna and another in a 3–2 success at Racing de Santander as Real finished second in the league, also netting in the 4–0 win against Athletic Bilbao for the Copa del Rey.

In the 2005–06 campaign, with Castilla, Soldado scored 19 goals in Segunda División – two penalties – to become joint-second highest goalscorer, alongside Ciudad de Murcia's José Juan Luque, one goal behind Ikechukwu Uche of Recreativo de Huelva.[4]

On 24 July 2006, Soldado officially became the first member of Real Madrid to leave under new manager Fabio Capello and new president Ramón Calderón, moving to fellow La Liga club Osasuna on a season-long loan. Set to score goals and return to Real Madrid as a better footballer, he stated: "The idea is to leave and have a good season with a first division team scoring goals, and to develop as a footballer".[5] Osasuna had finished fourth in the previous campaign, to earn themselves a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, hence Soldado chose them over a number of other Spanish clubs competing for his presence. "The following year I want to return to the Real first team. I chose Osasuna because it gives me the chance to play in the Champions League", he said to Real Madrid's website after his signing; he finished the campaign with a total of 15 official goals, making him the Navarrese team's top scorer.

Soldado returned to Real Madrid where, on 11 July 2007, he renewed his contract with the team until 30 June 2012.[6] In a 21 July interview with Spanish newspaper Diario AS, he revealed that he would be wearing number 9 shirt in his second stint: "During the preseason I'll be number 9, the number I've always dreamed of. When I step onto the pitch at the Bernabéu I'll remember all the hard work it took to get here".[7] However, he finished the campaign with just five league appearances (one start, at Deportivo de La Coruña), the second with fewer minutes for the league champions.[8][9]

Getafe

In late July 2008 Soldado was sold to Getafe CF for €4 million, signing a four-year deal with the side from the Madrid outskirts,[10] like former Real midfielder Esteban Granero the previous week. He scored his first goal for the club on 19 October 2008 in a 1–2 away loss against Málaga CF, adding two in another away defeat, with Osasuna (2–5), two months later;[11] in between, he was sent off in a 0–3 home loss against Valencia, for head-butting Carlos Marchena.[12]

On 25 January 2009 Soldado netted a hat-trick as an early substitute, in a 5–1 home win against Sporting de Gijón.[13] On 22 March, as Getafe struggled in the league, he scored twice to secure another home triumph, 2–1 with Recreativo de Huelva.[14] The following month he netted the opener against his first professional club, albeit in a 2–3 away defeat.[15]

Soldado started 2009–10 in impressive fashion, scoring three past Racing Santander in a 4–1 away win.[16] After a long scoring drought, he added three more against newly promoted Xerez CD, in a 5–1 home triumph.[17]

On 19 December 2009, Soldado took his league tally to ten after scoring twice in a 2–1 win at Sevilla FC – with this achievement, he became Getafe's best ever scorer in the first division, surpassing Manu del Moral and Daniel Güiza;[18] he missed one month of competition due to injury but, in his return to action, scored from a bicycle kick, earning his side a point in the 1–1 home draw against Gijón.[19]

Valencia

Soldado playing for Valencia in August 2011

In early June 2010, after a successful year at Getafe – 16 league goals, and the club qualified for the UEFA Europa League – Soldado returned to his hometown and signed for Valencia for €10 million, replacing FC Barcelona-bound David Villa. In his first official game, on 14 September, for the Champions League group stage, he contributed one goal in the Che's 4–0 win at Bursaspor;[20] when the two teams met at the Mestalla Stadium in November, he netted two more, in a 6–1 success.[21]

On 2 April 2011, Soldado scored all of Valencia's goals in a 4–2 away win against former club Getafe.[22] In the next fixture, a local derby against Villarreal CF, he netted two more in a 5–0 home thrashing,[23] and finished the season as joint-fourth top scorer as his team ranked third and qualified to the Champions League.

In the first game of the 2011–12 season (second round), Soldado scored four goals against Racing Santander – one in his own net – in an eventual 4–3 home win. His last two goals arrived in the final three minutes.[24] In late November 2011, in two home games separated by only five days, he added five more: two in a 2–3 home loss against Real Madrid[25] and three in a 7–0 routing of K.R.C. Genk for the Champions League group stage.[26]

Soldado scored his 25th official goal of the campaign on 18 March 2012, netting all of his team's goals in a 3–0 win at Bilbao.[27] In late June, he extended his contract until 2017.[28]

On 23 October 2012, Soldado scored a hat-trick against FC BATE Borisov, in a 3–0 success for the Champions League group stage in Minsk.[29]

Tottenham Hotspur

Soldado and Christian Eriksen kicking off for Tottenham against Cardiff City

Valencia agreed a deal with Tottenham Hotspur for the transfer of Soldado on 1 August 2013, for a fee of £26 million,[30] which would break the English club's previous record of £17 million paid for Paulinho earlier in the summer. The transfer was completed four days later after a successful medical.[31]

On his Premier League debut on 18 August, Soldado scored Tottenham's winning goal with a penalty kick in a 1–0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.[32] Four days later, he scored his first goals in European competition for Spurs, netting a brace in a 5–0 win at FC Dinamo Tbilisi in the Europa League playoff round.[33]

On 20 October, Soldado scored his first Premier League goal from open play, in a 2–0 victory against Aston Villa at Villa Park.[34] Two months later he netted his first hat-trick for Tottenham, against FC Anzhi Makhachkala in the Europa League group stage (4–1).[35]

Soldado scored the only goal against relegation-threatened Cardiff City on 2 March 2014, his first goal of the calendar year for Tottenham.[36] He netted just six times in his debut season, only two of which came from open play, and was included in The Telegraph website's list of the "10 worst buys of the Premier League season".[37]

On 18 October 2014, making his first league start of the campaign, Soldado set up Christian Eriksen's goal during the match against Manchester City, also having a penalty saved by Joe Hart in an eventual 1–4 away loss.[38] His first goal came on 30 November, the decisive in a 2–1 home victory over Everton.[39]

Villarreal

On 14 August 2015, Soldado returned to his country's top flight, signing a three-year contract with Villarreal CF for a reported £10 million.[40][41] He scored in his very first appearance, helping to a 1–1 draw at Real Betis in which he started and retired injured midway through the second half.[42]

On 13 December 2015, Soldado netted the game's only goal to help defeat his former club Real Madrid at the Estadio El Madrigal.[43]

International career

Soldado lining up for Spain in a friendly against Chile in 2013

Soldado represented Spain at all its youth levels, scoring a total of 26 goals. He was first called up to the first team in June 2007 for two UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers, against Latvia and Liechtenstein, playing in both;[44] however, he did not make it to the finals in Switzerland and Austria, as the nation emerged victorious.

On 29 February 2012, after nearly five years of absence, Soldado returned to the national team: he came on as a substitute for Fernando Llorente at half-time of a friendly with Venezuela in Málaga, scoring twice after only seven minutes on the pitch; afterwards, he gained a penalty and the sending off of Fernando Amorebieta, but missed the ensuing attempt, only to close the score at 5–0 in the 83rd minute.[45]

Manager Vicente del Bosque selected Soldado to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup squad. He scored in the opener on 16 June, helping to a 2–1 win against Uruguay.[46]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 3 April 2016[47][48]
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Madrid B 2002–03 267——267
2003–04 3116——3116
2004–05 3421——3421
2005–06 2919——2919
Total 12063——12063
Real Madrid 2004–05 00200020
2005–06 1124121174
Total 1126121194
Osasuna 2006–07 3011311114413
Total 3011311114413
Real Madrid 2007–08 50201080
Total 50201080
Getafe 2008–09 341300—3413
2009–10 261664—3220
Total 602964—6633
Valencia 2010–11 341831764425
2011–12 3217631375127
2012–13 352442744630
Total 10159136271714181
Tottenham Hotspur 2013–14 28610753611
2014–15 2418282405
Total 527921577616
Villarreal 2015–16 2653192388
Total 2653192388
Career total 39317538156026490215

International goals

Score and Result lists Spain's goals first

Honours

Club

Real Madrid
Tottenham

International

Spain
Spain U19

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Barclays Premier League squad numbers 2013/14". Premier League. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Player profile". Premier League. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Madrid's soldier of fortune; UEFA.com, 29 September 2005
  4. ↑ "Goleadores de 2005–2006" [2005–2006 top scorers]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Real striker Soldado to join Osasuna; ESPN Soccernet, 24 July 2006
  6. ↑ Madrid reward Ramos and Soldado; UEFA.com, 12 July 2007
  7. ↑ "Real Madrid: Soldado: "Estoy muy feliz por volver a mi casa"" [Real Madrid: Soldado: "I am very happy to return to my home"] (in Spanish). Noticias. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Roberto Soldado: "Schuster está un poco al margen del equipo"" [Roberto Soldado: "Schuster is not totally in the same page with the team"] (in Spanish). 20 Minutos. 27 December 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Roberto Soldado: "Creo que a Schuster no le gusto mucho"" [Roberto Soldado: "I don't think Schuster likes me very much"] (in Spanish). 20 Minutos. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  10. ↑ Soldado set to seal Getafe switch; UEFA.com, 30 July 2008
  11. ↑ Osasuna 5–2 Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 21 December 2008
  12. ↑ Getafe 0–3 Valencia; ESPN Soccernet, 9 November 2008
  13. ↑ Getafe 5–1 Sporting Gijon; ESPN Soccernet, 25 January 2009
  14. ↑ Getafe 2–1 Recreativo Huelva; ESPN Soccernet, 22 March 2009
  15. ↑ Real Madrid 3–2 Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 21 April 2009
  16. ↑ Racing Santander 1–4 Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 30 August 2009
  17. ↑ Getafe 5–1 Xerez; ESPN Soccernet, 29 November 2009
  18. ↑ Soldado stun Sanchez Pizjuan; ESPN Soccernet, 19 December 2009
  19. ↑ Getafe edge closer to European place; ESPN Soccernet, 4 May 2010
  20. ↑ Valencia new boys spoil Bursaspor debut; UEFA.com, 14 September 2010
  21. ↑ Valencia vanquish Bursaspor to ease through; UEFA.com, 24 November 2010
  22. ↑ Soldado strikes rout Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 2 April 2011
  23. ↑ Valencia put five past Villarreal; ESPN Soccernet, 10 April 2011
  24. ↑ Soldado late show sinks Santander; ESPN Soccernet, 27 August 2011
  25. ↑ Real pass Los Che test; ESPN Soccernet, 19 November 2011
  26. ↑ Soldado spearheads Valencia romp; UEFA.com, 23 November 2011
  27. ↑ Soldado treble sinks Athletic; ESPN Soccernet, 18 March 2012
  28. ↑ Soldado signs new deal; ESPN Soccernet, 23 June 2012
  29. ↑ "Soldado treble sinks BATE". ESPN FC. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  30. ↑ "Transfer news: Valencia announce £26m fee with Tottenham agreed for Roberto Soldado – but it's not yet a done deal". The Independent. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  31. ↑ "Transfer news: Roberto Soldado completes move to Tottenham from Valencia". Sky Sports. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  32. ↑ Wilkinson, Kerry (18 August 2013). "Crystal Palace 0–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  33. ↑ Magowan, Alistair (22 August 2013). "Dinamo Tbilisi 0–5 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  34. ↑ Winter, Henry (20 October 2013). "Aston Villa 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2: match report". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  35. ↑ Williamson, Laura (12 December 2013). "Tottenham 4 Anzhi Makhachkala 1: Soldado bags treble as Spurs keep up 100% record". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  36. ↑ Barlow, Matt (1 March 2014). "Tottenham 1–0 Cardiff: Soldado scores first goal this year as Solskjaer's troubled side fall to another defeat". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  37. ↑ "The 10 worst buys of the Premier League season: in pictures". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  38. ↑ "Manchester City 4–1 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  39. ↑ Hytner, David (30 November 2014). "Everton undone against Tottenham thanks to Roberto Soldado winner". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  40. ↑ "A great signing for the Yellow Submarine". Villarreal CF. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  41. ↑ "Roberto Soldado joins Villarreal after fee agreed with Tottenham". ESPN FC. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  42. ↑ "Rubén Castro llega a tiempo" [Rubén Castro arrives on time]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  43. ↑ "Las Ligas se pierden así" [That is how Leagues are lost]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  44. ↑ Solid Spain continue to climb; UEFA.com, 2 June 2007
  45. ↑ "Celestiales" [Heavenly]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  46. ↑ Dominant Spain down Uruguay; FIFA.com, 16 June 2013
  47. ↑ Roberto Soldado at ESPN FC
  48. ↑ "Soldado". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 December 2015.

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