Diego López (footballer, born 3 November 1981)

Diego López Rodríguez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo ˈlopeθ]; born 3 November 1981) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol as a goalkeeper.

For other people named Diego López, see Diego López.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is López and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.

Diego López
López playing for Espanyol in 2017
Personal information
Full name Diego López Rodríguez[1]
Date of birth (1981-11-03) 3 November 1981[1]
Place of birth Paradela, Spain[1]
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Espanyol
Number 13
Youth career
1990–1994 Sarriana
1994–1999 Lugo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Lugo 2 (0)
2000–2003 Real Madrid C 41 (0)
2001–2002 → Alcorcón (loan) 0 (0)
2003–2005 Real Madrid B 41 (0)
2005–2007 Real Madrid 2 (0)
2007–2012 Villarreal 171 (0)
2012–2013 Sevilla 8 (0)
2013–2014 Real Madrid 52 (0)
2014–2017 Milan 36 (0)
2016–2017 → Espanyol (loan) 35 (0)
2017– Espanyol 106 (0)
National team
2009 Spain 1 (0)
2005 Galicia 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 January 2021

After spending seven years with Real Madrid, playing for its various teams, he made a name for himself in La Liga with Villarreal, appearing in 230 official games over the course of five seasons. In 2013, following a brief spell with Sevilla, he returned to Real Madrid.

López represented Spain at the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Club career

Real Madrid

López was born in Paradela, Lugo, Galicia. A youth graduate from hometown's CD Lugo he signed with Real Madrid at age 18 and, after a loan at another side from the capital region, AD Alcorcón, he eventually moved up to Real's B team, starting in his second season, which ended in promotion to the Segunda División.[2]

López served as first-team backup to Iker Casillas in the following two La Liga campaigns: in the closing stages of 2005–06 he appeared in back-to-back away wins, against CA Osasuna (as Casillas was sent off)[3] and Racing de Santander,[4] adding a UEFA Champions League group stage game at Olympiakos FC, a 1–2 defeat.[5]

Villarreal
López signing autographs with Villarreal in 2011.

In late June 2007, López signed for Villarreal CF for a reported fee of €6 million,[6] and started the season as second choice to Uruguayan Sebastián Viera but, after a string of fine performances – he played in the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Cup – he was picked for the first team, finishing the season with 21 matches.[7]

López was ever-present in 2008–09, playing every minute and helping Villarreal finish fifth in the league. The following campaign was similar,[8] but the team could only finish seventh, out of the European places. However, as fifth-placed RCD Mallorca were expelled from European competition due to bankruptcy, the Valencians took their place in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League.

López featured in every league game except one in 2011–12, being given his marching orders against Sevilla FC in a 2–2 home draw in the second round.[9] The Yellow Submarine were eventually relegated after twelve years, with the player conceding 50 goals. His 121 consecutive top-flight games set a 21st-century record in the league, which was broken by Iñaki Williams in 2019.[10]

Sevilla

On 22 May 2012, López joined Sevilla on a five-year contract for a reported fee of €3.5 million.[11] He split first-choice status with Andrés Palop during his spell.[12]

Return to Real Madrid
López in action for Real Madrid in 2013

On 25 January 2013, López returned to Real Madrid after Casillas suffered a hand injury which ruled him out for 12 weeks, signing for €3.5 million until June 2017.[13] Shortly upon arriving, he stated he had always dreamed of coming back to the club.[14]

López played his first game in his second spell on 30 January 2013, in a 1–1 home draw against FC Barcelona in the Spanish Cup semi-finals.[15] On 5 March, he made a string of saves as Real beat Manchester United 2–1 at Old Trafford to qualify for the last-eight in the Champions League (3–2 on aggregate); after the match, coach José Mourinho said: "Diego López was the best player in my team".[16] He retained his position until the end of the season, even though Casillas had already returned to full fitness.

López retained his number one position at the start of the following campaign, when Carlo Ancelotti had replaced Mourinho. Casillas was played in both the Champions League and the domestic cup, however.[17]

Milan

On 13 August 2014, Real Madrid and A.C. Milan reached an agreement over the transfer of López.[18] He made his competitive debut on 31 August in the first match of the new season in Serie A, saving a late penalty from Antonio Candreva in a 3–1 win over S.S. Lazio.[19] On 14 September he suffered a right thigh injury against Parma FC, being sidelined for almost a month.[20]

After three matches without a win early into the 2015–16 campaign, manager Siniša Mihajlović dropped López in favour of 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma.[21]

Espanyol

On 31 August 2016, López joined RCD Espanyol on a season-long loan deal.[22] He was elected La Liga Player of the Month in November, after not conceding in any of the three matches.[23]

López's move was made permanent on 23 May 2017, on a three-year deal with a release clause of €50 million.[24] He was overtaken by Pau López still under manager Quique Sánchez Flores,[25][26] but after the latter moved to Real Betis, he regained his starting role and was the only player to feature in all 38 games of 2018–19.[27]

In August 2020, after Espanyol's relegation, the nearly 39-year-old López signed for another season.[28]

International career

As third goalkeeper, López was first selected for Spain for two 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in late March/early April 2009, both against Turkey.[29] He was named in the squad by manager Vicente del Bosque for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa behind Casillas and Pepe Reina, and did not play any matches there.[30]

López made his debut on 12 August 2009, playing the last 30 minutes of a 3–2 friendly win in Macedonia, replacing Reina and not conceding any goals.[31]

Style of play

López was a commanding and well-rounded goalkeeper, with a large and imposing physique, strong leadership qualities and good handling, which facilitated him in coming out to claim crosses. Possessing quick reactions, concentration and a good positional sense, he was also an effective shot-stopper.

López was known in particular for his ball control, distribution and speed when rushing off his line to anticipate opponents.[32][33]

Personal life

López married Iria Otero on 11 June 2011, fathering three children.[34][35][36]

Club statistics
As of 1 April 2020[37][38]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinental1Other2Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Madrid B 2003–04Segunda División B 60———60
2004–05Segunda División B 350———350
Total 410———410
Real Madrid 2005–06La Liga 203010—60
2006–07La Liga 004010—50
Total 207020—110
Villarreal 2007–08La Liga 2006080—340
2008–09La Liga 3800090—470
2009–10La Liga 3802090—490
2010–11La Liga 38020150—550
2011–12La Liga 3700080—450
Total 1710100490—2300
Sevilla 2012–13La Liga 80300000110
Real Madrid 2012–13La Liga 1603060—250
2013–14La Liga 3600010—370
Total 5203070—620
Milan 2014–15Serie A 28000——280
2015–16Serie A 8010——90
Total 36010——370
Espanyol (loan) 2016–17La Liga 35000——350
Espanyol 2017–18La Liga 10050——150
2018–19La Liga 38000——380
2019–20La Liga 27000110—380
Total 110050110—1260
Career totals 4200290690005180

1 Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League.
2 Includes Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Honours

Club

Real Madrid

International

Spain

Individual

References
  1. "Diego López". RCD Espanyol. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  2. Armas González, Pedro (6 March 2018). "Diego López, el gallego que frenó a Leo Messi" [Diego López, the Galician who stopped Leo Messi] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. "Osasuna 0–1 Real Madrid". ESPN Soccernet. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  4. "Racing Santander 2–3 Real Madrid". ESPN Soccernet. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  5. "Olympiakos 2–1 Real Madrid: Second-string". ESPN Soccernet. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  6. "Diego López signs at Villarreal". UEFA. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  7. Andrés, Arnau (2 May 2008). "Diego López, a superar los récords de Pepe Reina" [Diego López, chasing Pepe Reina's records]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  8. Bryan, Paul (5 April 2011). "El jugador incombustible del Villarreal" [Villarreal's tireless player] (in Spanish). UEFA. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  9. "Villarreal claim battling draw". ESPN Soccernet. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  10. "Williams hace historia en LaLiga" [Williams makes history in LaLiga] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  11. "El Sevilla ficha a Diego López, un portero de altura para el nuevo proyecto" [Sevilla sign Diego López, tall goalkeeper for new project] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 22 May 2012. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  12. Ramírez, Álvaro (18 January 2013). "Palop vs Diego López, enésima parte" [Palop vs Diego López, part umpteen] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  13. "Diego López, nuevo jugador del Real Madrid" [Diego López, new Real Madrid player] (in Spanish). Real Madrid CF. 25 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  14. "Diego López: "Volver al club de mi corazón es algo muy especial"" [Diego López: "Returning to the club of my heart is quite special"] (in Spanish). Real Madrid CF. 26 January 2013. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  15. "Varane keeps Real hopes alive". ESPN FC. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  16. Hayward, Ben (4 April 2013). "Mourinho can't recall Casillas with Diego Lopez in such fantastic form". Goal. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  17. "Ancelotti's bizarre solution to keeper issue: Lopez plays Liga, Casillas plays Europe [Marca]". 101 Great Goals. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  18. "Official statement: Diego López". Real Madrid CF. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  19. "AC Milan 3–1 Lazio: Inzaghi era starts with a bang". Goal. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  20. Rapp, Timothy (15 September 2014). "Diego Lopez injury: Updates on AC Milan star's thigh and return". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  21. "European football: Neymar selfie, Pogba gets shirty". BBC Sport. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  22. "AC Milan official statement". A.C. Milan. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  23. "Diego Lopez named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for November". La Liga. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  24. "Calcio, Milan: Ceduto a titolo definitivo Diego Lopez all'Espanyol" [Football, Milan: Diego Lopez transferred permanently to Espanyol]. La Repubblica (in Italian). 23 May 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  25. "Pau se consolida y desafía la jerarquía de Diego López" [Pau solidifies and defies Diego Lopez's hierarchy]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 15 October 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  26. Martínez, Alberto (30 December 2017). "Pau y Diego: un 2018 con intercambio de papeles" [Pau and Diego: 2018 with a change of roles]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  27. Miserachs, Jaume (20 May 2019). "Diego López, único candidato al 'pleno al 38'" [Diego López, only candidate to the 'full 38']. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  28. "El portero Diego López renueva con el Espanyol pese al descenso" [Goalkeeper Diego López renews with Espanyol despite relegation]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 17 August 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  29. "Diego López, la única novedad de Del Bosque" [Diego López, only Del Bosque novelty]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 20 March 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  30. "Diego López: "Nueva Zelanda ya demostró contra Italia que tiene potencial"" [Diego López: "New Zealand have already shown against Italy they have potential"]. Marca (in Spanish). 12 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  31. "Crónica del Macedonia-España: 2–3" [Macedonia-Spain match report: 2–3.] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  32. Della Valle, Fabiana (10 August 2014). "Milan, Vecchi su Diego Lopez: "Odia prendere gol, anche in allenamento"" [Milan, Vecchi on Diego Lopez: "He hates conceding goals, even in training"]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  33. "Inzaghi blinda i pali con Diego López" [Inzaghi shields the posts with Diego López]. La Repubblica (in Italian). 19 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  34. "Diego Lopez's wife Iria Otero Rodriguez". Player Wags. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  35. Spartan, John (26 November 2014). "Diego López and Iria Otero will be parents of their second child in spring of 2015". The Press Portal. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  36. Méndez de la Peña, Marcos (25 April 2018). "Diego López e Iria Otero dan la bienvenida a su tercera hija" [Diego López and Iria Otero welcome their third daughter]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  37. "Diego López". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  38. Diego López at ESPN FC
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