Alfonso Pérez
Encyclopedia
Alfonso Pérez Muñoz (born 26 September 1972), simply Alfonso, is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a striker.
Having represented both Real Madrid
and FC Barcelona
during his career, Alfonso possessed above-average heading ability despite not reaching 180 cms; he appeared in 307 La Liga
games for three teams (also represented Real Betis
), scoring 84 goals.
The recipient of nearly 40 caps
for Spain
, Alfonso represented the nation in one World Cup
and two European Championships
.
, in the outskirts of Madrid
. In 1990, aged just 18, he made his professional debuts with Real Madrid
and, although he never carved a regular place in the starting XI (playing mostly as understudy to club great Emilio Butragueño
and then Iván Zamorano
), helped the capital
side to the 1994–95 national championship.
In that summer, Alfonso signed with Real Betis
. In his second season at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, he converted 25 La Liga
goals which was the most goals ever scored by a player in a season in the club's history. Teaming up with Pier
, the pair combined for 60 first division goals from 1995–97, and helped the Andalusia
outfit finish fourth in the latter.
In 2000–01, FC Barcelona
signed Alfonso, whom had a difficult time adjusting at Camp Nou
, scoring only twice in his debut season, and serving an unsuccessful loan spell at French League
's Olympique de Marseille
in January 2002 (alongside Real Madrid midfielder
Alberto Rivera), where he once again failed to shine.
Barça then loaned Alfonso to former club Betis, which signed him permanently at the end of the season. After two additional seasons where he struggled with injuries and loss of form (only ten scoreless games in 2004–05
), Alfonso retired from football after his contract finished, in June 2005, having scored more than 100 official goals during his career. He subsequently returned to Real Madrid, joining its veterans' team.
, making his debut in a friendly match against England
on 9 September 1992, in Santander, Cantabria
.
The most important of Alfonso's 11 international goals was scored against Yugoslavia
in UEFA Euro 2000. Spain were losing 3–2 in injury time, needing a win to qualify from the group at Norway's
expense. In the 90th minute
, Spain won a penalty, which was converted by Gaizka Mendieta
. With seconds remaining, Alfonso volleyed a spectacular shot past Ivica Kralj
to claim victory for Spain and his second goal of the match.
He also appeared in all of the nation's matches at Euro 1996 (equalizing against Bulgaria
after just one minute on the pitch) and played in two 1998 FIFA World Cup
contests.
Additionally, Alfonso was a member of the national side that won the golden medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
.
Betis
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...
footballer who played as a striker.
Having represented both Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
during his career, Alfonso possessed above-average heading ability despite not reaching 180 cms; he appeared in 307 La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
games for three teams (also represented Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
), scoring 84 goals.
The recipient of nearly 40 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, Alfonso represented the nation in one World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and two European Championships
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
.
Club career
Alfonso was born in GetafeGetafe
Getafe is a city in the southern zone of the Madrid metropolitan area, Spain, and one of the most populated and industrialized cities in the municipality. The city is home to one of the oldest Spanish military air bases, as well as the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid...
, in the outskirts of Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. In 1990, aged just 18, he made his professional debuts with Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
and, although he never carved a regular place in the starting XI (playing mostly as understudy to club great Emilio Butragueño
Emilio Butragueño
Emilio Butragueño Santos is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a striker.He was best known for his spell with Real Madrid...
and then Iván Zamorano
Iván Zamorano
Iván Luis Zamorano Zamora is a retired Chilean football striker. Along with former world-class forward Marcelo Salas and former world player of the year Elias Figueroa he is regarded as one of Chile's most recognized footballers.He was a member of the Chilean national team and played in the 1998...
), helped the capital
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
side to the 1994–95 national championship.
In that summer, Alfonso signed with Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
. In his second season at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, he converted 25 La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
goals which was the most goals ever scored by a player in a season in the club's history. Teaming up with Pier
Pier Luigi Cherubino
Pier Luigi Cherubino Loggi, aka Pier , is a retired Italian-Spanish football striker, best known for his CD Tenerife period.-Football career:...
, the pair combined for 60 first division goals from 1995–97, and helped the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
outfit finish fourth in the latter.
In 2000–01, FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
signed Alfonso, whom had a difficult time adjusting at Camp Nou
Camp Nou
Camp Nou , sometimes called "the Nou Camp" in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957....
, scoring only twice in his debut season, and serving an unsuccessful loan spell at French League
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
's Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
in January 2002 (alongside Real Madrid 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...
Alberto Rivera), where he once again failed to shine.
Barça then loaned Alfonso to former club Betis, which signed him permanently at the end of the season. After two additional seasons where he struggled with injuries and loss of form (only ten scoreless games in 2004–05
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
), Alfonso retired from football after his contract finished, in June 2005, having scored more than 100 official goals during his career. He subsequently returned to Real Madrid, joining its veterans' team.
International career
Alfonso appeared in thirty-eight international games for SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, making his debut in a friendly match against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
on 9 September 1992, in Santander, Cantabria
Santander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
.
The most important of Alfonso's 11 international goals was scored against Yugoslavia
Serbia national football team
The Serbia national football team represents Serbia in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia, the governing body for football in Serbia. Serbia's home ground is Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade and their last head coach was Vladimir Petrović...
in UEFA Euro 2000. Spain were losing 3–2 in injury time, needing a win to qualify from the group at Norway's
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
expense. In the 90th minute
Last-minute goal
The term "last-minute goal" is used in sport, primarily association football, to describe a goal scored very late in a game. It may not necessarily refer to a goal scored in the actual final minute...
, Spain won a penalty, which was converted by Gaizka Mendieta
Gaizka Mendieta
Gaizka Mendieta Zabala is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a midfielder.Versatile, with good offensive and tackling skills, also being capable of creating goals for teammates and himself, he played mainly for Valencia CF, and finished his career at Middlesbrough of England.He played 40...
. With seconds remaining, Alfonso volleyed a spectacular shot past Ivica Kralj
Ivica Kralj
Ivica Kralj is a former Montenegrin football goalkeeper.-Club career:He played for Partizan, Arsenal Tivat, Jastrebac Niš, Porto, Radnički Kragujevac, PSV Eindhoven, Rostov and Spartak Trnava....
to claim victory for Spain and his second goal of the match.
He also appeared in all of the nation's matches at Euro 1996 (equalizing against Bulgaria
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
after just one minute on the pitch) and played in two 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
contests.
Additionally, Alfonso was a member of the national side that won the golden medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 16 December 1992 | Sánchez Pizjuán Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán is a stadium in Seville, Spain. It is the home stadium of Sevilla Fútbol Club. It was the venue for the 1986 European Cup Final between Steaua Bucureşti and Barcelona and the 1982 World Cup semi-final game between Germany and France.This stadium contains a singular... , Seville Seville Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level... , Spain 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... |
3–0 | 5–0 | 1994 World Cup qualification 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 3) Listed below are the dates and results for Group 3 of the European zone of the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament. For an overview of the entire European zone, see the article 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification ; for an overview of the entire qualification tournament, see the article 1994... |
|
| 2. | 6 September 1995 | Los Cármenes Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes -External links:*... , Granada Granada Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea... , Spain 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... |
2–0 | 6–0 | Euro 1996 qualifying UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying Group 2 -Standings:-Results and fixtures:--------------------------------------------... |
|
| 3. | 9 June 1996 | Elland Road Elland Road Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C... , Leeds Leeds Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial... , England 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... |
1–0 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 1996 | |
| 4. | 4 September 1996 | Svangaskarð, Toftir Toftir Toftir is a village in Nes Municipality on the island of Eysturoy, in the Faroe Islands .Toftir is part of a chain of villages stretching over a distance of 10 kilometres on the east side of Skálafjørður on Eysturoy.... , Faroe Islands Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland... |
1–2 | 2–6 | 1998 World Cup qualification | |
| 5. | 4 September 1996 | Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands | 1–4 | 2–6 | 1998 World Cup qualification | |
| 6. | 4 September 1996 | Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands | 1–6 | 2–6 | 1998 World Cup qualification | |
| 7. | 12 February 1997 | Rico Pérez Estadio José Rico Pérez Estadio José Rico Pérez is a multi-purpose stadium in Alicante, Spain. It is currently used mostly for football matches, being home to Hércules CF. It also held World Cup matches when Spain organized the event in 1982. The stadium can hold up to 30,000 people... , Alicante Alicante Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest... , Spain 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... |
2–0 | 4–0 | 1998 World Cup qualification | |
| 8. | 12 February 1997 | Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1998 World Cup qualification | |
| 9. | 29 March 2000 | Montjuïc Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys is a stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Originally built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition in the city , it was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics... , Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... , Spain 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... |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 10. | 21 June 2000 | Jan Breydel, Bruges Bruges Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country.... , Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
1–1 | 3–4 | UEFA Euro 2000 | |
| 11. | 21 June 2000 | Jan Breydel, Bruges, Belgium | 3–4 | 3–4 | UEFA Euro 2000 |
Club
Real Madrid- Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
: 1994–95 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1992–931992–93 Copa del ReyThe Copa del Rey 1992-93 is the 89th staging of the Copa del Rey.The competition started on August 28, 1992 and concluded on June 26, 1993 with the Final, held at the Estadio Luis Casanova in Valencia.-1st Round:... - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 19901990 Supercopa de EspañaThe 1990 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 5 December and 12 December 1990. It contested by FC Barcelona, who were Spanish Cup winners in 1989–90, and Real Madrid who won the 1989–90 Spanish League. Real Madrid won 5–1 on aggregate.-First leg:-Second...
, 19931993 Supercopa de EspañaThe 1993 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 2 December and 16 December 1993. It contested by ,Real Madrid who were Spanish Cup winners in 1992–93, and FC Barcelona who won the 1992–93 Spanish League. Real Madrid won 4–2 on aggregate.-First leg:-Second...
Betis
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 2004–05
Country
Spain U23- Summer OlympicsSummer Olympic GamesThe Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
: 1992
Personal
- Alfonso is the older brother of another footballer and striker, Iván Pérez MuñozIván Pérez MuñozIván Pérez Muñoz is a retired Spanish professional footballer who played as a forward.-Club career:A product of Real Madrid's youth system, Pérez became a professional in 1994 with the B team, before making his first main squad appearance the next season...
. Both Real Madrid youth graduates, they coincided one season at Betis, and reunited at Real Madrid veterans.
- Getafe CFGetafe CFGetafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
's stadium, the Coliseum Alfonso PérezColiseum Alfonso PérezEstadio Coliseum Alfonso Pérez is a football stadium in Getafe, Spain. The stadium is the home ground of Getafe CF.-Stadium:* Name: Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Pérez* Inauguration: 1998* Capacity: 17,700* Pitch dimensions:...
, is named after him, despite the fact that he never played for his hometown club (or even once in the ground).