Pablo Ibáñez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Pablo Ibáñez

Pablo playing for Atlético Madrid in 2007
Personal information
Full name	Pablo Ibáñez Tébar
Date of birth	(1981-08-03) 3 August 1981 (age 44)
Place of birth	Madrigueras, Spain
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Youth career
1997–1999	Albacete
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2002	Albacete B
2000–2001	→ Caravaca (loan)
2002–2004	Albacete	75	(2)
2004–2010	Atlético Madrid	156	(9)
2010–2011	West Bromwich Albion	10	(1)
2011–2013	Birmingham City	19	(0)
Total		260	(12)
International career
2002–2003	Spain U21	10	(0)
2004–2008	Spain	23	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Pablo Ibáñez Tébar (born August 3, 1981), often called just Pablo, is a Spanish former professional footballer. He played as a centre back, which is a defensive position in football.

Pablo started his football journey in his hometown of Madrigueras. He joined the youth teams of Albacete, a local professional club. In 2003, he helped Albacete get promoted from the second division to La Liga, Spain's top football league.

A year later, he joined Atlético Madrid, a big club where he played almost 200 games over six seasons. Later in his career, he moved to England. He played one season with Premier League club West Bromwich Albion and two seasons with Football League Championship club Birmingham City.

Pablo also played for his country. He played 10 games for Spain's under-21 team. Then, in 2004, he made his first appearance for the senior national team. He played 23 games for Spain and represented his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Club Career Highlights

Starting Out in Spain

Pablo was born in Madrigueras, Spain. His father was a police officer. Pablo grew up in Leganés, near Madrid, and played football there. When he was 14, he joined the youth teams of Albacete Balompié. He started as a midfielder or forward but soon became a central defender.

He played for Albacete's B team and even helped them reach the play-offs for promotion in 2002.

Success with Albacete

In 2002, Pablo joined Albacete's main team. He quickly became a key player. He played 38 out of 42 matches in the Segunda División (second division). Albacete finished third that season and were promoted to La Liga, the top league in Spain.

His strong performances caught the eye of bigger clubs. He also got called up to play for the Spanish under-21 team. In his first season in La Liga (2003–04), Pablo played almost every game. Albacete finished 14th, staying in the top league.

Moving to Atlético Madrid

In 2004, Pablo signed a four-year contract with Atlético Madrid. He joined his former coach, César Ferrando, who had also moved to Atlético. At Atlético, Pablo formed a strong defensive partnership with Luis Amaranto Perea. In their first season (2004–05), Atlético had one of the best defenses in La Liga.

Pablo even scored three goals that season, making him one of their top scorers. His good play led to him being selected for the senior national team. He and Perea continued to play well in the 2005–06 season.

In 2006, there was some talk about Pablo possibly joining Real Madrid, Atlético's big rivals. However, he stayed with Atlético and apologized to the fans, saying he wanted to remain at the club. He continued to be an important player, helping Atlético finish fourth in the league in 2008 and qualify for the Champions League.

Towards the end of his time at Atlético, he played less often. His last game for the club was in December 2009.

Playing in England

In 2010, Pablo moved to England and joined West Bromwich Albion, a team that had just been promoted to the Premier League. He made his debut on the first day of the season. He scored his first goal for West Brom in a League Cup match against Leyton Orient. He played 10 Premier League games that season.

In August 2011, Pablo signed a two-year contract with Birmingham City, a club in the Football League Championship (the second division). He made his debut for Birmingham in a Europa League game. He played 17 games in his first season with Birmingham.

In his second season (2012–13), injuries affected his playing time. He played only six league games that year. At the end of his contract, he left Birmingham City.

International Career

Playing for Spain's Youth Teams

Pablo first played for the Spanish under-21 team in November 2002. He played the whole game as Spain won 7–1. He was a regular player for the under-21 team and earned 10 caps (appearances). His last games for the under-21s were in the play-offs for the 2004 European Under-21 Championships.

Representing the Senior National Team

In October 2004, Pablo was called up to the senior national squad for the first time. He made his international debut on November 17, 2004, in a friendly match against England in Madrid. He came on as a substitute in the second half.

During the World Cup qualification process, Pablo became a regular starter for Spain, often playing alongside Carles Puyol. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, he and Puyol played in the first two group games, helping Spain qualify for the knockout stages.

In the quarter-finals against France, Spain lost, which was the first time Pablo had played in a losing Spain team. He continued to play for Spain in 2006 but appeared less frequently after that. His last international game was a friendly win against France in February 2008. He earned a total of 23 caps for the senior national team.

Playing Style

Pablo was a tall player, standing at 1.92 meters (about 6 feet 3 inches). He was very good at heading the ball and was known for his speed when he was younger. His former coach, César Ferrando, said Pablo had all the qualities needed for a defender, including being able to predict what would happen and keeping his play simple. Ferrando also noted that Pablo rarely fouled opponents because he was so good at defending without needing to.

Later in his career, Pablo relied more on his experience. He was known for his smart positioning and tackling, preferring to read the game rather than getting into tough physical battles.

Personal Life

Pablo married Maika in Albacete in 2007. They have a son named Adrián and a daughter named Paula.

In 2008, Pablo, along with two other footballers from his home province, Santi Denia and Andrés Iniesta, received a special award called the Medalla de Oro de Honor y Gratitud (Gold Medal of Honour and Gratitude). They received this award not just for their football skills, but also for being great role models for young people in their region.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances

Achievements

Albacete

• Segunda División promotion: 2002–03 (promoted to La Liga)

Atlético Madrid

• Copa del Rey: runner-up 2009–10 (finished second in the Spanish Cup)

See also

In Spanish: Pablo Ibáñez para niños