Álvaro Novo

Álvaro Novo Ramírez (born 16 May 1978) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right midfielder.
Over the course of eight seasons he amassed La Liga totals of 183 games and 11 goals, with Mallorca, Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad.

Football career

Novo was born in Córdoba, Andalusia. After finishing his football grooming at local Córdoba CF he started as a senior at lowly RCD Carabanchel in Madrid, helping the club to its only two third division years, after which he left in 1998.

Novo then moved to RCD Mallorca, first playing with the reserves, competing one season in the second level and being relegated. He made his debuts for the main squad in the year 2000, then became an undisputed starter for the Balearic Islands side, partnering in the wings with Jovan Stanković.

After a third place in La Liga in the 2000–01 campaign, with the subsequent qualification to the UEFA Champions League, and the Copa del Rey conquest in 2003, Novo left for Atlético Madrid, rejoining former Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano whom asked for his signing repeatedly: after the coach was replaced for 2004–05, he disappeared from the team's lineups (only five matches).

In the 2005 summer, Novo signed with Real Sociedad. Again, a coaching change – José Mari Bakero was fired – made him go from an important offensive unit to a third-string squad member, the Basque could not release him due to his high wages and the player also refused to go on loan to neighbours SD Eibar; his link expired in June 2008, and he was released.