David Albelda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
David Albelda

Albelda as a Valencia player (2010)
Personal information
Full name	David Albelda Aliqués
Date of birth	(1977-09-01) 1 September 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth	La Pobla Llarga, Spain
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Villarreal B (manager)
Youth career
1992–1995	Alzira
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1996	Valencia B	31	(4)
1995–2013	Valencia	351	(6)
1996–1997	→ Villarreal (loan)	34	(0)
1998–1999	→ Villarreal (loan)	35	(2)
Total		451	(12)
International career
1996	Spain U18	8	(0)
1997	Spain U20	5	(1)
1998–2000	Spain U21	12	(1)
2000	Spain U23	6	(0)
2001–2008	Spain	51	(0)
Managerial career
2019–2021	Atzeneta
2023–2025	Villarreal C
2025–	Villarreal B
Medal record Representing  Spain Men's Football Silver 2000 Sydney Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

David Albelda Aliqués was born on September 1, 1977. He is a Spanish former professional footballer. He played as a defensive midfielder, which is a player who helps protect the defense and win the ball back.

Albelda spent most of his 18-year career playing for Valencia. He was the team captain for more than ten years. He played in 480 official matches for the club. With Valencia, he won five important trophies. These included two La Liga championships (Spain's top football league) and the 2004 UEFA Cup.

He also played for the Spanish national team in the 2000s. Albelda played 51 matches for Spain. He represented his country in two World Cups and at Euro 2004. After retiring as a player, he became a manager. He is currently the manager of Villarreal B.

Playing for Clubs

David Albelda was born in La Pobla Llarga, a town in the Valencian Community of Spain. He started his football journey as a central defender for a local team called UD Alzira.

He later joined Valencia CF. During his time there, he was loaned out twice to Villarreal CF. After these loan periods, he returned to Valencia for good in the 1999–2000 season.

Albelda became a very important player for Valencia. He helped the team win the La Liga championship in 2002 and again in 2004. He also helped them win the UEFA Cup in 2004. This competition is now known as the UEFA Europa League. In 2001, after another player named Gaizka Mendieta left, Albelda became the team captain.

In December 2007, the new coach, Ronald Koeman, made a decision to remove Albelda and two other teammates from the squad. This was surprising because Albelda had just signed a new contract until 2011. Albelda wanted to end his contract in a friendly way, but it was difficult.

However, in April 2008, Koeman was no longer the coach. The new manager, Voro, brought Albelda and his teammates back to the team. Valencia was in danger of being moved down to a lower league. Albelda returned to play in a match against FC Barcelona on May 4. He then started in a big 5–1 win against Levante UD, which helped Valencia stay in the top league.

For the 2008–09 season, Albelda continued to play regularly in midfield with his long-time teammate Rubén Baraja. He even played as a right-back in one match, showing his versatility.

Albelda in action for Valencia in 2012

From 2010 to 2013, Albelda played less often for Valencia due to some injuries. On June 10, 2013, it was announced that he would not continue his contract with the club. He left Valencia as a free agent and announced his retirement from playing football two months later.

Playing for Spain

David Albelda first played for the Spanish national team on September 5, 2001. This was in a match against Liechtenstein for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

He was part of the Spanish squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Spain in the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament.

Even after he was temporarily removed from the Valencia team, the national team coach, Luis Aragonés, still called him up for a friendly match in February 2008. However, Albelda did not make the final team for UEFA Euro 2008, which Spain went on to win.

Albelda also won a silver medal with the Spanish team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He also represented Spain at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship for younger players.

Becoming a Coach

After retiring as a player, David Albelda started his coaching career. On May 29, 2019, he became the manager of Tercera División side Atzeneta UE.

He led Atzeneta to their first-ever promotion to Segunda División B on July 26, 2020. They achieved this by winning their play-off match against CD Alcoyano.

On May 24, 2021, after his team was moved back down to a lower league, Albelda left Atzeneta. He returned to Villarreal CF in December 2023. There, he took charge of the C team in the Tercera Federación league.

On May 29, 2025, Albelda became the manager of Villarreal's reserve team in the Primera Federación. He took over from Miguel Álvarez.

Personal Life

David Albelda married Spanish model and presenter Vicen Fernández in 2007.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Honours

Valencia

• La Liga: 2001–02, 2003–04
• Supercopa de España: 1999
• UEFA Cup: 2003–04
• UEFA Super Cup: 2004
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 1999–2000, 2000–01

Spain U23

• Summer Olympics silver medal: 2000

See also

In Spanish: David Albelda para niños