Alberto López Fernández

Alberto López Fernández (born 20 May 1969), known simply as Alberto as a player, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and is a manager.

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

Alberto López
Personal information
Full name Alberto López Fernández
Date of birth (1969-05-20) 20 May 1969
Place of birth Irun, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1986 Dumboa Eguzki
1987 Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1993 Real Sociedad B 48 (0)
1987–1989 → Pasajes (loan)
1993–2006 Real Sociedad 346 (0)
2006–2009 Valladolid 43 (0)
Total 437 (0)
National team
1998–2001 Basque Country 4 (0)
Teams managed
2011–2012 Real Unión B
2013–2014 Alavés (assistant)
2014–2015 Alavés
2016 Valladolid
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A player with good one-on-one skills he had a weakness in crossing situations,[1] and spent the bulk of his career at Real Sociedad, for which he appeared in 377 competitive matches.[2]

Playing career

Real Sociedad

A product of Basque Country giants Real Sociedad's youth system, López was born in Irun, and made his first appearances with the first team in the closing stages of the 1992–93 season, having played understudy to the inconsistent Javier Yubero for most of the year. He would be the undisputed starter from the following campaign onwards, missing only a combined seven La Liga games in the next seven years (in 1997–98, as Real ranked third, he played all 38 matches and conceded 37 goals).[1]

From 2001–02 onwards, López had to compete for the starting job with newly signed Sander Westerveld. He finished the season with 18 appearances, but had only one in the following campaign as the Dutchman was first choice for the runners-up.[1]

Valladolid

Following the emergence of another youth product at Real Sociedad, Asier Riesgo, López was deemed surplus to requirements[2] and joined Real Valladolid in Segunda División on a one-year deal. In 2006–07, he helped the side return to the top flight after a three-year absence[3] while also collecting a Ricardo Zamora Trophy – 36 matches, 29 goals.[4]

In the following season, López acted as backup and helped develop wonderkid Sergio Asenjo (20 years his junior),[5] and had his contract extended until June 2009 after which he retired at the age of 40.[6]

Coaching career

López started working as a manager in 2011, with Real Unión's reserves.[6] He joined Juan Carlos Mandiá's staff at Deportivo Alavés two years later, being named his successor late into the second level campaign[7] and eventually leading the team to safety.[8]

On 12 June 2015, after again managing to stay afloat, López left the Mendizorrotza Stadium. During his 53 league games in charge, he collected 19 wins and 20 losses.[9]

López returned to Valladolid on 26 April 2016, taking the place of the dismissed Miguel Ángel Portugal.[10]

References
  1. Fernández, Iñaki (25 November 2015). "La figura de la Real: Alberto López" [Real's star: Alberto López] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  2. Badallo, Óscar (28 August 2015). "Una portería complicada" [Tough goal]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  3. "Los héroes del ascenso esperan su oportunidad" [Promotion heroes await their chance]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 26 April 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  4. Posasa, Arturo (22 April 2017). "Diez años del ascenso perfecto" [Ten years of the perfect promotion]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  5. Muñoz, Xavier (7 November 2008). "Asenjo, el Ricky Rubio de Pucela" [Asenjo, Pucela's Ricky Rubio]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  6. Yepes, Álvaro (28 April 2016). "Alberto López, talismán pucelano" [Alberto López, Pucela talisman] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  7. "El Deportivo Alavés destituye a Juan Carlos Mandiá" [Deportivo Alavés dismiss Juan Carlos Mandiá]. Marca (in Spanish). 24 March 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  8. "El Alavés se salva del descenso a Segunda B en el descuento" [Alavés avoid relegation to Segunda B in injury time]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 7 June 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  9. Del Campo, José Luis (12 June 2015). "Alberto López deja el Alavés tras dirigir 53 partidos de Liga en 15 meses" [Alberto López leaves Alavés after coaching 53 League matches in 15 months]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  10. "Alberto López, nuevo técnico del Real Valladolid" [Alberto López, new Real Valladolid manager]. Marca (in Spanish). 26 April 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
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