Álvaro Arbeloa

Football player infobox|
playername= Álvaro Arbeloa
fullname = Álvaro Arbeloa Coca


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|1|17|df=y
cityofbirth = Salamanca
countryofbirth = Spain
height = height|ft=6|in=0
nickname =
currentclub = Liverpool
clubnumber = 17
position = Full Back/Central Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2002–2003
2003–2006
2006
2006–2007
2007–
clubs = Real Madrid C
Real Madrid B
Real Madrid

Deportivo de La Coruña
Liverpool
caps(goals) = 01 (0)
50 (1)
02 (0)
20 (0)
43 (1)
nationalyears =2008–
nationalteam = Spain
nationalcaps(goals) = 03 (0)
pcupdate = 21 September, 2008
ntupdate = June 18 2008

Álvaro Arbeloa Coca (born 17 January 1983) is a Spanish football player who is currently playing for English Premier League side Liverpool. He is a right back, although he can play as a central defender and he started most of his early games in the 2007-08 season as left back.

Club career

Real Madrid

After signing as a teenager for Real Madrid C.F., Arbeloa then played for the youth team. He then graduated to the reserve team, and played for the first team twice.

On July 24 2006 Arbeloa signed for Deportivo de La Coruña, following in teammate Roberto Soldado's footsteps. Arbeloa said: "This is a strange situation for me, I have been playing for Real Madrid for a year, since I was 16 years old. Real was nothing but good to me, but it's time for me to go. Madrid have the best players in the world and although that is great for the club, unfortunately that's not so great for cantera players; only a few of us can find their place in the first team, and even those who do find their place in the first team like Álvaro Mejía and Paco Pavón are only third or fourth pick and that is why I want to leave the club to a club where I can get some regular playing time, in La Liga of course. Deportivo de La Coruña is one of the best clubs in Spain and with Joaquín Caparrós as head coach I will certainly get more experience, and get better, what is most important is that he will have confidence in me. I have enjoyed my time at Real, and I thank everybody who helped me. I'm leaving Real Madrid to play more football, no other reason."

Liverpool

On 31 January 2007, Arbeloa signed for English FA Premier League club Liverpool F.C., for a fee of around £3 million, with Real Madrid receiving 50% of the fee. [cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N154850070131-2135.htm|title=liverpoolfc.tv:Reds swoop for Spanish pair |accessdate=2007-05-13] He made his Premiership debut on February 10 [ cite web|title=Tactical Formation|work=Football-Lineups.com
url=http://www.football-lineups.com/games/?game=3765 | accessmonthday=September 9| accessyear=2007] against Newcastle United, coming as a substitute for Jermaine Pennant. He made his full debut against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League at the Nou Camp, where he was employed as a left-back. This was done by coach Rafael Benitez for tactical reasons, as his stronger right foot could stop Lionel Messi, because Messi has a tendency to cut his runs towards the center of the field. His part in keeping Messi quiet helped Liverpool to a 2-1 win over the defending champions. He scored his first goal for Liverpool against Reading on April 7 2007, becoming both the first Liverpool number 2 to score in a competitive match since Mike Marsh scored in a League Cup 4th Round replay against Crystal Palace on 16 December 1992 and the first Liverpool number 2 to score in the Premier League since Mike Marsh scored against Crystal Palace on 28 November 1992.

Arbeloa's squad number changed from 2 to 17 as a personal preference for the 2007–08 season. This number had previously been occupied by Craig Bellamy.

International career

On February 1, 2008 he was called up to the full Spanish national team squad for the first time, to play France in a friendly in Malaga on February 6, although he was forced to pull out because of injury. [cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/footballNews/idUKL0175270120080201|title=Reuters: Krkic, Arbeloa, Navarro called up by Spain|accessdate=2008-02-01] He made his international debut on March 26 against Italy. He was selected for the Spain squad for Euro 2008, starting the first round match against Greece.

Honors and awards

International

*UEFA European Championship:*Winner (1): 2008

Club

*UEFA Champions League:*Runner-up (1): 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.thisisanfield.com/players/arbeloa Thisisanfield.com player profile]
* [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/arbeloa/ Official Liverpool profile]
*soccerbase|id=39852|name=Álvaro Arbeloa
* [http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/deportivo/es/desarrollo/733892.html Transfer to Liverpool FC (Spanish)]
* [http://www.arbeloa.com Personal Website]
* [http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=1177 LFChistory.net player profile]

Persondata
NAME= Coca, Álvaro Arbeloa
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Arbeloa, Álvaro
SHORT DESCRIPTION= footballer
DATE OF BIRTH= 1983-1-17
PLACE OF BIRTH= Salamanca , Spain
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=