Quick Facts
Biography
Alberto Junior Rodríguez Valdelomar, nicknamed El mudo (mute) (born 31 March 1984), is a Peruvian professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Atlético Junior and the Peru national team.
Club career
Born in Lima, Rodríguez joined Sporting Cristal's youth system at the age of 16. During his four full seasons he never appeared in less than 30 Primera División matches, with the capital side winning three Clausura titles.
On 28 December 2006, Rodríguez signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Primeira Liga club S.C. Braga and, on 18 February 2007, played his first league match against U.D. Leiria. He finished his first season in Portugal with nine appearances, helping the Minho team finish fourth.
In the following four campaigns, Rodríguez was irregularly used by Braga due to constant injury problems, but contributed with 20 games as the team finished in a best-ever second place in 2010, adding seven contests in their subsequent runner-up run in the UEFA Europa League. On 27 May 2011, he penned a four-year contract with Sporting Clube de Portugal.
Under former Braga boss Domingos Paciência, Rodríguez's first and only season with Sporting was again greatly undermined by physical problems, and he only appeared in 13 official matches. In mid-July 2012 he was loaned to Deportivo de La Coruña in La Liga, moving to the Spanish club as many teammates, but returned to Lisbon after failing on his medical.
On 24 July 2012, Rodríguez bought out his contract with Sporting and signed for one year with fellow league side Rio Ave FC. After returning to his country, he represented in quick succession Sporting Cristal, FBC Melgar, Club Universitario de Deportes and Atlético Junior.
International career
Rodríguez started representing Peru during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and quickly became a defensive cornerstone for the national side. He appeared for the country at the 2007 Copa América, in an eventual quarter-final exit.
Rodríguez was also selected for the 2011 Copa América squad, being an important defensive unit as the Sergio Markarián-led team finished in third place in Argentina.
Honours
Club
- Sporting Cristal
- Peruvian Primera División: Clausura 2002, 2004, 2005
- Braga
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2008
- UEFA Europa League: Runner-up 2010–11
- Sporting
- Taça de Portugal: Runner-up 2011–12
- Rio Ave
- Taça de Portugal: Runner-up 2013–14
- Taça da Liga: Runner-up 2013–14
Country
- Copa América: Third-place 2011