Alberto Mendez
Encyclopedia
Alberto Mendez Rodríguez (born 24 October 1974) is a retired German
footballer of Spanish
descent, who played as a midfielder
.
, Germany
, Mendez was discovered by Arsenal
and Arsène Wenger
playing for German non-league side 1. SC Feucht
, and signed for the English
side in 1997. He made his first-team debut in a League Cup
match against Birmingham City
on 14 October 1997 as a substitute
, and scored the final goal in a 4–1 win.
However, Mendez could not establish himself in the first-team, and played in only eleven matches for Arsenal, four of which were in the league, in five seasons, with one goal to his name.
He had subsequent spells with AEK Athens FC, SpVgg Unterhaching
(his only Bundesliga
experience, which consisted in six appearances from the bench during 1999–2000), Racing de Ferrol
and Terrassa FC
, the latter two in Spain's second division
, before returning to Germany permanently in 2004, playing in the lower leagues well into his 30's.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
footballer of Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
descent, who played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Football career
Born in NurembergNuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Mendez was discovered by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
playing for German non-league side 1. SC Feucht
1. SC Feucht
1. SC Feucht is a German association football club from the town of Feucht, Bavaria.-History:Fußball Club Feucht was established as the town's first football team in 1920 and re-named Sportclub Feucht in 1923. The club was dissolved in 1925 and 1...
, and signed for the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
side in 1997. He made his first-team debut in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on 14 October 1997 as a substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
, and scored the final goal in a 4–1 win.
However, Mendez could not establish himself in the first-team, and played in only eleven matches for Arsenal, four of which were in the league, in five seasons, with one goal to his name.
He had subsequent spells with AEK Athens FC, SpVgg Unterhaching
SpVgg Unterhaching
Spielvereinigung Unterhaching is a German sports club in Unterhaching, a semi-rural municipality on the southern outskirts of the Bavarian capital Munich....
(his only Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
experience, which consisted in six appearances from the bench during 1999–2000), Racing de Ferrol
Racing de Ferrol
Racing Club de Ferrol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Ferrol in the province of A Coruña, in the autonomous community of Galicia.Founded in 1919, in currently plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Estadio de la Malata...
and Terrassa FC
Terrassa FC
Terrassa Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Terrassa, Barcelona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1906, it currently plays in 3ª - Group 5, holding home matches at Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa, with a capacity of 11.500 spectators.-History:In 1914, Terrassa's...
, the latter two in Spain's second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, before returning to Germany permanently in 2004, playing in the lower leagues well into his 30's.