Sergio Álvarez (footballer, born 1986)

Sergio Álvarez Conde (born 3 August 1986), known simply as Sergio, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Álvarez and the second or maternal family name is Conde.
Sergio
Sergio with Celta in 2018
Personal information
Full name Sergio Álvarez Conde
Date of birth (1986-08-03) 3 August 1986
Place of birth Catoira, Spain
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Arosa
1999–2004 Celta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2011 Celta B 167 (0)
2008–2009 → Racing Ferrol (loan) 15 (0)
2011–2021 Celta 162 (0)
Total 344 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent his entire professional career with Celta, making 197 competitive appearances.

Club career
Sergio in action for Celta in 2012

Born in Catoira, Province of Pontevedra,[1][2] Sergio began his career with local Arosa SC, joining Galician neighbours RC Celta de Vigo in 1999 at the age of 13. He made his senior debut with their reserves in Segunda División B, playing four full seasons in that tier and spending 2008–09 on loan to another club in that league and region, Racing de Ferrol.[3]

Sergio made his debut for Celta's first team on 4 June 2011, in a 3–0 Segunda División home win against FC Cartagena, the last matchday of the campaign.[4] Shortly after, following the starter Ismael Falcón's departure to Hércules CF, he was definitely promoted to the main squad, being awarded the #1 jersey.[5]

Sergio played his first match in La Liga on 5 October 2012, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 home victory over Sevilla FC.[6] He would spend the season as a backup to Javi Varas, however.

Varas subsequently returned to Sevilla from his loan but Sergio remained as understudy, behind fellow youth graduate Yoel. After the latter's departure to Valencia CF, he renewed his link until 2016 and was finally chosen as the first choice.[7]

On 1 November 2014, Sergio made a string of superb saves to deny FC Barcelona in a 1–0 win at the Camp Nou.[8] He was also an important unit of the Célticos in a 2–0 home defeat of Atlético Madrid on 15 February of the following year,[9] finishing the season between the posts.[10]

In 2016–17, Sergio took part in his first European campaign, playing ten UEFA Europa League matches as Celta reached the semi-finals and lost 2–1 on aggregate to eventual champions Manchester United.[11] The following campaign, under new manager Juan Carlos Unzué, he battled for the starting position against youngster Rubén Blanco.[12]

Having made only two league appearances, Sergio suffered a meniscus injury to his right knee in May 2020; Celta used the emergency transfer allocation to sign attacker Nolito rather than another goalkeeper.[13] On 20 May 2021, aged 34, he announced his retirement from professional football.[14]

Career statistics
As of 23 January 2020[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celta B 2004–05 Segunda División B 320——320
2005–06 Segunda División B 160——160
2006–07 Segunda División B 260——260
2007–08 Segunda División B 290——290
2009–10 Segunda División B 350——350
2010–11 Segunda División B 290——290
Total 167000001670
Racing Ferrol (loan) 2008-09 Segunda División B 15 0 1 0 — 16 0
Celta 2010–11 Segunda División 1000—10
2011–12 Segunda División 19040—230
2012–13 La Liga 2040—60
2013–14 La Liga 3010—40
2014–15 La Liga 38000—380
2015–16 La Liga 31010—320
2016–17 La Liga 3608010[lower-alpha 1]0540
2017–18 La Liga 17040—210
2018–19 La Liga 13010—140
2019–20 La Liga 2020—40
2020–21 La Liga 0000—00
Total 16202501001970
Career total 31502601003510
  1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

References
  1. El “gato” de moda del fútbol español sitúa a Catoira en el mapa internacional (The fashionable "cat" of Spanish football places Catoira in the international map); Diario de Arousa, 25 September 2014 (in Spanish)
  2. Sergio, «O Gato» que vuela de pie (Sergio, "The Cat" who flies standing); La Voz de Galicia, 25 September 2014 (in Spanish)
  3. "Sergio jugará en el Racing de Ferrol y Notario se acerca cada día más a Vigo" [Sergio will play in Racing de Ferrol and Notario gets closer to Vigo by the day] (in Spanish). Atlántico Diario. 12 July 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  4. Balaídos se reencuentra con el triunfo justo antes de la promoción (Balaídos rediscovers winning ways just before the promotion); Marca, 4 June 2011 (in Spanish)
  5. Sergio Álvarez: «No me he rendido nunca y ahora voy a luchar por jugar» (Sergio Álvarez: "I have never surrendered and now i will fight for a place"); La Voz de Galicia, 30 June 2011 (in Spanish)
  6. El Celta defiende su casa (Celta defend their home); Marca, 5 October 2012 (in Spanish)
  7. Sergio Álvarez renueva hasta 2016: "Cumplo un sueño" (Sergio Álvarez renews until 2016: "I fulfill a dream"); Diario AS, 20 August 2014 (in Spanish)
  8. Palo tras palo para el Barça (Post after post for Barça); Marca, 1 November 2014 (in Spanish)
  9. El Celta zarandea al Atlético (Celta shake up Atlético); Marca, 15 February 2015 (in Spanish)
  10. Sergio Álvarez: "Ha sido la mejor temporada de mi carrera" (Sergio Álvarez: "It's been the best season of my career); Marca, 25 May 2015 (in Spanish)
  11. Man Utd 1 Celta Vigo 1 (2–1 on agg): United dice with danger but cling on to make it through to the final; The Daily Telegraph, 11 May 2017
  12. EXCLUSIVA | El Celta se cansa de la guerra Rubén Blanco – Sergio Álvarez y negocia con su próximo portero (EXCLUSIVE | Celta get tired of the Rubén Blanco – Sergio Álvarez war and are negotiating with their next goalkeeper); El Gol Digital, 22 October 2017 (in Spanish)
  13. "Celta sign Nolito due to Sergio Álvarez's injury". Be Soccer. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  14. "Sergio colga as luvas no corazón do celtismo" [Sergio hangs up gloves in the heart of celticism] (in Galician). Celta Vigo. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  15. "Sergio Álvarez". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
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