Miguel Albiol Tortajada (Valencian pronunciation: [miˈkɛl albiˈɔl]; born 2 September 1981) is a Spanish former footballer who played mainly as a right midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Miguel Albiol Tortajada | ||
| Date of birth | (1981-09-02) 2 September 1981 (age 41) | ||
| Place of birth | Vilamarxant, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ribarroja | |||
| Valencia | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2003 | Valencia B | 81 | (8) |
| 2002–2003 | Valencia | 1 | (0) |
| 2003 | → Murcia (loan) | 19 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Recreativo | 37 | (0) |
| 2004–2009 | Rayo Vallecano | 190 | (18) |
| 2009–2015 | Murcia | 135 | (6) |
| Total | 463 | (32) | |
| National team | |||
| 1999 | Spain U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2001 | Spain U20 | 1 | (0) |
| 2002 | Spain U21 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
In a 16-year professional career, he amassed Segunda División totals of 178 matches and two goals over seven seasons, in representation of three clubs. In La Liga, he appeared for Valencia.
Born in Vilamarxant, Valencian Community, Albiol was a product of hometown Valencia CF's youth ranks as younger brother Raúl after him, and played once with its first team, during 2002–03's La Liga.[1] He finished that season in the second division with Real Murcia, featuring regularly en route to the club's promotion.[2]
Released by the Che, Albiol spent a further year with Recreativo de Huelva (also second tier), then had a steady period with Rayo Vallecano. He was instrumental in the latter side's 2008 promotion to division two, after four consecutive playoff failures.[2]
In July 2009, apparently after having everything arranged with Hércules CF,[3] Albiol agreed on a return move to Murcia, signing for three years.[4] He appeared in 30 games in his first season – 22 starts, 2,200 minutes of play – which ended in second-division relegation.
Albiol's younger brother, Raúl, was also a footballer. He represented with success Valencia, Real Madrid, S.S.C. Napoli, Villarreal CF and the Spain national team.[5][6]