Raúl Albiol

Raúl Albiol Tortajada (Spanish: [raˈul alˈβjol tortaˈxaða], Valencian: [raˈuɫ aɫβiˈɔɫ toɾtaˈdʒaða]; born 4 September 1985) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Italian club S.S.C. Napoli and the Spanish national team.
A physically strong player who excels in the air, his main asset is his versatility, as he can play as a central defender, right back or defensive midfielder. He spent most of his career with Valencia and Real Madrid, winning five major titles with both teams combined; over the course of ten seasons he amassed La Liga totals of 229 games and seven goals.
A Spanish international since 2007, Albiol represented the country in two World Cups and as many European Championships, winning three tournaments including the 2010 World Cup.

Valencia

Born in Vilamarxant, Valencian Community, Albiol started playing football with two modest clubs in his native region, moving to local giants Valencia CF before celebrating his 10th birthday. He made his first-team debut on 24 September 2003 in a UEFA Cup first-round tie against AIK Fotboll, at 18 years and 20 days, but spent the first year still registered with the B-side.

In August 2004, whilst travelling to sign a deal to join Getafe CF on loan, Albiol was involved in a serious car accident, being put in intensive care. He managed to recover completely and, after reappearing in January, played a very important part in the Madrid side surviving the relegation battle: he made his La Liga debut on 15 January 2005 in a 1–1 home draw with Atlético Madrid, and scored against another club from the capital, Real Madrid, in a 2–1 home triumph two months later.

Albiol then returned the following season to Valencia, and quickly established himself as first-choice due to his versatility. In the opening game of the 2006–07's league campaign he scored the winner (his only goal of the season) against Real Betis in a 2–1 home win. He also netted from long distance against Olympiacos F.C. on 12 September 2006, in that year's UEFA Champions League, which Valencia won 4–2 away; during his four-season spell with the first team, his smallest output consisted of 29 games, and he helped the Che to the 2007–08 Copa del Rey.

Real Madrid

Albiol taking on Lucho González of Marseille in the Champions League in 2009

On 25 June 2009 Albiol joined Real Madrid, for a fee thought to be in the region of €15 million, becoming the first Spanish player signed by Florentino Pérez upon his return to the presidency. On 2 July, he was officially presented at the Santiago Bernabéu, receiving the No. 18 jersey from Rubén de la Red, who was absent for the season due to unresolved heart problems.

Albiol scored his first goal for the Merengues on 8 December, in a 3–1 Champions League win at Olympique de Marseille. During the league campaign he was an undisputed starter for Real, mainly due to Pepe's serious knee injury.

In 2010–11, Albiol was relegated to the bench as Real Madrid brought in another player for his position, Ricardo Carvalho (a compatriot of newly appointed manager José Mourinho), only appearing in the league through injury or suspension to teammates (Pepe again missed several matches due to physical problems). He did start, however, in the club's domestic cup campaign, helping Real to reach the final. On 26 January 2011, in the semi-final first leg against Sevilla FC (1–0 away win), he cleared a Luís Fabiano shot just before it crossed the goal line. On 16 April, he was sent off for fouling former Valencia teammate David Villa inside the box during the El Clásico, which resulted in the first goal in a 1–1 home draw, going on to miss the Spanish Cup final four days later – through suspension – a 1–0 win against the same opponent.

On 6 August 2012, Albiol renewed his contract with Real Madrid until June 2017. On 27 November, in his first game as team captain, at home against CD Alcoyano for the Spanish Cup, he had to be stretchered off after only one minute, being sidelined for approximately one month with an ankle injury.

Albiol scored his second official goal for Real Madrid on 8 May 2013, heading from a corner kick for his team's first in an eventual 6–2 home win against Málaga CF.

Napoli

Albiol on the ball in a friendly against Barcelona in 2014

On 21 July 2013 Albiol was sold to S.S.C. Napoli in Italy for €12 million, signing a four-year contract with the Rafael Benítez-led team. He made his Serie A debut on 25 August, in a 3–0 home win over Bologna FC 1909.

Albiol scored his first goal for his new team on 25 January 2014, an 88th-minute equaliser in a 1–1 home draw against A.C. Chievo Verona. On 3 May, he played the entire final of the Coppa Italia, helping to a 3–1 success over ACF Fiorentina.

Albiol lining up for Spain in 2009

After having represented Spain at under-21 level, Albiol first appeared for the main squad on 13 October 2007, in an UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Denmark (3–1 away win). In the competition's final stages, he appeared twice for the eventual continental champions, against Sweden (subbing in for the injured Carles Puyol) and Greece.

New national team coach Vicente Del Bosque included Albiol in the squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. He started in Spain's first game, partnering Puyol in central defence ahead of Valencia teammate Carlos Marchena and helping defeat New Zealand 5–0.

Albiol was picked for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but did not leave the bench for the eventual World champions after having suffered an injury in training. Again as an unused player, he was also in the squad for the Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine, which also ended in the conquest of the trophy.

Albiol was named in Spain's 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup, and was also included in the final list for the tournament. He made his debut in a major finals in the last group match against Australia with the Spanish already eliminated, playing the whole 90 minutes alongside Sergio Ramos in central defence in a 3–0 win.

Albiol's nickname is "El Chori". His older brother, Miguel, was also a footballer. A midfielder, he was also groomed at Valencia, playing one league match with the first team, but mainly represented Rayo Vallecano. His father, also named Miguel, played lower league football mostly with Benidorm CF, and appeared in two Segunda División games for CE Sabadell FC in 1979–80; the youngest sibling, Brian, was named after Brian Laudrup, whom Raúl admired on account of his success with the Danish national team.

Albiol fathered two daughters with his wife Alicia.

As of 18 May 2016

1Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España.

• "Albiol". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 January 2014. 

Club

Valencia

• UEFA Cup: 2003–04
• Copa del Rey: 2007–08

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2011–12
• Copa del Rey: 2010–11; Runner-up 2012–13
• Supercopa de España: 2012; Runner-up 2011

Napoli

• Coppa Italia: 2013–14
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2014

Country

Albiol (number 2) celebrating Spain's win in the 2010 World Cup

• FIFA World Cup: 2010
• UEFA European Championship: 2008, 2012
• FIFA Confederations Cup: Runner-up 2013; Third-place 2009
• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2004

Individual

• La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2006
• UEFA Europa League: Squad of the season 2014–15

• "Experts' UEFA Europa League squad of the season". UEFA.com. 28 May 2015.