Quique Álvarez
Encyclopedia
Enrique 'Quique' Álvarez Sanjuán (born 20 July 1975 in Vigo
, Galicia) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a central defender.
During a 16-year professional career, he appeared in 369 matches. Having started his career at FC Barcelona
, where he had no impact for its first team - one match - he would be an important member of Villarreal CF
's La Liga
consolidation, representing the club for seven years.
, Álvarez managed only one first team appearance, in 1995–96, then spent one loan stint with CD Logroñés
before being released, after which he joined Barça neighbours
UE Lleida
(both teams were then in the second division
).
Álvarez made a name as a La Liga
player during his stay at Villarreal CF
, where he was team captain when a starter. Having managed more than 200 appearances overall (with 187 in the top flight, second most for the club behind Argentine
Rodolfo Arruabarrena
), his role would diminish in 2006–07 however, as Villarreal finished fifth (only 15 appearances).
In July 2007, Álvarez joined Recreativo de Huelva
, where his season would be constantly bothered by injuries. In one of his few league appearances, on 1 March 2008, he was sent off
for a dangerous challenge on Real Madrid
's Arjen Robben
, after just six minutes on the pitch (Álvarez was brought on in the 64'), during a 2–3 home loss. In 2008–09, he only took part in one match for already doomed Recre, a 1–2 loss at Sporting de Gijón
(last round), and was subsequently released.
Retired at 34, Álvarez moved into coaching, starting with Barças Juvenil A.
, also a footballer and a defender, played professionally during 15 years, at hometown Celta de Vigo
and FC Barcelona. With the latter, he coached the B-side
on two occasions, coinciding with his son in one.
Vigo
Vigo is a city and municipality in north-west Spain, in Galicia, situated on the ria of the same name on the Atlantic Ocean.-Population:...
, Galicia) is a retired 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...
footballer who played as a central defender.
During a 16-year professional career, he appeared in 369 matches. Having started his career at 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....
, where he had no impact for its first team - one match - he would be an important member of Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
's 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...
consolidation, representing the club for seven years.
Football career
Grown through the ranks of FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Álvarez managed only one first team appearance, in 1995–96, then spent one loan stint with CD Logroñés
CD Logroñés
Club Deportivo Logroñés, S.A.D. was a Spanish football team based in Logroño, in the autonomous community of La Rioja. Founded in 1940, it last played in Regional Preferente de La Rioja....
before being released, after which he joined Barça neighbours
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
UE Lleida
UE Lleida
Club Lleida Esportiu is a Spanish football team based in Lleida, Catalonia. Founded in 2011, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Camp d'Esports, with a capacity of 13,500 seats.-History:...
(both teams were then in the 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:...
).
Álvarez made a name as a 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...
player during his stay at Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
, where he was team captain when a starter. Having managed more than 200 appearances overall (with 187 in the top flight, second most for the club behind Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Rodolfo Arruabarrena
Rodolfo Arruabarrena
Rodolfo Martín Arruabarrena is a former Argentine football left back. His last club was Universidad Católica in the Primera División de Chile...
), his role would diminish in 2006–07 however, as Villarreal finished fifth (only 15 appearances).
In July 2007, Álvarez joined Recreativo de Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
, where his season would be constantly bothered by injuries. In one of his few league appearances, on 1 March 2008, he was sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
for a dangerous challenge on 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...
's Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben is a Dutch footballer who plays for the German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards as a winger, and he is also known for his dribbling skills...
, after just six minutes on the pitch (Álvarez was brought on in the 64'), during a 2–3 home loss. In 2008–09, he only took part in one match for already doomed Recre, a 1–2 loss at Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
(last round), and was subsequently released.
Retired at 34, Álvarez moved into coaching, starting with Barças Juvenil A.
Honours
- Villarreal:
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: 2003, 2004
- UEFA Intertoto Cup
Personal
Álvarez's father, Quique CostasQuique Costas
Enrique 'Quique' Álvarez Costas is a retired Spanish football defender and coach.He played in 230 La Liga games over the course of 11 seasons , in representation of Celta and FC Barcelona...
, also a footballer and a defender, played professionally during 15 years, at hometown Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
and FC Barcelona. With the latter, he coached the B-side
FC Barcelona B
Futbol Club Barcelona B is a Spanish football team. They are the reserve team of FC Barcelona. Reserve teams in the Spanish football league system play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their...
on two occasions, coinciding with his son in one.