Álvaro Arbeloa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Álvaro Arbeloa

Arbeloa in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Álvaro Arbeloa Coca
Date of birth	(1983-01-17) 17 January 1983 (age 42)
Place of birth	Salamanca, Spain
Height	1.84 m
Playing position	Full-back
Club information
Current club	Real Madrid (youth)
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)
2009–2016	Real Madrid	153	(3)
2016–2017	West Ham United	3	(0)
Total		344	(5)
National team
2001	Spain U17	1	(0)
2001	Spain U19	4	(0)
2005	Spain U21	1	(0)
2008–2013	Spain	56	(0)
Teams managed
2020–	Real Madrid (youth)
Honours Representing  Spain FIFA World Cup Winner 2010 South Africa UEFA European Championship Winner 2008 Austria-Switzerland Winner 2012 Poland-Ukraine
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Álvaro Arbeloa Coca (born 17 January 1983) is a Spanish former professional footballer. He mostly played as a right-back, but could also play on the left side of defense. After retiring as a player, he became a manager for Real Madrid's youth teams.

Arbeloa started his career at Real Madrid, playing mostly for their reserve teams. In 2006, he moved to Deportivo. After half a season, he joined Liverpool in England, where he played 98 official matches over three seasons. In 2009, he returned to Real Madrid. He spent seven years there, winning eight major titles, including the Spanish League in 2012 and two Champions League titles.

Arbeloa played 56 games for the Spanish national team. He represented his country at the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2008, and Euro 2012. Spain won all three of these big tournaments with him on the team.

Club Career

Early Years and Real Madrid Beginnings

Álvaro Arbeloa was born in Salamanca, Spain. When he was four, his family moved to Zaragoza. He started playing football at a local club there, Real Zaragoza. At 18, he joined Real Madrid's youth system.

Arbeloa spent three full seasons playing for Real Madrid Castilla, which is Real Madrid's reserve team. For two of those seasons, they played in the Segunda División B, a lower league. In the 2004–05 season, he played 32 games and helped his team get promoted back to the Segunda División after 14 years. On 16 October 2004, he made his first appearance for Real Madrid's main team in a La Liga match. He came on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Real Betis.

Playing for Deportivo

On 24 July 2006, Arbeloa signed with Deportivo de La Coruña. Real Madrid kept the right to receive 50% of any future transfer fee for him. Arbeloa mentioned that leaving Real Madrid was "strange" because he had played for them since he was 16. He explained that Real Madrid always has the best players, and with eight defenders in the squad, someone had to leave.

During his six months with Deportivo, Arbeloa played in 21 official games. He started 18 of his league matches and played the full game.

Time at Liverpool

Arbeloa playing for Liverpool in 2007

Arbeloa moved to the English club Liverpool on 31 January 2007. The team was managed by his fellow countryman, Rafael Benítez. He played his first Premier League game on 10 February, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 loss to Newcastle United.

Arbeloa's first start for Liverpool was in a UEFA Champions League match against FC Barcelona. He played as a left-back at the Camp Nou stadium. His job was to stop Lionel Messi, who often cut inside from the right wing. Liverpool won that game 2–1. They also won the overall match-up 2-2 on away goals and Arbeloa played the full 90 minutes in the return game at Anfield.

Arbeloa scored his first goal for Liverpool on 7 April 2007, against Reading. He also came on as a substitute in the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final, where Liverpool lost 2–1 to A.C. Milan.

For the 2007–08 season, Arbeloa changed his jersey number from 2 to 17 because he preferred it. He became a regular starter that season, playing in 41 games as Liverpool finished fourth in the league.

In May 2009, during a match against West Bromwich Albion, Arbeloa had an argument on the field with his teammate Jamie Carragher. Other players had to separate them.

Returning to Real Madrid

Arbeloa playing for Real Madrid in 2012

On 29 July 2009, Real Madrid and Liverpool agreed on Arbeloa's transfer back to Real Madrid for about £5 million. He signed a five-year contract. After some other defenders left, he was given the number 2 jersey.

In his first season back at Real Madrid, Arbeloa mostly played as a left-back. He scored his first goal on 13 February 2010 in a 3–0 win against Xerez CD. His second goal came in the Madrid Derby against Atlético Madrid, helping his team win 3–2. Under new manager José Mourinho, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 4–0 win against AFC Ajax.

In the 2011–12 season, Arbeloa started playing almost always as a right-back. This happened because Ricardo Carvalho was injured, and Sergio Ramos moved to play in the center of defense. On 1 August 2012, he extended his contract with Real Madrid until June 2016.

Later, Arbeloa played less often for the team. In the 2015–16 season, he appeared in only nine matches across all competitions. Two of these were in the Champions League, which Real Madrid won for the second time in three years. On 8 May 2016, he announced that he would leave the club on 30 June.

Playing for West Ham United

On 31 August 2016, Arbeloa returned to the Premier League after seven years. He signed with West Ham United for one season. He made his debut on 21 September, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup.

West Ham United released Arbeloa at the end of the season. He had only played four competitive games for them. In June 2017, at the age of 34, he announced his retirement from professional football after a 15-year career.

Becoming a Coach

Arbeloa returned to Real Madrid in September 2020. He was appointed as the manager of their under-14 team. Two years later, he moved up to coach the Juvenil A team, which is a higher youth level.

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. This was for a friendly match against France. However, he had to withdraw due to an injury. He finally made his debut on 26 March against Italy. He was then chosen to play in the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament. He played in the group stage match against Greece, which Spain won 2–1. Spain went on to win the entire tournament.

Because he could play in different defensive positions, Arbeloa was also called up for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In both tournaments, he was a backup to Sergio Ramos. In the World Cup, which Spain also won, Arbeloa played 14 minutes in a 2–0 victory over Honduras during the group stage.

The national team coach, Vicente del Bosque, selected Arbeloa for the next big tournament, UEFA Euro 2012. Because Carles Puyol was injured, Arbeloa became a regular starter in the defense alongside Ramos, Gerard Piqué, and Jordi Alba. Spain's defense was very strong in this tournament, only letting in one goal in six games. Spain won the tournament again, making it a fantastic achievement for Arbeloa and his team.

Honours

Liverpool

• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2006–07

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2011–12
• Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14; runner-up: 2012–13
• Supercopa de España: 2012; runner-up: 2011, 2014
• UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2014
• UEFA Super Cup: 2014

Spain

• FIFA World Cup: 2010
• UEFA European Championship: 2008, 2012
• FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 2013; third place: 2009

See also

In Spanish: Álvaro Arbeloa para niños