Raúl Albiol

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Personal information
Raúl Albiol
Full name	Raúl Albiol Tortajada
Date of birth	September 4, 1985 (1985-09-04) (age 22)
Place of birth	Valencia, Spain
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1+¹⁄₂ in)
Playing position	Centre back/defensive midfielder
Club information
Current club	Valencia CF
Number	4
Youth clubs
1997–2004	Valencia CF Mestalla
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2004–2005 2005–	→ Getafe CF (loan) Valencia CF	19 (1) 92 (3)
National team²
2007–	Spain	04 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 26, 2008. ² National team caps and goals correct as of June 6, 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Raúl Albiol Tortajada (born 4 September 1985 in Valencia) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central defender/defensive midfielder for Valencia CF.

1 Club career
2 International career
3 Honours
- 3.1 Valencia
4 External links

[edit] Club career

Albiol's father was a famous player for the Spanish football club Benidorm CD. Whilst his father still had contacts at Benidorm, Albiol joined the side's under-9 and in a friendly match against Valencia he played impressively, signing on trial with the La Liga side.

In 2004-05, Albiol had a stint with newly promoted Madrid side Getafe CF, debuting on January 15, 2005, in a 1-1 home draw with Atlético Madrid. He returned the following season, and quickly established himself as first-choice, whether as a stopper or as an holding midfielder.

In the opening game of the 2006/07's league campaign, Albiol scored the winner (his only goal of the season) against Real Betis, as the game finished 2-1. He also netted a screamer against Olympiakos of Greece on September 12, 2006, in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07, which Valencia won 4-2.

[edit] International career

After having represented the under-21s, Albiol debuted for the main squad on October 13, 2007, in an Euro 2008 qualifier against Denmark (3-1 away win).

[edit] Honours

[edit] Valencia

Copa del Rey: 2007-08

[edit] External links

Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional

v • d • e

Valencia CF – current squad

1 Cañizares • 2 Sunny • 3 Maduro • 4 Raúl Albiol • 5 Marchena • 6 Albelda • 7 David Villa • 8 Baraja • 9 Morientes • 10 Angulo • 11 Éver • 12 Caneira • 13 Hildebrand • 14 Vicente • 15 Helguera • 16 Mata • 17 Joaquín • 18 Žigić • 19 Arizmendi • 20 Alexis • 21 D. Silva • 22 Edu • 23 Miguel • 24 Moretti • 25 Mora • -- H. Viana • Coach: Unai Emery

v • d • e Spain squad - UEFA Euro 2008

1 Casillas • 2 Albiol • 3 Navarro • 4 Marchena • 5 Puyol • 6 Iniesta • 7 David Villa • 8 Xavi • 9 F. Torres • 10 Fàbregas • 11 Capdevila • 12 Cazorla • 13 Palop • 14 Xabi Alonso • 15 Sergio Ramos • 16 Sergio García • 17 Dani Güiza • 18 Arbeloa • 19 Senna • 20 Juanito • 21 David Silva • 22 de la Red • 23 Reina • Coach: Aragonés