Ángel López
Encyclopedia
Ángel Domingo López Ruano, simply Ángel (ˈaŋxel ˈlopes; born 10 March 1981 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
, Canary Islands
), is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Villarreal CF
. An offensive right back, he can also operate as a midfielder
.
, playing 64 La Liga
contests from 2000–2002 (32 in each season), Ángel made a name for himself as a stamina-filled wingback at fellow first-divisioner Celta de Vigo
, joining the Galician outfit in the 2003 January transfer window. He appeared in 15 league during the second part of the season, as Celta achieved a UEFA Champions League qualification spot. However, with Ángel as first-choice, they would be relegated in 2003–04.
On the last day of 2007–08's summer transfer deadline, Ángel joined Villarreal CF
. During the season where the team dubbed the Yellow Submarine achieved a best-ever runner-up league position, he split right-back duties with veteran Javi Venta
, a situation which again befell in 2008–09 (22 matches for Venta, 21 for López).
In the 2009–10 season
, Ángel again battled with Venta for first-choice duties; on 4 April 2010, he scored his first goal for Villarreal, shooting from 30 yards to open the score at Real Valladolid
(2–0 win).
After Venta's departure to Levante UD
, Ángel was the undisputed first-choice right-back for Villarreal. On 9 January 2011, however, during a 2–4 away loss against Real Madrid
, he suffered a severe injury in his left knee
- anterior cruciate ligament
- being sidelined for the next six months.
in a 0–1 friendly
defeat with Romania
in Cádiz
, on 15 November 2006.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria commonly known as Las Palmas is the political capital, jointly with Santa Cruz, the most populous city in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the ninth largest city in Spain, with a population of 383,308 in 2010. Nearly half of the people of the island...
, Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
), is a 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 plays for 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...
. An offensive right back, he can also operate 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...
.
Club career
After first appearing professionally with hometown UD Las PalmasUD Las Palmas
Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands...
, playing 64 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...
contests from 2000–2002 (32 in each season), Ángel made a name for himself as a stamina-filled wingback at fellow first-divisioner 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 ,...
, joining the Galician outfit in the 2003 January transfer window. He appeared in 15 league during the second part of the season, as Celta achieved a UEFA Champions League qualification spot. However, with Ángel as first-choice, they would be relegated in 2003–04.
On the last day of 2007–08's summer transfer deadline, Ángel joined 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...
. During the season where the team dubbed the Yellow Submarine achieved a best-ever runner-up league position, he split right-back duties with veteran Javi Venta
Javi Venta
Javier 'Javi' Rodríguez Venta is a Spanish footballer who plays for Levante UD as a right defender.-Football career:...
, a situation which again befell in 2008–09 (22 matches for Venta, 21 for López).
In the 2009–10 season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, Ángel again battled with Venta for first-choice duties; on 4 April 2010, he scored his first goal for Villarreal, shooting from 30 yards to open the score at Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
(2–0 win).
After Venta's departure to Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
, Ángel was the undisputed first-choice right-back for Villarreal. On 9 January 2011, however, during a 2–4 away loss against 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...
, he suffered a severe injury in his left knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
- anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
- being sidelined for the next six months.
International career
Ángel made his international debut for the Spanish national teamSpain 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...
in a 0–1 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...
defeat with Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
in Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, on 15 November 2006.