| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alberto Lopo García | ||
| Date of birth | 5 May 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Barcelona, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Getafe | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1990–1998 | Espanyol | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1998–1999 | Espanyol B | 31 | (0) |
| 1999–2006 | Espanyol | 178 | (9) |
| 2006–2011 | Deportivo La Coruña | 151 | (7) |
| 2011– | Getafe | 11 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 1998 | Spain U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | Spain U18 | 7 | (0) |
| 2001 | Spain U21 | 4 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 December 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Alberto Lopo García (born 5 May 1980) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Getafe CF as a central defender.
His physical style of play results in him being one of the most booked players every season in Spanish football. He spent 16 years of his career - youth years accounted for - at Espanyol.
Contents |
Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Lopo spent the bulk of his professional career at local RCD Espanyol, where he started to play when he was ten. Soon the coaches noticed his defensive skills and, in April 1999 (aged eighteen), he made his debut in the first division against Real Zaragoza, thus becoming the first player to have represented the club in all categories. His breakthrough came during 2001–02, when he only missed five league matches and scored his first goal (in the first league round and against Zaragoza) but also received his first red card, during a 2–0 loss at rivals FC Barcelona.
He would remain a starter at Espanyol under several coaches (Juande Ramos, Javier Clemente, Luis Fernández and Miguel Ángel Lotina) until his departure in May 2006, gaining in the process a reputation as a superb but excessively rough defender. In 2002–03, he was given 14 yellow cards in twenty-three matches, including two in a 5–2 loss at Racing de Santander. The following season, after agreeing to a three-year extension,[1] Lopo was presented with 15 yellow cards (including three sending-offs) and one red. Between 2004 and 2006 he received another 21 yellow and two red cards, although the numbers somewhat decreased in the subsequent years.
With two Spanish cups in 2000 and 2006 conquered at the Catalan outfit, Lopo rejected the club's offer for renewal of contract and signed for Deportivo de La Coruña.[2] But although he was out of contract, Espanyol eventually started a court case against Deportivo to get financial compensation (an amount of €5,6 million was mentioned) for having educated the player in its youth system.[3] Espanyol’s claim was based on an agreement between most Spanish clubs, although the Galician side was not a part of it as its board never confirmed it. Lopo was considered as one of the best Spanish central defenders available when he was signed on a free transfer in May 2006. Other clubs showing serious interest were Valencia CF, Villarreal CF, Manchester United and Newcastle United, but the stopper decided to follow the footsteps of ex-Espanyol players Joan Capdevila and Sergio.
In his first season, Lopo continued as always: playing most matches (31) and receiving a mention-worthy total of eleven yellow cards (this included a double one at home against Celta de Vigo; Lopo was also sent off in the cup home match against Real Valladolid). In the first part of the season he formed a partnership with Álvaro Arbeloa. After Arbeloa was sold to Liverpool, it was Jorge Andrade (recovered from an important injury) who accompanied Lopo at the back. That defence, with Capdevila and Fabrizio Coloccini at the sides and Dudu Aouate as goalkeeper, kept 16 clean sheets in 38 matches. Much of Depor’s points gained that season were based on the defensive performance of a team not capable of scoring sufficient goals. In April 2007, Lopo’s injury-time header gave Deportivo a much needed 1–0 home win against CA Osasuna.
During the summer of 2007, Lopo’s status at the club increased, significantly, as stoppers Juanma and Andrade both left the club, the former on a free transfer to CD Tenerife, the Portuguese sold to Juventus FC. Lopo himself confirmed that Deportivo rejected a €5 million offer from Real Zaragoza for him. However, he would spend the first five months out of action, due to a recurrent leg injury.
An everpresent fixture throughout 2008–09, Lopo headed in the 2–1 home winner in the season opener against Real Madrid.[4] During the campaign, as Deportivo finished seventh, he collected a total of 13 yellow cards (no ejections).
Lopo continued to be an undisputed starter for Depor in the following two seasons, with relegation befalling in 2010–11. In June, the 31-year old free agent signed a three-year contract with Getafe CF.[5]
On the international level, Lopo was picked in November 2006 by national coach Luis Aragonés for a friendly against Romania, and said about it: "Every player has to fight hard for his pick and to be part of the national team is a reward. This is probably the most important day in my career, it's a dream coming true”. In the end, he did not play during the 0–1 loss nor was he picked again for the national team.
In December 2001, Lopo made his debut for the regional team of Catalonia against Chile.
|
|||||