Alberto Aguilar (Spanish footballer)
Alberto Aguilar Leiva (born 12 July 1984), known simply as Alberto, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder or central defender.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Alberto Aguilar Leiva | ||
Date of birth | 12 July 1984 | ||
Place of birth | Benamejí, Spain | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Position(s) | Defensive midfielder, centre-back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Antequera | ||
Youth career | |||
Málaga | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2005 | Málaga B | 52 | (4) |
2003 | Málaga | 1 | (0) |
2005–2007 | Getafe | 32 | (0) |
2008 | Granada 74 | 20 | (1) |
2008–2010 | Albacete | 69 | (3) |
2010–2013 | Córdoba | 83 | (5) |
2013–2015 | Ponferradina | 65 | (5) |
2015–2016 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 23 | (1) |
2016–2017 | Anorthosis | 14 | (0) |
2017–2018 | Cartagena | 16 | (0) |
2018–2021 | Antequera | 76 | (8) |
Total | 451 | (27) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
He totalled 278 games and 18 goals in the Segunda División, with Málaga B, Granada 74, Albacete, Córdoba and Ponferradina. In La Liga he represented Málaga (one appearance) and Getafe (32), and also played professionally in Australia and Cyprus.
Club career
Alberto was born in Benamejí, Córdoba. A product of Málaga CF's youth system, he made his professional debut for the first team in the last match of the 2002–03 season, a 1–0 La Liga away loss against RCD Mallorca,[1] while also helping the reserves achieve a 2003 promotion to Segunda División.
For the 2005–06 campaign, Alberto signed with Madrid's Getafe CF, totalling 30 top-flight appearances in his first two years and also playing an important part in the team's runner-up run in the Copa del Rey. However, the arrival of coach Michael Laudrup deemed him surplus to requirements in his third, which prompted a release in January 2008 with a move to second division club Granada 74 CF.[2]
Alberto stayed in that tier ahead of the following season, joining Albacete Balompié.[3] In August 2010, as a free agent, he returned to his native Andalusia after agreeing to a deal at Córdoba CF.[4]
From 2013 to 2015, Alberto continued competing in division two, with SD Ponferradina.[5] On 9 August 2015, aged 31, he moved abroad for the first time, signing for Western Sydney Wanderers.[6]
On 5 May 2016, after having helped his team reach the Grand Final,[7] Alberto was released.[8] In June, he joined Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta F.C. on a one-year deal.[9]
References
- "Triunfo 'in extremis' del Mallorca" ['In extremis' win for Mallorca]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 21 June 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- "Alberto se marcha al Granada 74 decepcionado con Laudrup" [Alberto leaves for Granada 74 disappointed in Laudrup]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 26 December 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- "Alberto Aguilar rescinde contrato con el Albacete" [Alberto Aguilar terminates contract with Albacete]. Marca (in Spanish). 16 July 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- "Alberto Aguilar rescinde con el Albacete para fichar por el Córdoba" [Alberto Aguilar terminated with Albacete to sign for Córdoba]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 16 July 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- "Alberto Aguilar, séptimo fichaje de la Deportiva" [Alberto Aguilar, seventh Deportiva addition] (in Spanish). El Bierzo Noticias. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- "Western Sydney Wanderers sign third Spanish player – Alberto Aguilar". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- Hassett, Sebastian (1 May 2016). "A-League grand final 2016: Adelaide United beat Western Sydney Wanderers to claim first title". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- "Wanderers announce player departures". Western Sydney Wanderers. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- "Κατ' αρχήν συμφωνία με Alberto Aguilar Leiva" [Agreement in principle with Alberto Aguilar Leiva] (in Greek). Anorthosis Famagusta. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.