Roberto Soldado

Roberto Soldado Rillo (Spanish pronunciation: [roˈβeɾto solˈdaðo ˈriʎo]; born 27 May 1985) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Granada CF as a striker.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Soldado and the second or maternal family name is Rillo.
Roberto Soldado
Soldado lining up for Spain in 2013
Personal information
Full name Roberto Soldado Rillo[1]
Date of birth (1985-05-27) 27 May 1985
Place of birth Valencia, Spain
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Granada
Number 9
Youth career
1990–2000 Don Bosco
2000–2002 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2006 Real Madrid B 120 (63)
2005–2008 Real Madrid 16 (2)
2006–2007 → Osasuna (loan) 30 (11)
2008–2010 Getafe 60 (29)
2010–2013 Valencia 101 (59)
2013–2015 Tottenham Hotspur 52 (7)
2015–2017 Villarreal 38 (9)
2017–2019 Fenerbahçe 47 (15)
2019– Granada 52 (12)
National team
2001 Spain U15 2 (0)
2001–2003 Spain U17 18 (12)
2003 Spain U18 3 (3)
2002–2004 Spain U19 9 (5)
2004–2007 Spain U21 9 (6)
2007–2013 Spain 12 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 February 2021

After emerging through Real Madrid's youth system, he went on to appear in only 27 official matches for the first team (four goals). However, he became a more regular La Liga player and goalscorer for Osasuna, Getafe, and Valencia, and secured a £26 million move to Tottenham Hotspur. After two unsuccessful seasons in England, he returned to the Spanish top division with Villarreal.[3]

An international since 2007, Soldado represented Spain at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

Club career

Real Madrid

Born in Valencia, Valencian Community, Soldado joined Real Madrid at the age of 15 from native region small club CF Don Bosco. After years of prolific goalscoring with the former's reserves, he made his first-team debut on 23 October 2005 against Valencia CF, playing 18 minutes in a 1–2 home loss.[4] Previously, on 28 September, he had scored an 86th-minute winner after just six minutes on the pitch, in the season's UEFA Champions League match against Olympiakos FC (2–1 home win),[5] adding a late equalizer against CA Osasuna[6] and another in a 3–2 success at Racing de Santander as Real finished second in the league,[7] also netting in the 4–0 defeat of Athletic Bilbao for the Copa del Rey.[8]

In the 2005–06 campaign, with Castilla, Soldado scored 19 goals in Segunda División – two penalties – to become joint-second highest goalscorer alongside Ciudad de Murcia's José Juan Luque, one behind Ikechukwu Uche of Recreativo de Huelva.[9]

On 24 July 2006, Soldado officially became the first member of Real Madrid to leave under new manager Fabio Capello and new president Ramón Calderón, moving to fellow La Liga club Osasuna on a season-long loan. Set to score goals and return as a better footballer, he stated: "The idea is to leave and have a good season with a first division team scoring goals, and to develop as a footballer".[10] His new team had finished fourth in the previous campaign to earn themselves a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, hence he chose them over a number of other Spanish clubs competing for his presence. "The following year I want to return to the Real first team. I chose Osasuna because it gives me the chance to play in the Champions League", he said to Real Madrid's website after his signing; he finished with a total of 13 goals across all competitions, making him the Navarrese's top scorer.[11]

Soldado returned to Real Madrid where, on 11 July 2007, he renewed his contract with the team until 30 June 2012.[12] In a 21 July interview with Spanish newspaper Diario AS, he revealed that he would be wearing number 9 shirt in his second stint: "During the preseason I'll be number 9, the number I've always dreamed of. When I step onto the pitch at the Bernabéu I'll remember all the hard work it took to get here".[13] However, he finished the season with just five league appearances (one start, at Deportivo de La Coruña), the second with fewer minutes for the league champions.[14][15]

Getafe

In late July 2008, Soldado was sold to Getafe CF for €4 million, signing a four-year deal with the side from the Madrid outskirts[16] like former Real player Esteban Granero the previous week. He scored his first goal for them on 19 October 2008 in a 1–2 away loss against Málaga CF, adding two in another away defeat, with Osasuna (2–5), two months later;[17] in between, he was sent off in a 0–3 home loss to Valencia for a headbutt on Carlos Marchena.[18]

On 25 January 2009, Soldado netted a hat-trick as an early substitute, in a 5–1 home win over Sporting de Gijón.[19] On 22 March, as Getafe struggled in the league, he scored twice to secure another home triumph, 2–1 with Recreativo de Huelva.[20] The following month he netted the opener against his first professional club, albeit in a 2–3 away defeat.[21]

Soldado started 2009–10 in impressive fashion, putting three past Racing Santander in a 4–1 away win.[22] After a long scoring drought, he added three more against newly promoted Xerez CD, in a 5–1 home triumph.[23]

On 19 December 2009, Soldado took his league tally to ten after scoring twice in a 2–1 win at Sevilla FC – with this achievement, he became Getafe's best ever scorer in the first division, surpassing Manu del Moral and Dani Güiza;[24] he missed one month of competition due to injury but, in his return to action, scored from a bicycle kick, earning his side a point in the 1–1 home draw against Gijón.[25]

Valencia
Soldado playing for Valencia in August 2011

In early June 2010, after a successful year at Getafe – 16 league goals, and qualification to the UEFA Europa League – Soldado returned to his hometown and signed for Valencia for €10 million, replacing FC Barcelona-bound David Villa.[26] In his first official game, on 14 September, for the Champions League group stage, he contributed one goal in the Che's 4–0 win at Bursaspor;[27] when the two sides met at the Mestalla Stadium in November, he netted two more, in a 6–1 success.[28]

On 2 April 2011, Soldado scored all of Valencia's goals in a 4–2 away win against former club Getafe.[29] In the next fixture, a local derby against Villarreal CF, he netted two more in a 5–0 home thrashing,[30] and finished the season as joint-fourth top scorer as his team ranked third and qualified to the Champions League.

In his first game of 2011–12, Soldado scored four goals against Racing Santander (one in his own net) in an eventual 4–3 home win – his last two arrived in the final three minutes.[31] In late November 2011, in two home games separated by only five days, he added five more: two in a 2–3 home loss to Real Madrid[32] and three in a 7–0 routing of K.R.C. Genk for the Champions League group stage.[33]

Soldado scored his 25th competitive goal of the campaign on 18 March 2012, netting all of his team's goals in a 3–0 win at Bilbao.[34] In late June, he extended his contract until 2017.[35]

On 23 October 2012, Soldado scored a hat-trick against FC BATE Borisov in a 3–0 success for the Champions League group stage in Minsk.[36]

Tottenham Hotspur
Soldado and Christian Eriksen kicking off for Tottenham against Cardiff City

Valencia agreed a deal with Tottenham Hotspur for the transfer of Soldado on 1 August 2013, for a fee of £26 million,[37] which would break the English club's previous record of £17 million paid for Paulinho earlier in the summer. The transfer was completed four days later after a successful medical.[38]

On his Premier League debut on 18 August, Soldado scored Tottenham's winning goal with a penalty kick in a 1–0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.[39] Four days later, he scored his first goals in European competition for Spurs, netting a brace in a 5–0 win at FC Dinamo Tbilisi in the Europa League playoff round.[40]

On 20 October, Soldado scored his first Premier League goal from open play, in a 2–0 victory against Aston Villa at Villa Park.[41] Two months later he netted his first hat-trick for Tottenham, against Anzhi Makhachkala in the Europa League group stage (4–1).[42]

Soldado scored the only goal against relegation-threatened Cardiff City on 2 March 2014, his first goal in nine matches.[43] He netted just six times in his debut season, only two of which came from open play, and was included in The Telegraph website's list of the "10 worst buys of the Premier League season".[44]

On 18 October 2014, making his first league start of the campaign, Soldado set up Christian Eriksen's goal during the match against Manchester City, also having a penalty saved by Joe Hart in an eventual 1–4 away loss.[45] His first goal came on 30 November, the decisive in a 2–1 home victory over Everton.[46]

Villarreal

On 14 August 2015, Soldado returned to his country's top flight, signing a three-year contract with Villarreal CF for a reported £10 million.[47][48] He scored in his very first appearance, helping to a 1–1 draw at Real Betis in which he started and retired injured midway through the second half.[49]

On 13 December 2015, Soldado netted the game's only goal to help defeat his former club Real Madrid at the Estadio El Madrigal.[50] He missed the vast majority of 2016–17, due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee contracted in pre-season.[51]

Fenerbahçe

On 11 August 2017, Fenerbahçe SK announced the signing of Soldado.[52] After failing to score in his first ten games, he scored a hat-trick as a 61st-minute substitute on 19 November in a 4–1 home win over Sivasspor.[53]

On 2 June 2019, Soldado announced that he would not renew his contract.[54]

Granada

On 15 July 2019, Soldado signed a one-year contract with freshly promoted Granada CF, making him Diego Martínez's fourth signing of the summer transfer window.[55] He made his competitive debut on 17 August, starting and scoring in a 4–4 draw against Villarreal.[56]

International career

Soldado represented Spain at all its youth levels, scoring a total of 26 goals. He was first called up to the first team in June 2007 for two UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers, against Latvia and Liechtenstein, playing in both;[57][58] he did not make it to the finals in Switzerland and Austria, however, as the nation emerged victorious.

On 29 February 2012, after nearly five years of absence, Soldado returned to the national team: he came on as a substitute for Fernando Llorente at half-time of a friendly with Venezuela in Málaga, scoring twice after only seven minutes on the pitch; afterwards, he won a penalty and the sending off of Fernando Amorebieta, but missed the ensuing attempt, only to close the score at 5–0 in the 83rd minute.[59]

Manager Vicente del Bosque selected Soldado for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup squad. He scored in the opener on 16 June, helping Spain to a 2–1 win over Uruguay.[60]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 28 January 2021.[61][62]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Madrid B 2002–03 Segunda División B 267——267
2003–04 3116——3116
2004–05 3421——3421
2005–06 Segunda División 2919——2919
Total 12063——12063
Real Madrid 2004–05 La Liga 00200020
2005–06 1124121174
2007–08 50201080
Total 1628131274
Osasuna (loan) 2006–07 La Liga 3011311114413
Getafe 2008–09 La Liga 341300—3413
2009–10 261664—3220
Total 602964—6633
Valencia 2010–11 La Liga 341831764425
2011–12 3217631375127
2012–13 352442744630
Total 10159136271714181
Tottenham Hotspur 2013–14 Premier League 28610753611
2014–15 2418282405
Total 527921577616
Villarreal 2015–16 La Liga 28531132448
2016–17 1040010114
Total 389311425512
Fenerbahçe 2017–18 Süper Lig 26963203412
2018–19 2162120257
Total 471584405919
Granada 2019–20 La Liga 33764—3911
2020–21 1742161256
Total 501185616417
Career total 50220554247527630255

International goals
As of 10 September 2013
Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Soldado goal.[63]
List of international goals scored by Roberto Soldado
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 February 2012La Rosaleda, Málaga, Spain Venezuela3–05–0Friendly
2.4–0
3.5–0
4.11 September 2012Boris Paichadze, Tbilisi, Georgia Georgia1–01–02014 World Cup qualification
5.11 June 2013Yankee Stadium, New York City, United States Republic of Ireland1–02–0Friendly
6.16 June 2013Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil Uruguay2–02–12013 FIFA Confederations Cup
7.10 September 2013Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland Chile1–12–2Friendly

Honours

Club

Real Madrid

Tottenham Hotspur

International

Spain

Spain U19

Individual

References
  1. "Barclays Premier League squad numbers 2013/14". Premier League. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. "Player profile". Premier League. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  3. Lowe, Sid (27 April 2016). "Roberto Soldado: 'What let me down at Tottenham was my head wasn't right'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  4. Llamas, Fernando (23 October 2005). "El Valencia deja helado el Bernabéu" [Valencia freeze the Bernabéu]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  5. Madrid's soldier of fortune; UEFA, 29 September 2005
  6. González, Ángel (18 December 2005). "Osasuna atasca con uno menos al Real Madrid" [Osasuna strand Real Madrid with one less]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  7. Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (5 May 2006). "El Madrid goza y sufre en Santander" [Madrid enjoy and suffer in Santander]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  8. "(Cro) El Real Madrid derrota al Athletic de Bilbao (4–0) en un partido con más goles que fútbol" [(Rep) Real Madrid defeat Athletic de Bilbao (4–0) in match with more goals than football] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 13 January 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  9. "Goleadores de 2005–2006" [2005–2006 top scorers]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  10. Real striker Soldado to join Osasuna; ESPN Soccernet, 24 July 2006
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  12. Madrid reward Ramos and Soldado; UEFA, 12 July 2007
  13. "Real Madrid: Soldado: "Estoy muy feliz por volver a mi casa"" [Real Madrid: Soldado: "I am very happy to return to my home"] (in Spanish). Noticias. 11 July 2007. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  14. "Roberto Soldado: "Schuster está un poco al margen del equipo"" [Roberto Soldado: "Schuster is not totally on the same page with the team"]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 27 December 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  15. "Roberto Soldado: "Creo que a Schuster no le gusto mucho"" [Roberto Soldado: "I don't think Schuster likes me very much"]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 6 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  16. Soldado set to seal Getafe switch; UEFA, 30 July 2008
  17. Osasuna 5–2 Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 21 December 2008
  18. Getafe 0–3 Valencia; ESPN Soccernet, 9 November 2008
  19. Getafe 5–1 Sporting Gijón; ESPN Soccernet, 25 January 2009
  20. Getafe 2–1 Recreativo Huelva; ESPN Soccernet, 22 March 2009
  21. Real Madrid 3–2 Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 21 April 2009
  22. Racing Santander 1–4 Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 30 August 2009
  23. Getafe 5–1 Xerez; ESPN Soccernet, 29 November 2009
  24. Soldado stun Sanchez Pizjuan; ESPN Soccernet, 19 December 2009
  25. Getafe edge closer to European place; ESPN Soccernet, 4 May 2010
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  28. Valencia vanquish Bursaspor to ease through; UEFA, 24 November 2010
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  30. Valencia put five past Villarreal; ESPN Soccernet, 10 April 2011
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  32. Real pass Los Che test; ESPN Soccernet, 19 November 2011
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