Roberto Soldado

Football player infobox
playername= Roberto Soldado

fullname = Roberto Soldado Rillo
nickname = "El Pistolero" (The Gunman)
"Gudari" (Warrior)
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1985|5|27|mf=y
cityofbirth = Valencia
countryofbirth = Spain
height =height|meter=1.84
currentclub = Getafe CF
clubnumber = 9
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years= 2002–2006 2005–2008 2006–2007 2008–present
clubs = Real Madrid Castilla Real Madrid
→CA Osasuna (loan) Getafe CF
caps(goals) = 0129 (70)
016 (2)
030 (11)
00 (0)
nationalyears = 2003–2006
2007–
nationalteam = Spain U-21
Spain
nationalcaps(goals) = 017 (7)
02 (0)
pcupdate = August 1, 2008
ntupdate = August 1, 2008

Roberto Soldado Rillo, Soldado (born May 27 1985 in Valencia), is a Spanish football striker, currently with Getafe CF.

Club career

Soldado joined Real Madrid at the age of 13 from Valencia CF. In 2005-06, he debuted with the first team, on October 23, 2005, precisely against Valencia (1-2 home loss), while also playing for the reserve side Real Madrid Castilla. Previously, on September 28, he scored an 86th minute winner, after just six minutes on the pitch, in the UEFA Champions League contest against Olympiakos (2-1 home win), adding a late equalizer against CA Osasuna and another in a 3-2 away success at Racing Santander, also netting in the 4-0 "Copa del Rey" victory against Athletic Bilbao. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/real-leaves-it-late-milan-draws/2005/09/29/1127804577321.html Real leaves it late] ]

In 2005–06, with Castilla, Soldado scored 19 goals in the second division (two penalties) to become joint second highest goal-scorer alongside Ciudad de Murcia's José Juan Luque, one goal behind Nigerian Ikechuwku Uche, of Recreativo de Huelva.

On July 24, 2006, Soldado officially became the first member of Real Madrid to leave under new manager Fabio Capello and new president Ramón Calderón. Soldado left on a one-season loan to fellow "La Liga" club CA Osasuna. Set to score goals and return to Real Madrid as a better footballer, Soldado stated: "The idea is to leave and have a good season with a La Liga team scoring goals, and to develop as a footballer". [ [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=374309&campaign=rss&source=soccernet&&cc=4716 Real's Soldado to join Osasuna] ] Osasuna had finished fourth in the previous campaign, to earn themselves a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, hence Soldado 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", Soldado said to Real Madrid's website after his signing. He would finish 2006–07 with a total of 14 goals, making him Osasuna's highest scorer, with 11 of those coming in the league.

He returned to Real Madrid where, on July 11, 2007, he renewed his contract with the team until June 30, 2012. [ [http://www.realmadrid.com/articulo/rma40973.htm Soldado inks new deal until 2012] ] In a July 21 interview with Spanish newspaper "Diario AS", Soldado revealed that he would be wearing number 9 shirt on this new Madrid 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". [ [http://www.realmadrid.com/articulo/rma41217.htm "They placed their faith in me and I'll return the favour with goals"] ] However, he would finish the season with just five league appearances (one start, at Deportivo de La Coruña), the second with fewer minutes for the league champions.

In late July 2008, Soldado was sold to Getafe CF for €4 millions, signing a 4-year deal with the side from the Madrid outskirts, [ [http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/getafe/es/desarrollo/1151145.html Madrid and Getafe agree for Soldado] es icon] as former Real midfielder Esteban Granero in the previous week.

International career

Soldado was called up for the first time by Spain for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Latvia and Liechtenstein in June 2007, playing in both. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/news/kind=1/newsid=543429.html Soldado gets Spain's approval] ]

Honors and awards

Real Madrid

;Domestic
*Spanish League: 2007-08, runner-up 2005-06
*Spanish Supercup: Runner-up 2007

;International
*UEFA U-19 Championship: 2004

;Personal
*Zarra Trophy ("Segunda División")

References

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=7603 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon