Álvaro González (footballer, born 1990)

Álvaro González Soberón (born 8 January 1990), known simply as Álvaro, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for French club Olympique de Marseille.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is González and the second or maternal family name is Soberón.
Álvaro
Álvaro with Villarreal in 2019
Personal information
Full name Álvaro González Soberón
Date of birth (1990-01-08) 8 January 1990[1]
Place of birth Potes, Spain[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Marseille
Number 3
Youth career
2003–2009 Racing Santander
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Racing B 48 (0)
2011–2012 Racing Santander 37 (1)
2012–2014 Zaragoza 72 (2)
2014–2016 Espanyol 74 (1)
2016–2020 Villarreal 89 (2)
2019–2020 → Marseille (loan) 20 (0)
2020– Marseille 6 (0)
National team
2013 Spain U21 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 October 2020

He began his career with Racing de Santander, and had spells playing for Zaragoza, Espanyol and Villarreal for La Liga totals of 233 matches and five goals. He signed for Marseille in 2019, initially on loan.

Álvaro won the 2013 European Under-21 Championship with Spain.

Club career

Racing Santander

Born in Potes, Cantabria, Álvaro was a product of his hometown club Racing de Santander's youth ranks, and made his professional debut in the 2009–10 season, appearing in 23 games for the reserves in the Segunda División B and being relegated. He made his first-team and La Liga debut on 1 May 2011, starting and playing 82 minutes in a 2–0 home win against RCD Mallorca.[2]

In May 2011, Álvaro signed a four-year contract with Racing.[3] Due to injuries to teammates, he started 2011–12 in Racing's starting eleven. On 14 November 2011, a €2 million offer from FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk was rejected.[4] He remained a starter until the end of the campaign, when they were relegated.

Zaragoza

On 11 July 2012, Álvaro signed a four-year deal with Real Zaragoza.[5] In his first year he was again first choice, but the Aragonese club also dropped down to the Segunda División.[6]

Álvaro scored his first goal for Zaragoza on 10 November 2012, in a 5–3 victory over Deportivo de La Coruña.[7]

Espanyol and Villarreal

On 28 July 2014, Álvaro returned to the top flight after agreeing to a five-year contract with RCD Espanyol.[8] In preparation for 2016–17 he was made fourth captain behind Javi López, Víctor Sánchez and Víctor Álvarez,[9] but on 31 August 2016 he was transferred to Villarreal CF on a four-year deal.[10][11]

Álvaro made his competitive debut for Villarreal on 15 September 2016, in a 2–1 home win against FC Zürich in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.[12] His first league appearance came ten days later in the 3–1 home defeat of CA Osasuna where he played 90 minutes and gave away a penalty which resulted in the opponent's goal.[13]

Marseille

On 19 July 2019, Álvaro joined French club Olympique de Marseille on a season-long loan, with a mandatory purchase option of €5 million on 30 June 2020.[14] During a Ligue 1 match against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on 13 September 2020, he was involved in a mass brawl which resulted in five players receiving red cards. Following the incident, PSG forward Neymar claimed that the incident began following racist remarks from Álvaro.[15][16]

International career

Álvaro earned his only cap for Spain at under-21 level on 12 June 2013, in a 3–0 defeat of the Netherlands in the group phase of the UEFA European Championship.[17] Spain went on to win the tournament in Israel.[18]

Honours

Spain U21

References
  1. "Álvaro González". Eurosport. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  2. Santander bank on safety; ESPN Soccernet, 1 May 2011
  3. Álvaro González firma con el Racing para las próximas cuatro temporadas (Álvaro González signs with Racing for next four seasons); Racing Santander, 25 May 2011 (in Spanish)
  4. El Racing recibe una tentadora oferta del Dnipro por el defensa Álvaro (Racing receive tempting offer from Dnipro for defender Álvaro); El Diario Montañés, 14 November 2011 (in Spanish)
  5. Álvaro González refuerza al Zaragoza (Álvaro González strengthens Zaragoza); Marca, 11 July 2012 (in Spanish)
  6. "El Zaragoza destituye a Manolo Jiménez" [Zaragoza fire Manolo Jiménez] (in Spanish). La Vanguardia. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  7. "Fútbol | Real Zaragoza 5–3 Deportivo de la Coruña – Lluvia de goles en La Romareda con remontada del Zaragoza" [Football | Real Zaragoza 5–3 Deportivo de la Coruña – Goal rain at La Romareda with Zaragoza comeback] (in Spanish). RTVE. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  8. Principi d’acord amb el Zaragoza per Álvaro i Montañés (Early agreement with Zaragoza for Álvaro and Montañés); RCD Espanyol, 28 July 2014 (in Catalan)
  9. "Álvaro González, new captain". RCD Espanyol. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  10. "Álvaro, traspassat al Villarreal" [Álvaro, transferred to Villarreal] (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  11. "¡Bienvenido, Álvaro!" [Welcome, Álvaro!] (in Spanish). Villarreal CF. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  12. Dodson, Allen (15 September 2016). "Villarreal defeat Zurich 2–1 in opening Europa League fixture". Villarreal USA. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  13. "El Villarreal se muestra intratable ante Osasuna (3–1) y gana el partido por la vía rápida en El Madrigal" [Villarreal show no mercy against Osasuna (3–1) and win match through the fast lane at El Madrigal] (in Spanish). Castellón Información. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  14. Franch, Víctor (19 July 2019). "El Villarreal oficializa la salida de Álvaro al Oympique de Marsella" [Villarreal make departure of Álvaro to Oympique de Marseille official] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  15. "Neymar accuses Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez of racism". Get French Football News. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  16. Pinder, Reuben (13 September 2020). "Carnage in Le Classique as Neymar accuses Álvaro González of racism". Joe. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  17. "España se deshace de Holanda para liderar su grupo (3–0)" [Spain get rid of the Netherlands to lead their group (3–0)] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  18. Egea, Pablo (18 June 2013). "Un equipo de estrellas" [A team of stars] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
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