Quick Facts
Biography
Álvaro Mejía Pérez (born 18 January 1982) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Qatari club Al-Shahaniya Sports Club mainly as a central defender.
Club career
Born in Madrid, Mejía started his football career at Las Rozas CF. He signed for Real Madrid in 1998, subsequently moving up the various junior ranks.
Mejía joined the third team for the 2001–02 season but moved shortly after into the B-side, being admitted to the main squad the following campaign and making his La Liga debut in a 2–1 home win against Villarreal CF on 21 January 2004 (90 minutes played). He also appeared in the season's UEFA Champions League on 3 March 2004 – again playing the full match – in a 1–0 home success over FC Bayern Munich in the round-of-16; in May 2004 he renewed his contract until 2010, and his appearance in the first team's defence was subsequently put to use in different positions.
The following year, Mejía appeared in just five games for Real Madrid all competitions combined, adding 26 league games the following two seasons, with his first and only goal coming in a 2–0 away win at Real Betis on 29 October 2005 after one minute on the pitch, having come on as a substitute for Carlos Diogo.
In July 2007, Mejía joined top flight newcomers Real Murcia on a four-year deal, and scored in the first league round, in a 2–1 home win against Real Zaragoza. A starter throughout the vast majority of the season, he faced relegation for the first time in his career.
On 30 July 2010, after Murcia dropped another division, Mejía joined AC Arles-Avignon in France, newly promoted to Ligue 1, on a one-year contract. In January of the following year he changed teams – and countries – again, signing for Turkish Süper Lig club Konyaspor.
On 13 July 2012, Mejía agreed to a one-year contract with UD Almería in the Spanish second division, after passing his medical. On 18 June 2014, after one season in the Superleague Greece with Ergotelis FC, he joined newly promoted Qatar Stars League side Al-Shahaniya Sports Club.
Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Real Madrid | 2003–04 | La Liga | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 2004–05 | La Liga | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2005–06 | La Liga | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| 2006–07 | La Liga | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 57 | 1 | ||
| Murcia | 2007–08 | La Liga | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 31 | 1 | |
| 2008–09 | Segunda División | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | Segunda División | 37 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | ||
| Total | 100 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | 106 | 4 | |||
| Arles-Avignon | 2010–11 | Ligue 1 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |
| Konyaspor | 2010–11 | Süper Lig | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | TFF First League | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | ||
| Total | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 42 | 2 | |||
| Almería | 2012–13 | Segunda División | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| Ergotelis | 2013–14 | Superleague Greece | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | |
| Al-Shahaniya | 2014–15 | Qatar Stars League | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | |
| Career total | 265 | 8 | 20 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 297 | 8 | ||
Honours
- La Liga: 2006–07