Alberto López Fernández
Encyclopedia
Alberto López Fernández, simply Alberto (born 20 May 1969 in Irun
, Basque Country
), is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
A player with good one-on-one skills, he had a weakness in crossing situations, and spent the bulk of his career at Real Sociedad
, for which he appeared in nearly 400 official games.
giants Real Sociedad
's youth system, Alberto made his first appearances with the first team in the closing stages of 1992-93, having played understudy to the inconsistent Javier Yubero
(deceased in 2005) for most of the year. He would be the undisputed starter from the following season onwards, missing only seven La Liga
matches in the next seven seasons combined (in 1997–98, as Real Sociedad ranked third, Alberto played all 38 matches, conceding 37).
From 2001–02, Alberto had to compete for the starting slot with newly signed Sander Westerveld
. He finished the season with 18 appearances, but had only one in 2002–03, as the Dutchman
was first-choice for the runners-up.
in Segunda División
on a one-year deal. In 2006–07, he helped the side return to the top flight after a three-year absence, while also collecting a Ricardo Zamora Trophy
(36 matches, 29 goals).
In 2007–08, Alberto played understudy and helped develop wonderkid Sergio Asenjo
(aged 18, 20 years his junior), and had his link extended until June 2009, after which he retired, at 40 years of age.
Irun
Irun is a town of the Bidasoa-Txingudi region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain...
, Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
), 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 goalkeeper.
A player with good one-on-one skills, he had a weakness in crossing situations, and spent the bulk of his career at Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, for which he appeared in nearly 400 official games.
Real Sociedad
A product of Basque CountryBasque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
giants Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
's youth system, Alberto made his first appearances with the first team in the closing stages of 1992-93, having played understudy to the inconsistent Javier Yubero
Javier Yubero
Francisco Javier Yubero Solanilla was a Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
(deceased in 2005) for most of the year. He would be the undisputed starter from the following season onwards, missing only seven 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...
matches in the next seven seasons combined (in 1997–98, as Real Sociedad ranked third, Alberto played all 38 matches, conceding 37).
From 2001–02, Alberto had to compete for the starting slot with newly signed Sander Westerveld
Sander Westerveld
Sander Westerveld is a Dutch professional football goalkeeper. He left Sparta Rotterdam at the end of the 2007–08 Eredivisie season to play for Monza, and is currently playing for South African Premier Soccer League club Ajax Cape Town....
. He finished the season with 18 appearances, but had only one in 2002–03, as the Dutchman
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
was first-choice for the runners-up.
Valladolid
Following the emergenge of another youth squads' product, Asier Riesgo, Alberto was deemed surplus to requirements and joined Real ValladolidReal 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....
in Segunda División
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:...
on a one-year deal. In 2006–07, he helped the side return to the top flight after a three-year absence, while also collecting a Ricardo Zamora Trophy
Ricardo Zamora Trophy
The Ricardo Zamora Trophy is a football award, established by Spanish newspaper MARCA in 1958. The award goes to the goalkeeper who has the lowest "goals-to-games" ratio. It is named after legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora....
(36 matches, 29 goals).
In 2007–08, Alberto played understudy and helped develop wonderkid Sergio Asenjo
Sergio Asenjo
Sergio Asenjo Andrés is a Spanish footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Born in Palencia, Castile and León, Asenjo began playing in Real Valladolid junior teams, and soon emerged as one of the most talented players in the club...
(aged 18, 20 years his junior), and had his link extended until June 2009, after which he retired, at 40 years of age.