Roberto Solozábal

Roberto Solozábal Villanueva (born 15 September 1969) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a central defender.

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

Roberto Solozábal
Solozábal in 2017
Personal information
Full name Roberto Solozábal Villanueva
Date of birth (1969-09-15) 15 September 1969
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1989 Atlético Madrileño 28 (1)
1989–1997 Atlético Madrid 231 (3)
1997–2000 Betis 42 (0)
Total 301 (4)
International career
1987–1988 Spain U18 8 (0)
1988–1989 Spain U19 2 (0)
1989–1990 Spain U20 5 (0)
1989–1991 Spain U21 4 (0)
1991–1992 Spain U23 12 (1)
1991–1993 Spain 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Olympic medal record
Representing  Spain
Men's Football
Gold medal – first place1992 BarcelonaTeam Competition

He appeared in 273 La Liga games over 11 seasons, representing in the competition Atlético Madrid and Betis.

Club career

Atlético Madrid

A product of local Atlético Madrid's youth system, Madrid-born Solozábal represented the first team from 1989 to 1997, his debut being on 2 September in a 3–1 away win against Valencia CF (90 minutes played). Other than his first season – ten appearances – he never played less than 18 La Liga games during his eight-year spell.

During the 1995–96 campaign, Solózabal formed a solid centre-back partnership with another Colchonero youth graduate, Juan Manuel López, as the capital side achieved an historic double, with the former featuring in 40 league matches.

Betis

After leaving Atlético, Solozábal signed with Real Betis.[1] In his last season, where the Andalusian club was relegated and he was ousted from the squad for allegedly organising a riot, he ultimately took it to court for lack of payment in a suit which lasted several years, with the player having already retired.[2][3]

International career

Solozábal was part of the Spanish side that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona,[4] and also earned 12 full caps in two years, the first coming on 17 April 1991 in a 0–2 friendly loss to Romania, in Cáceres.[5]

Honours

Atlético Madrid

Spain U23

References
  1. Solozábal ya es futbolista del Betis (Solozábal is already a Betis footballer); El País, 23 July 1997 (in Spanish)
  2. El Betis despide a Solozábal un mes después del motín del equipo (Betis fire Solozábal one month after team riot); El País, 8 September 2000 (in Spanish)
  3. Un juez da la razón al Betis ante Solozábal (Judge rules in favour of Betis against Solozábal); El País, 22 February 2001 (in Spanish)
  4. "La Roja de 1992, nuestra medalla de oro Olímpica" [1992's La Roja, our Olympic gold medal] (in Spanish). Antena 3. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  5. De nuevo vencidos y sin gloria (Again beaten hopelessly); Mundo Deportivo, 18 April 1991 (in Spanish)
  6. "Supervivientes de oro" [Golden survivors] (in Spanish). El País. 25 February 2007. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
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