David Albelda

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Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Spain
Men's Football
Silver	2000 Sydney	Team Competition

David Albelda Aliqués, Albelda (born September 1, 1977 in La Pobla Llarga), is a Spanish football player, currently playing as a defensive midfielder with Valencia CF. He is best known for his marking, tackling abilities, stamina and leadership skills.

[edit] Club career

Albelda started his career as a center-back, and served two separate loans with Villarreal CF, returning for good in 1999, playing a major role in a squad that emerged league champions in 2002 and 2004, adding to that the 2004 UEFA Cup. Since 2001-02, with Gaizka Mendieta's departure, he was also awarded team captaincy.

On December 20, 2007 Albelda, along with fellow teammates Santiago Cañizares and Miguel Ángel Angulo was axed from the Valencia squad by recently arrived coach Ronald Koeman.^[1]

In response, on January 2, 2008, Albelda's lawyer claimed that Valencia had ignored his client's plea for an amicable end to the player's contract, with legal recourse the only possible avenue left.^[2] With news of this hitting the media, several teams, although he would not be able to join any Spanish team for the remainder of the season, having played more than 4 league games, studied the possibility of signing him in the winter transfer window, with hopes of a free transfer.

In late April 2008, however, with Koeman's sacking, all three were reinstated by new manager Voro in a squad seriously threatened with relegation, with five remaining rounds. He returned to action in the second half of the May 4, 0-6 away loss at FC Barcelona, and receiving his first post-reinstatement start in a 5-1 away success against Levante UD on the 11th, as Valencia mathematically retained topflight status.

For 2008-09, with Valencia facing board of directors changes, Albelda opted to remain with the team, now managed by Unai Emery.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] International career

A Spanish international since 2001, in a September 5, World Cup 2-0 away in against Liechtenstein, Albelda was part of the Spanish squad in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. He also played in Euro 2004.

After having been ousted from the Valencia squad, Albelda would still be called by then-national boss Luis Aragonés to a February 6, 2008 friendly against France, but would eventually not make the final cut for Euro 2008, as Spain emerged victorious.

In addition, he also won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and represented his nation in 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• National team data (Spanish)
• David Albelda FIFA competition record

v • d • e Spain squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Casillas • 2 Torres • 3 Juanfran • 4 Helguera • 5 Puyol • 6 Hierro • 7 Raúl • 8 Baraja • 9 Morientes • 10 Tristán • 11 de Pedro • 12 Luque • 13 Ricardo • 14 Albelda • 15 Romero • 16 Mendieta • 17 Valerón • 18 Sergio • 19 Xavi • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Joaquín • 23 Contreras • Coach: Camacho

v • d • e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 2004 1 Cañizares • 2 Capdevila • 3 Marchena • 4 Albelda • 5 Puyol • 6 Helguera • 7 Raúl • 8 Baraja • 9 Torres • 10 Morientes • 11 Luque • 12 Gabri • 13 Aranzubia • 14 Vicente • 15 Bravo • 16 Xabi Alonso • 17 Etxeberria • 18 César Martín • 19 Joaquín • 20 Xavi • 21 Valerón • 22 Juanito • 23 Casillas • Coach: Iñaki Sáez

v • d • e Spain squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Casillas • 2 Salgado • 3 Pernía • 4 Marchena • 5 Puyol • 6 Albelda • 7 Raúl • 8 Xavi • 9 Torres • 10 Reyes • 11 Luis García • 12 Antonio López • 13 Iniesta • 14 Xabi Alonso • 15 Sergio Ramos • 16 Senna • 17 Joaquín • 18 Cesc • 19 Cañizares • 20 Juanito • 21 David Villa • 22 Pablo • 23 Reina • Coach: Aragonés