Albert Ferrer

Albert Ferrer Llopis (Catalan pronunciation: [əlˈβɛɾ fəˈre]; born 6 June 1970) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right back, and a current coach.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ferrer and the second or maternal family name is Llopis.

Albert Ferrer
Ferrer in 2008
Personal information
Full name Albert Ferrer Llopis
Date of birth (1970-06-06) 6 June 1970[1]
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain[1]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Right back
Youth career
Maristas de Rubí
1983–1987 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1988 Barcelona C 32 (0)
1988–1990 Barcelona B 48 (2)
1990 → Tenerife (loan) 17 (0)
1990–1998 Barcelona 204 (1)
1998–2003 Chelsea 76 (0)
Total 377 (3)
National team
1988 Spain U18 7 (1)
1988–1989 Spain U19 3 (0)
1989–1990 Spain U20 5 (0)
1990–1991 Spain U21 2 (0)
1991–1992 Spain U23 6 (0)
1991–1999 Spain 36 (0)
Teams managed
2010–2011 Vitesse
2014 Córdoba
2015 Mallorca
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Having represented local Barcelona for almost a decade, he went on to appear for England's Chelsea until his retirement. During his spell in his country he was nicknamed Chapi, and appeared in a total of 221 La Liga matches over nine seasons.[2][3]

A Spanish international on more than 30 occasions, Ferrer represented the nation in two World Cups and at the 1992 Olympic Games, winning the latter tournament. He started working as a manager in 2010, with Vitesse.

Playing career

Barcelona

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Ferrer was a pacy and tough-tackling defender.[4] He began his senior career with FC Barcelona B, then served a loan with CD Tenerife in the 1989–90 season, with whom he made his La Liga debut at the age of 19.

Ferrer returned to the first team the following summer and became first-choice right back, remaining as such the following eight years and scoring once in the league.[5] He often partnered another youth graduate, Sergi Barjuán, in the defensive wings.[6]

Ferrer was a key member of the famous Dream Team and, during his time with the Blaugrana, won five leagues, a European Cup, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two domestic cups, four Supercups and two UEFA Super Cups. As the Dutch dominance at the Camp Nou in terms of players was still an important one (the club was coached by Louis van Gaal), he left in June 1998 amongst other greats as Guillermo Amor.[7]

Chelsea

In June 1998, Ferrer signed with Chelsea for £2.2 million.[8] He quickly established himself in the side, helping them qualify for their first ever Champions League in his debut campaign; his new club won the FA Cup the following year (but he missed the final through injury)[9] and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League; during the run in the latter he played in 14 of 16 games,[10] and scored his only goal in a 2–0 win over Hertha BSC.[11]

A combination of injuries[12] and manager Gianluca Vialli's squad rotation policy reduced Ferrer's opportunities in 2000–01, and he made only 14 league appearances. Chelsea reached another FA Cup final in 2002 – which he again missed, though this time through not being selected, despite playing in the semi-final against Fulham.[13] Out of favour and facing strong competition from younger teammates he played just seven times in his final two years, and left in May 2003 upon the expiry of his contract, totalling 113 overall matches for the Londoners and retiring shortly after at 33.[12]

International

Ferrer was a Spain international on 36 occasions. His debut came on 4 September 1991 in a friendly win with Uruguay in Oviedo,[14] as La Roja eventually did not qualify for UEFA Euro 1992.

Subsequently, Ferrer was a regular figure in the national side, appearing as starter at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and playing once in the 1998 edition, the 2–3 group stage loss against Nigeria, missing Euro 1996 and 2000 through injury (with Barcelona teammate Sergi on the other flank in all these tournaments).[15]

In 1992, Ferrer was first-choice for the Olympic team that won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics, held in his hometown.[16][17]

Coaching career

After retiring, Ferrer worked as a color commentator for a number of Spanish broadcasters.[18] In late October 2010, he was announced as new head coach of SBV Vitesse in the Eredivisie, his staff also including compatriot Albert Capellas (formerly youth coach at Barcelona) and former Dutch goalkeeper Stanley Menzo, who left his post at SC Cambuur in order to join the Spaniards.[19]

Ferrer led the side to the 15th position, in a narrow escape from relegation. He was subsequently relieved of his duties, being replaced by John van den Brom.[20]

On 17 February 2014, Ferrer was appointed at Segunda División club Córdoba CF.[21] After finishing the season in the seventh place, they defeated UD Las Palmas in the play-off final to return to the top flight for the first time in 42 years.[22][23]

Ferrer was fired on 20 October 2014, as Córdoba ranked dead last with only four points in eight matches.[24] On 20 June of the following year he was named RCD Mallorca manager, signing a one-year deal;[25] after three wins from 15 second level games, he was dismissed on 30 November.[26]

On 29 August 2017, Ferrer returned to Barcelona as coach of its legends team.[27]

Managerial statistics
As of 28 November 2015
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Vitesse 27 October 2010 30 June 2011 25 8 6 11 35 42 −7 032.00
Córdoba[28][29] 17 February 2014 20 October 2014 28 8 13 7 26 27 −1 028.57
Mallorca[30] 20 June 2015 30 November 2015 16 3 6 7 9 16 −7 018.75
Total 69 19 25 25 70 85 −15 027.54

Honours

Club

Barcelona

Chelsea

International

Spain

References
  1. "Albert Ferrer". Eurosport. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. Torres, Diego (11 November 1999). "La vieja defensa de Cruyff" [Cruyff's old defence]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  3. Casado, Edu (16 July 2013). "Qué fue de… 'Chapi' Ferrer" [What happened to… ‘Chapi’ Ferrer]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  4. "Albert Ferrer". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  5. Astruells, Andrés (1 June 1992). "El Barça golea sin pasillo" [Barça rout without guard of honour]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  6. "El 'Dream Team' de Cruyff" [Cruyff's Dream Team]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 1 November 2006. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. "Ferrer, víctima del sistema de Van Gaal, se muestra dispuesto a escuchar cualquier oferta" [Ferrer, victim of Van Gaal's system, ready to hear about any offer]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 24 May 1998. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  8. Besa, Ramon (9 June 1998). "Ferrer llega a un acuerdo con el Chelsea por 600 millones" [Ferrer reaches agreement with Chelsea for 600 million]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  9. "Ferrer agonises over Euro 2000 chances". BBC Sport. 18 May 2000. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  10. Hayes, Garry (6 March 2014). "Drogba, Zola, Gullit and Chelsea's 25 greatest foreign imports". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  11. Moore, Glenn (3 November 1999). "Chelsea's big night is spoiled by Sutton". The Independent. London. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  12. "Ferrer set to retire". BBC Sport. 8 May 2003. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  13. Brodkin, Jon (15 April 2002). "Terry bundles the Blues to Cardiff". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  14. Ortiz, Fabián (5 September 1991). "Tiempo de llorar, tiempo de soñar" [A time to cry, a time to dream]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  15. "Camacho blow for Ferrer". BBC Sport. 15 May 2000. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  16. "El triunfo en el fútbol, broche de oro para España en Barcelona 92" [Football win, icing on the cake for Spain in Barcelona 92] (in Spanish). Dame Un Silbidito. April 2010. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  17. "La Roja de 1992, nuestra medalla de oro Olímpica" [1992's La Roja, our Olympic gold medal] (in Spanish). Antena 3. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  18. "La Sexta ficha a Salinas, Kiko, Chapi Ferrer y Maceda" [La Sexta signs Salinas, Kiko, Chapi Ferrer and Maceda] (in Spanish). Info Periodistas. 29 August 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  19. "Oud-Barcelonaspeler Ferrer opvolger trainer Bos" [Former Barcelona player Ferrer is Bos' successor]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 27 October 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  20. "Vitesse en Ferrer gaan uit elkaar" [Vitesse and Ferrer part company] (in Dutch). SBV Vitesse. 22 June 2011. Archived from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  21. "Albert Ferrer nuevo entrenador del Córdoba C.F." [Albert Ferrer new Córdoba C.F. manager] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 17 February 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  22. "Las Palmas-Cordoba La Liga play-off ends with pitch invasion". Goal. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  23. "Los héroes del ascenso" [The promotion heroes]. ABC (in Spanish). 23 June 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  24. Chesters, Heath (20 October 2014). "Córdoba CF sack Albert Ferrer as manager". Inside Spanish Football. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  25. "Chapi Ferrer presentado como entrenador del Mallorca" [Chapi Ferrer presented as manager of Mallorca] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 20 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  26. "El Real Mallorca destituye a Albert ´Chapi´ Ferrer como entrenador" [Real Mallorca dismiss Albert 'Chapi' Ferrer as manager]. Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish). 30 November 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  27. "Albert Ferrer to coach Barça Legends". FC Barcelona. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  28. "Ferrer: Albert Ferrer Llopis". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  29. "Ferrer: Albert Ferrer Llopis". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  30. "Ferrer: Albert Ferrer Llopis". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  31. Morenilla, Juan (25 February 2007). "Supervivientes de oro" [Golden survivors]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 May 2018.
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