Álvaro Novo Ramírez (born 16 May 1978) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Álvaro Novo Ramírez[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1978-05-16) 16 May 1978 (age 44)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Córdoba, Spain[1] | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Don Bosco | |||
| Córdoba | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–1998 | Carabanchel | 37 | (10) |
| 1998–2000 | Mallorca B | 53 | (9) |
| 2000–2003 | Mallorca | 101 | (7) |
| 2003–2005 | Atlético Madrid | 37 | (1) |
| 2005–2008 | Real Sociedad | 53 | (3) |
| Total | 281 | (30) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Over eight seasons, he amassed La Liga totals of 183 matches and 11 goals with Mallorca, Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad.[2]
Novo was born in Córdoba, Andalusia. After finishing his football development at local Córdoba CF he started as a senior at lowly RCD Carabanchel in Madrid, helping the club to its only two Segunda División B years, after which he left in 1998.[2]
Novo then moved to RCD Mallorca, first playing with the reserves, competing one season in the Segunda División and being relegated.[2] He made his debut for the main squad in the year 2000, then became an undisputed starter for the Balearic Islands side, partnering Serb Jovan Stanković in the wings.[3]
After a third place in La Liga in the 2000–01 campaign, with the subsequent qualification to the UEFA Champions League, and the Copa del Rey conquest in 2003,[4] Novo left for Atlético Madrid, rejoining former Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano whom asked for his signing repeatedly.[5][6] After the manager was replaced for 2004–05, he disappeared from the team's lineups (only five matches).[7]
In the summer of 2005, Novo signed with Real Sociedad.[8] Again, a coaching change – José Mari Bakero was fired – made him go from an important attacking unit to a third-string squad member,[7] the Basque could not release him due to his high wages and the player also refused to go on loan to neighbours SD Eibar;[9] his contract expired in June 2008, and he was released.[10]