Juan Ángel Albín

Juan Ángel Albín Leites (born 17 July 1986) is a Uruguayan footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Albín and the second or maternal family name is Leites.

Juan Albín
Personal information
Full name Juan Ángel Albín Leites
Date of birth (1986-07-17) 17 July 1986
Place of birth Salto, Uruguay
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Youth career
2000–2004 Nacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Nacional 64 (24)
2006–2011 Getafe 116 (19)
2011–2013 Espanyol 13 (2)
2013 → Nacional (loan) 8 (1)
2013–2014 Petrolul Ploiești 37 (15)
2015–2018 Veracruz 62 (13)
2017 → Dinamo București (loan) 4 (0)
2018 Omonia 2 (0)
2019 Rampla Juniors 30 (7)
2020 Defensor 16 (2)
2021–2022 Rampla Juniors 44 (6)
International career
2003 Uruguay U17 1 (1)
2005 Uruguay U20 3 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:36, 3 January 2023 (UTC)

After starting out at Nacional, he spent the first part of his career in La Liga and went on acquire Spanish citizenship. He amassed league totals of 129 matches and 21 goals over seven seasons in the latter country, representing Getafe and Espanyol in the competition.

Other than Uruguay and Spain, Albín played professionally in Romania, Mexico and Cyprus.

Club career

Nacional

Born in Salto, Salto Department, Albín started his career at Club Nacional de Football, where he won two Primera División championships. His strong performances earned him a transfer to Spanish club Getafe CF in the 2006 summer transfer window.[1]

Getafe

Albín featured sparingly in his first season (13 La Liga games),[1] but became first choice the following campaign as the Madrid outskirts team reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup[2] and a mid-table league position. After a coaching change brought Míchel to the bench, however, he began appearing less regularly;[3] on 29 November 2008, in a rare start, he scored in a 3–1 home win over Real Madrid.[4]

On 21 April 2009, also against Real Madrid, Albín was struck in the face by Pepe, in the mêlée which resulted after the Portuguese's aggression on Javier Casquero.[5] He continued being used intermittently in 2010–11, netting a last-minute winner at home against Villarreal CF on 11 December 2010 but also being sent off for lifting his shirt, in a second bookable offence.[6]

Espanyol

In mid-April 2011, Getafe agreed to sell Albín to RCD Espanyol for €3 million, as his contract was set to expire in June 2012.[7] He spent several months of his first season on the sidelines, nursing a leg injury.[8]

Albín scored his first goal for the Catalans on 4 February 2012, netting in the 92nd minute for a 3–3 away draw against Athletic Bilbao.[9] In January 2013, due to lack of playing time, he was loaned to his former club Nacional.[10]

Later career

It's true that I came here for Contra, but I've found a great group [of players] and some incredible fans. [...] I want to stay.

— Albín on 15 March 2014, a few weeks before extending his contract with Petrolul[11]

On 6 September 2013, Albín signed a one-year contract with FC Petrolul Ploiești in Romania, rejoining his former Getafe teammate Cosmin Contra who was now a manager.[12] He made his Liga I debut on the 21st, scoring his team's goal in a 1–1 draw at FC Dinamo București.[13]

On 31 March 2014, Albín chose to extend his link by one year even if at that time Contra had already left.[14] He ended the campaign with 28 matches and ten goals in all competitions.

Albín scored against GNK Dinamo Zagreb in the second leg of the Europa League play-off round, on 28 August 2014; however, his side lost 5–2 on aggregate and failed to progress to the group stage.[15] On 16 December, as Petrolul faced financial issues which led to insolvency and ultimately bankruptcy, he was transferred to C.D. Veracruz of Mexico.[16]

Albín returned to Romania and its top division nearly three years later, joining Dinamo București on a season-long loan with an option to buy.[17] On 18 July 2018, the 32-year-old joined Cypriot First Division club AC Omonia.[18]

International career

Albín represented Uruguay at under-17[19] and under-20 levels.[20] In March 2009, he was called to the full side by Óscar Tabárez ahead of a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Paraguay,[21] but remained unused in the 2–0 victory and never won a cap.[22]

Style of play

Albín was a left-footed attacking midfielder who could also be deployed as a winger. He was described as a footballer with "great speed and a very good technique".[23]

During his first stint in Romania, Albín was known as an excellent free kick taker,[24][25] and in 2016 former international Adrian Mutu went as far to state that he was the best foreigner that the league ever had.[26]

Honours

Nacional

Getafe

Veracruz

References
  1. Navacerrada, Juancar (18 April 2013). "Yo jugué en el Getafe: Juan Albín" [I played for Getafe: Juan Albín] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  2. "Albín fires Getafe into last eight". UEFA. 12 March 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  3. "Albín: "Pensaba que Míchel me iba a tratar de otra forma"" [Albín: "I thought Míchel was going to treat me differently"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 25 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  4. "Miserable return for Schuster". ESPN Soccernet. 29 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  5. "Pepe receives 10-game ban". Sportsnet. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  6. "Albin leaves it late". ESPN Soccernet. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  7. De La Casa, Javier (10 April 2011). "El Getafe traspasa a Albín al Espanyol por 3 millones de euros" [Getafe transfer Albín to Espanyol for 3 million euros]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  8. Juárez, Mari Carmen; Román, Rogelio (13 September 2011). "Albín, operado y tres meses KO" [Albín, surgery and three months out]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  9. "Athletic y Espanyol igualaron en un duelo espectacular" [Athletic and Espanyol drew in spectacular duel] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  10. "El Espanyol cede a Albín al Nacional de Montevideo" [Espanyol loan Albín to Nacional de Montevideo]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 18 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  11. Neacşu, Diana (15 March 2014). "Pierde Petrolul stranierul cu cel mai bun CV din Liga 1? » Ce spune Albin despre o eventuală despărţire de "lupi"" [Will Petrolul lose Liga I's player with the best CV? » What Albín says about leaving the "wolves"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  12. "Juan Angel Albin a semnat cu FC Petrolul Ploieşti" [Juan Ángel Albín has signed with FC Petrolul Ploieşti] (in Romanian). Petrolul Ploiești. 6 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  13. "VIDEO Dinamo – Petrolul 1–1. Petrolul a egalat în finalul partidei și putea chiar câștiga!" [VIDEO Dinamo – Petrolul 1–1. Petrolul equalised at the end of the match and could have even taken it!] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  14. "Juan Albin a semnat prelungirea contractului" [Juan Albín signed the contract extension] (in Romanian). Petrolul Ploiești. 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  15. "VIDEO Dinamo Zagreb – Petrolul 2–1. Croații au câștigat la ultima fază" [VIDEO Dinamo Zagreb – Petrolul 2–1. Croatians handed last-gasp punishment] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  16. "Juan Ángel Albín es refuerzo de nuestro equipo" [Juan Ángel Albín is an addition to our team] (in Spanish). Tiburones Rojos. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  17. "OFICIAL. Juan ALBIN la Dinamo" [OFFICIAL. Juan ALBÍN to Dinamo] (in Romanian). FC Dinamo București. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  18. Dobrescu, Petre (18 July 2018). "Juan Albin a semnat cu Omonia Nicosia. Uruguayanul a plecat de la Dinamo după o bătaie în Centrul Vechi" [Juan Albín signed with Omonia Nicosia. The Uruguayan left Dinamo after being involved in a brawl in the Old Town]. Libertatea (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  19. "Sigue su preparación la selección sub 17" [Under-17 national team still preparing] (in Spanish). La Red 21. 28 March 2003. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  20. Andrés, Juan Pablo. "XXII Sudamericano Juvenil 2005 (Colombia)" [XXII Youth Southamerican 2005 (Colombia)] (in Spanish). RSSSF. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  21. "Mundial: Uruguay listo para jugar ante Paraguay en una semana" [World Cup: Uruguay ready to play against Paraguay in a week] (in Spanish). Semana. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  22. "2–0. Uruguay frena a Paraguay y refuerza sus aspiraciones de llegar al Mundial" [2–0. Uruguay stop Paraguay and bolster aspirations of reaching World Cup]. La Información (in Spanish). 28 March 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  23. Costeiu, Adrian; Dima, Marian (27 November 2013). ""Începe să-şi arate valoarea!" El e omul cu care Petrolul vrea să îi 'fure' titlul Stelei. A fost la un pas de Real în urmă cu patru ani" ["He starts to show his full potential!" He is the player with which Petrolul wants to 'steal' Steaua's title. He was close to signing with Real four year ago]. ProSport (in Romanian). Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  24. Molnar, Mihai (25 November 2013). "Juan Albin, două goluri, unul dintr-o lovitură liberă fabuloasă" [Juan Albín scored a double, of which one goal was the result of an incredible free kick.]. Adevărul (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  25. "Gol Petrolul! Brac își îngroapă echipa. Execuție perfectă a lui Albin" [Petrolul score! Brać makes an awful mistake. Perfect free kick taken by Albín] (in Romanian). Look TV. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  26. "Mutu: "Cel mai bun străin care a ajuns vreodată în România a jucat cu mine. 90% sunt slabi"" [Mutu: "The best foreigner ever who came to Romania played with me. 90% of the others are weak"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
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