Alberto López Fernández (born 20 May 1969), known simply as Alberto as a player, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, currently a manager.

Alberto López

Alberto in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Alberto López Fernández
Date of birth	(1969-05-20) 20 May 1969 (age 53)
Place of birth	Irun, Spain
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1986	Dumboa Eguzki
1987	Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1987–1993	Real Sociedad B	48	(0)
1987–1989	→ Pasajes (loan)
1993–2006	Real Sociedad	346	(0)
2006–2009	Valladolid	43	(0)
Total		437	(0)
National team
1998–2001	Basque Country	4	(0)
Teams managed
2011–2012	Real Unión B
2013–2014	Alavés (assistant)
2014–2015	Alavés
2016	Valladolid
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

A player with good one-on-one skills he had a weakness in crossing situations,[1] and spent the bulk of his career at Real Sociedad, for which he appeared in 377 competitive matches.[2]

Playing career

Real Sociedad

A product of Basque Country giants Real Sociedad's youth system, López was born in Irun, and made his first appearances with the first team in the closing stages of the 1992–93 season, having played understudy to the inconsistent Javier Yubero for most of the year. He would be the undisputed starter from the following campaign onwards, missing only a total of seven La Liga games in the next seven years (in 1997–98, as Real ranked third, he played all 38 matches and conceded 37 goals).[1]

From 2001–02 onwards, López had to compete for the starting job with newly signed Sander Westerveld. He finished the season with 18 appearances, but had only one in the following campaign as the Dutchman was first choice for the runners-up.[1]

Valladolid

Following the emergence of another youth product at Real Sociedad, Asier Riesgo, López was deemed surplus to requirements[2] and joined Real Valladolid in Segunda División on a one-year deal. In 2006–07, he helped the side return to the top flight after a three-year absence[3] while also collecting a Ricardo Zamora Trophy – 36 matches, 29 goals.[4]

In the following season, López acted as backup and helped develop wonderkid Sergio Asenjo (20 years his junior),[5] and had his contract extended until June 2009 after which he retired at the age of 40.[6]

Coaching career

López started working as a manager in 2011, with Real Unión's reserves.[6] He joined Juan Carlos Mandiá's staff at Deportivo Alavés two years later, being named his successor late into the second-tier campaign[7] and eventually leading the team to safety.[8]

On 12 June 2015, after again managing to stay afloat, López left the Mendizorrotza Stadium. In 53 league games in charge, he collected 19 wins and 20 losses.[9]

López returned to Valladolid on 26 April 2016, taking the place of the dismissed Miguel Ángel Portugal.[10]

References

External links

• Alberto López at BDFutbol
• Alberto López manager profile at BDFutbol

На других языках

[de] Alberto López Fernández

[es] Alberto López Fernández

[it] Alberto López Fernández

[ru] Фернандес, Альберто (футболист)