Quick Facts
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Biography
Alberto Tomás Botía Rabasco (Spanish pronunciation: [alˈβerto βoˈti.a raˈβasko]; born 27 January 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Greek club Olympiacos F.C. as a central defender.
Club career
Barcelona
Botía was born in Alquerías, Region of Murcia. Aged just eight years old he began playing for CD Beniel, soon joining neighbours Real Murcia and remaining there for three years. In 2003 he moved to FC Barcelona, being inserted into its B-team after a further three seasons.
In late May 2009 Botía, alongside fellow youth graduate Marc Muniesa, was first called to the main squad for a UEFA Champions League match against Manchester United. He made his official debut on the 30th, coming on as a second-half substitute for Gerard Piqué in the final game of the campaign, a 1–1 away draw against Deportivo de La Coruña.
Sporting Gijón
On 14 July 2009, Botía was sent to fellow La Liga club Sporting de Gijón on a season-long loan. An undisputed starter throughout his first year in the top tier, he decided to extend his stay with the Asturians in a four-year deal, with Barcelona keeping a buy-back clause for the first three.
Sevilla
On 8 August 2012, Botía signed with Sevilla FC for a fee believed to be in the region of €3 million. He was brought in with the help of the Doyen Group, an Anglo-Portuguese investment firm. He made his official debut for his new team 18 days later, playing the second half of a 1–1 away draw against Granada CF.
On 23 February 2013, Botía put the visitors ahead at former side Barcelona, but in an eventual 1–2 loss. For the 2013–14 campaign, after 25 official appearances for the Andalusia team, he was loaned to Elche CF alongside teammates Manu del Moral and Miroslav Stevanović.
Olympiacos
On 1 August 2014, Botía joined Greek club Olympiacos FC on a four-year contract, for €2 million. He contributed with 25 appearances all competitions comprised in his debut season, helping his team win the double.
Botía became an undisputed starter in 2015–16, under new manager Marco Silva. On 29 September, he played the full 90 minutes in a 3–2 win at Arsenal for the Champions League group stage and, on 25 October, scored both of his team's goals in a 2–1 away success over Atromitos FC, becoming the club's first defender to achieve this since Avraam Papadopoulos two years earlier.
International career
On 7 February 2007, Botía was summoned for the Spanish under-19 team, for the "XXXIII International Atlantic Cup". Almost exactly two years later he received his first under-21 callup, for a friendly with Norway.
On 25 August 2011, Botía was selected for the first time to the full side by manager Vicente del Bosque, for games against Chile and Liechtenstein. He was included in Luis Milla's squad for the 2012 Summer Olympics, playing the last two matches against Honduras and Morocco as the team were eliminated without scoring a goal.
Club statistics
- As of 8 December 2016
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barcelona B | 2006–07 | 15 | 0 | – | – | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | 17 | 1 | – | – | 17 | 1 | |||
| 2008–09 | 27 | 2 | – | – | 27 | 2 | |||
| Total | 59 | 3 | – | – | 59 | 3 | |||
| Barcelona | 2008–09 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Sporting Gijón | 2009–10 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 27 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 29 | 1 | ||
| 2011–12 | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 36 | 1 | ||
| Total | 88 | 2 | 4 | 0 | – | 92 | 2 | ||
| Sevilla | 2012–13 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 1 | – | 25 | 2 | |
| Total | 18 | 1 | 7 | 1 | – | 25 | 2 | ||
| Elche | 2013–14 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 35 | 0 | |
| Total | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 35 | 0 | ||
| Olympiacos | 2014–15 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 26 | 2 |
| 2015–16 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |
| 2016–17 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 19 | 2 | |
| Total | 43 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 72 | 8 | |
| Career totals | 242 | 13 | 22 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 284 | 15 | |
Honours
Club
- Barcelona
- La Liga: 2008–09
- UEFA Champions League: 2008–09
- Olympiacos
- Superleague Greece: 2014–15, 2015–16
- Greek Football Cup: 2014–15; Runner-up 2015–16
Country
- Spain U20
- Mediterranean Games: 2009
- Spain U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2011
- "Botía – Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- "Olympiakos win Greek league for the fifth straight year". The Independent. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- ITA – ESP 1:2 (0:0) Archived 15 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine.; Pescara 2009, 4 July 2009