Roberto Fernández Alvarellos (born 25 January 1979), known simply as Roberto, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
![]() Roberto in 2010 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Roberto Fernández Alvarellos | ||
Date of birth | (1979-01-25) 25 January 1979 (age 43) | ||
Place of birth | Chantada, Spain | ||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Youth career | |||
Celta | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1997–2002 | Celta B | 71 | (0) |
2002–2008 | Sporting Gijón | 197 | (0) |
2008–2010 | Osasuna | 28 | (0) |
2010–2015 | Granada | 131 | (0) |
2015–2018 | Lugo | 23 | (0) |
Total | 447 | (0) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Roberto was born in Chantada, Lugo. After several years struggling at RC Celta de Vigo, never making it past its B team, he moved to Sporting de Gijón in 2002.[1] Save for his first season, when he was backup to Juanjo Valencia, he was a starter during his spell,[2] winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in the 2005–06 campaign by conceding only 31 goals in 38 games whilst going unbeaten for 825 minutes with the Segunda División club.[3]
In June 2008, after playing all the league matches but one to help Sporting return to the top division after a ten-year absence,[4] Roberto also moved to La Liga, signing a three-year contract with CA Osasuna.[5] After spending his first year on the bench, he eventually beat competition from veteran Ricardo (formerly of Manchester United)[6] and became first choice, but lost it again in the 2009–10 season, appearing almost exclusively in the Copa del Rey – he took the field in the league's last two rounds, with the Navarrese already safe from relegation.
On 14 July 2010, Roberto was released by Osasuna and signed a three-year deal with Granada CF,[7] returned to the second tier after 22 years. He only missed two games in the regular season in his first year, then starred in the play-offs in an eventual second consecutive promotion for the Andalusians.[8]
Roberto started in three of the four following seasons, all spent in the top flight. He joined CD Lugo on 17 July 2015, after his contract expired.[9]
On 1 June 2018, after spent the majority of his spell with the Galicians as second choice, Roberto announced his retirement at the age of 39.[10]
Sporting de Gijón Player of the Season | |
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