Julio Álvarez

Julio Álvarez Mosquera (born 1 May 1981) is a Venezuelan retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, and the assistant manager of SD Ponferradina.

For the Mexican singer, see Julión Álvarez.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Álvarez and the second or maternal family name is Mosquera.

Julio Álvarez
Personal information
Full name Julio Álvarez Mosquera
Date of birth (1981-05-01) 1 May 1981
Place of birth Caracas, Venezuela
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Ponferradina (assistant)
Youth career
Rayo Sadense
Ural
Deportivo La Coruña
1998–1999 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Real Madrid C 34 (14)
2000 Real Madrid B 2 (2)
2000–2003 Real Madrid 0 (0)
2000–2002 → Racing Santander (loan) 44 (1)
2002–2003 → Rayo Vallecano (loan) 26 (8)
2003–2006 Murcia 72 (7)
2006–2008 Numancia 66 (10)
2008–2009 Almería 21 (0)
2009–2010 Mallorca 26 (6)
2010–2011 Tenerife 30 (3)
2011–2018 Numancia 189 (46)
Total 510 (97)
National team
1998 Spain U16 10 (2)
1998–1999 Spain U17 6 (1)
1999–2000 Spain U18 5 (1)
2002–2003 Spain U21 7 (1)
2011–2012 Venezuela 4 (0)
Teams managed
2019– Ponferradina (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He appeared in 98 La Liga games over five seasons (14 goals), representing Racing de Santander, Rayo Vallecano, Murcia, Almería and Mallorca. In addition, he played 376 matches in Segunda División, mainly at the service of Numancia.[1]

After competing for Spain at youth level, Álvarez represented Venezuela internationally.[2]

Club career

Real Madrid

A playmaker, Álvarez was born in Caracas and moved to Spain aged four to reunite with his parents, settling in Sada, Galicia. He showed early promise while playing for Spain at youth level, winning the 1999 Meridian Cup with the under-17 team and also appearing at the 1998 UEFA European Under-16 Championship (third place). Subsequently, he joined Real Madrid to finish his formation but, despite very good performances overall for the B and C-sides, could never break into the main squad.[3]

Álvarez was loaned by the Merengues to Racing de Santander in 2000–01. However, he was mostly injured, and could not help the Cantabria team escape La Liga relegation at the season's end. The following campaign, with 31 matches and one goal, he helped the former quickly return to the top flight.

In July 2002, Álvarez was sent on loan again, to top-tier club Rayo Vallecano where he scored eight times and was one of the team's best players, but again his team failed to retain their status, ranking last.[4]

Murcia

Several teams made offers, and Álvarez was finally signed by Real Murcia.[5] Before playing any games for his new club he got injured, and struggled throughout the vast majority of the season, finishing with 12 just appearances as the side went on to rank 20th;[6] fully recovered, he went on to be a very important team player, showing impressive skills and netting some deciders, despite a poor year collectively in 2005–06, that almost ended in relegation – he also established himself as a free kick specialist.[7]

Numancia / Almería

Álvarez was transfer listed in summer 2006 and, on 9 August, he joined CD Numancia on a two-year deal.[8] Playing as an attacking or holding midfielder, he again showed enough quality to earn a regular starting eleven berth under manager Andoni Goikoetxea and, following the departure of some important players, became a key player in team's push for promotion, scoring more winning goals;[9] the Sorians won the 2007–08 championship, five points clear of Málaga CF.

Álvarez's contract expired by the end of the season and UD Almería signed him on a free transfer on 3 July 2008, where he got the opportunity to work again with Gonzalo Arconada, his former boss at Numancia. He replaced ACF Fiorentina-bound Felipe Melo.[10]

Mallorca / Tenerife

After an irregular season in Andalusia, Álvarez was released hours before the transfer deadline in August 2009, and joined RCD Mallorca shortly after.[11] On 23 July 2010, after helping the Balearic Islands side finish fifth and qualify for the UEFA Europa League, the 29-year-old signed a three-year contract with CD Tenerife, which had in turn relegated from the top division.[12]

Numancia return

On 11 August 2011, Álvarez returned to Numancia after terminating his contract with Tenerife.[13] During the 2014–15 campaign, he scored a career-best 12 goals under Juan Antonio Anquela.[14]

On 2 March 2017, Álvarez signed a new three-year deal with the club.[15] In April, he suffered an ankle injury which kept him out for 13 months.[16]

On 13 July 2018, 37-year-old Álvarez announced his retirement from professional football.[17] One year later, he was named Bolo's assistant at SD Ponferradina, recently returned to the second tier.[18]

International career

Álvarez won 28 caps for Spain, all youth levels combined. On 14 October 2011, after switching allegiance to his country of birth, the 30-year-old made his debut for Venezuela in a 1–0 home win against Argentina for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[19]

Personal life

Álvarez's older brother, Javier, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He spent his entire career in Spanish amateur football;[20] in addition, he represented Spain in three FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups (2006, 2007 and 2008).[21]

Club statistics

[22][23]

Season Club Country Competition Apps Goals
1999–00Real Madrid C SpainTercera División3414
2000–01Real Madrid B SpainSegunda División B22
2000–01Racing Santander SpainLa Liga130
2001–02Racing Santander SpainSegunda División311
2002–03Rayo Vallecano SpainLa Liga268
2003–04Murcia SpainLa Liga120
2004–05Murcia SpainSegunda División355
2005–06Murcia SpainSegunda División252
2006–07Numancia SpainSegunda División334
2007–08Numancia SpainSegunda División337
2008–09Almería SpainLa Liga210
2009–10Mallorca SpainLa Liga266
2010–11Tenerife SpainSegunda División303
2011–12Numancia SpainSegunda División3510
2012–13Numancia SpainSegunda División264
2013–14Numancia SpainSegunda División417
2014–15Numancia SpainSegunda División3412
2015–16Numancia SpainSegunda División249
2016–17Numancia SpainSegunda División294
Total51098

References
  1. "Breve enciclopedia numantina" [Brief numantina encyclopedia]. Desde Soria (in Spanish). 29 May 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  2. Riveras Valls, Damian (9 February 2017). "La segunda juventud del venezolano Julio Álvarez" [The second youth of Venezuelan Julio Álvarez]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  3. Antelo, Iván (27 June 2016). "El fútbol según la familia Álvarez" [Football according to the Álvarez family]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  4. Castellón, Alejandro (20 July 2018). "Julio Álvarez se retira del fútbol" [Julio Álvarez retires from football] (in Spanish). Unión Rayo. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  5. "El Murcia ficha a Julio Alvarez y Luis García" [Murcia sign Julio Álvarez and Luis García]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 15 July 2003. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  6. "Julio Álvarez estará al menos dos meses de baja" [Julio Álvarez to miss at least two months]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 8 August 2003. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  7. "Julio Alvarez da el triunfo al Murcia en el minuto 94" [Julio Álvarez hands Murcia triumph in the 94th minute]. Deia (in Spanish). 9 January 2005. Archived from the original on 11 August 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  8. "Julio Álvarez se incorpora al Numancia, equipo al que también se marchó Pulido" [Julio Álvarez joins Numancia, as well as Pulido]. La Verdad (in Spanish). 9 August 2006. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  9. "Julio Álvarez pone líder al Numancia" [Julio Álvarez makes Numancia the leaders]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 11 May 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  10. "Fútbol.- El Almería ficha al centrocampista organizador Julio Álvarez para las dos próximas temporadas" [Football.- Almería sign playmaker Julio Álvarez for the next two seasons]. El Economista (in Spanish). 3 July 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  11. Adrover, S. (21 September 2009). "Julio Álvarez olvida su pesadilla" [Julio Álvarez forgets his nightmare]. Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  12. "Julio Álvarez, un refuerzo de lujo" [Julio Álvarez, deluxe signing]. El Día (in Spanish). 23 July 2010. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  13. "Julio Álvarez ficha por el Numancia y pide perdón por su mal año" [Julio Álvarez signs for Numancia and apologises for his bad year]. La Opinión de Tenerife (in Spanish). 12 August 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  14. Azparren, Nacho (29 July 2017). "La media punta importa" [Attacking midfield matters]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  15. "Julio Álvarez renueva con el C. D. Numancia" [Julio Álvarez renews with C. D. Numancia] (in Spanish). CD Numancia. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  16. Romera, Luis (24 May 2018). "Julio Álvarez tiene el alta médica 13 meses después" [Julio Álvarez gets release 13 months later]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  17. "Julio Álvarez, el adiós de la leyenda del Numancia y de Segunda" [Julio Álvarez, the legend of Numancia and Segunda's farewell]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  18. "Julio Álvarez, nuevo segundo entrenador de la SD Ponferradina" [Julio Álvarez, new assistant manager of SD Ponferradina] (in Spanish). SD Ponferradina. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  19. Carretero, Rodrigo (14 October 2011). "Escudo 'vinotinto', corazón rojo" ['Vinotinto' shield, red heart]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  20. "Javi Álvarez, de campeón sobre la arena a goleador con el Vilalbés" [Javi Álvarez, from champion upon the sands to scorer with Vilalbés]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 16 April 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  21. Javi Álvarez – FIFA competition record
  22. Julio Álvarez at BDFutbol
  23. "J. Álvarez". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
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