| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Enrique Álvarez Sanjuán | ||
| Date of birth | 20 July 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Vigo, Spain | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1992–1993 | Barcelona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1993–1997 | Barcelona B | 80 | (0) |
| 1995–1998 | Barcelona | 1 | (0) |
| 1997–1998 | → Logroñés (loan) | 16 | (0) |
| 1998–2000 | Lleida | 75 | (3) |
| 2000–2007 | Villarreal | 187 | (5) |
| 2007–2009 | Recreativo | 12 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 1995 | Spain U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 1997 | Spain U23 | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Enrique 'Quique' Álvarez Sanjuán (born 20 July 1975 in Vigo, Galicia) is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central defender.
During a 16-year professional career, he appeared in 369 matches. Having started his career at FC Barcelona, where he had no impact for its first team - one match - he would be an important member of Villarreal CF's La Liga consolidation, representing the club for seven years.
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Grown through the ranks of FC Barcelona, Álvarez managed only one first team appearance, in 1995–96, then spent one loan stint with CD Logroñés before being released, after which he joined Barça neighbours UE Lleida (both teams were then in the second division).
Álvarez made a name as a La Liga player during his stay at Villarreal CF, where he was team captain when a starter. Having managed more than 200 appearances overall (with 187 in the top flight, second most for the club behind Argentine Rodolfo Arruabarrena), his role would diminish in 2006–07 however, as Villarreal finished fifth (only 15 appearances).
In July 2007, Álvarez joined Recreativo de Huelva, where his season would be constantly bothered by injuries. In one of his few league appearances, on 1 March 2008, he was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Real Madrid's Arjen Robben, after just six minutes on the pitch (Álvarez was brought on in the 64'), during a 2–3 home loss.[1] In 2008–09, he only took part in one match for already doomed Recre, a 1–2 loss at Sporting de Gijón (last round), and was subsequently released.
Retired at 34, Álvarez moved into coaching, starting with Barça's Juvenil A.
Álvarez's father, Quique Costas, also a footballer and a defender, played professionally during 15 years, at hometown Celta de Vigo and FC Barcelona. With the latter, he coached the B-side on two occasions, coinciding with his son in one.