Albert Jorquera

Albert Jorquera

Jorquera training with Barcelona in 2007
Personal information
Full nameAlbert Jorquera i Fortià
Date of birth3 March 1979
Place of birthBescanó, Spain
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Youth career
Vilobí
1994–1998Barcelona
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1998–1999Barcelona C7(0)
1999–2004Barcelona B49(0)
2000–2001→ Ceuta (loan)3(0)
2001–2002→ Mataró (loan)31(0)
2003–2009Barcelona7(0)
2009–2010Girona33(0)
Total130(0)
National team
2007–2010Catalonia3(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Jorquera and the second or maternal family name is Fortià.

Albert Jorquera i Fortià (born 3 March 1979) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He spent the bulk of his professional career with Barcelona (ten years, including loans), but could never be more than second or third-choice at his main club, which he left in 2009.

Football career

Born in Bescanó, Girona, Catalonia, Jorquera started playing in FC Barcelona's youth ranks in 1994. After that he went to its C-team in 1998, being promoted to FC Barcelona B the following year.

After loan stints with third division sides AD Ceuta and CE Mataró, Jorquera returned as first-choice for the B-side. His first appearance in La Liga was against Athletic Bilbao on 17 January 2004 (a 1–1 home draw) and, the following season, following the departure of unsettled Rüştü Reçber, he joined the main squad permanently.

In March 2007, Jorquera signed a contract extension with Barcelona until June 2008.[1] However, on 29 December, playing an unofficial game for the Catalonia national football team, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee, which kept him out of the pitches for six months; Barcelona signed Celta de Vigo's José Manuel Pinto until the end of the campaign.[2]

In March 2008 Jorquera's contract was extended again, this time running until summer 2010. On 9 December he got his first start in 2008–09, playing in a 2–3 home loss against FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the last UEFA Champions League group stage match – Víctor Valdés, amongst other regulars, was being rested for El Clásico against Real Madrid, the following Saturday;[3][4] additionally, Pinto had previously been cast as the starter in the Copa del Rey.

In August 2009 Jorquera signed with Girona FC of the second level, with Barcelona having the right to recall him if needed.[5] After starting throughout most of the season, however, the 31-year-old announced his retirement, citing personal reasons.[6]

Honours

Jorquera playing against Getafe in 2007.

Barcelona

Club statistics

[7][8]

Club Season League Cup[9] Europe[10] Club World Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona B 1999–2000 80------80
Total 80------80
Ceuta 2000–01 3010----40
Total 3010----40
Mataró 2001–02 310------310
Total 310------310
Barcelona B 2002–03 230------230
2003–04 180------180
Total 410------410
Barcelona 2003–04 200000--20
2004–05 200000--20
2005–06 304010--80
2006–07 0090000090
2007–08 001010--20
2008–09 000010--10
Total 701403000240
Girona 2009–10 3301000--340
Total 3301000--340
Career totals 123016030001420

Personal life

Jorquera is cousin of another Barça graduate, Marc Crosas. Professionally, he played for Celtic amongst other clubs.[11]

After retiring, he took advantage of his gemology degree from the University of Barcelona and joined the family's jewellery business.[12]

References

External links