Real Madrid

Real Madrid have landed one of the best center-backs in Spain and one of Europe’s brightest prospects. Only 23-years old, Raul Albiol (Valencia, 04/09/85) is quickly becoming an icon of Spanish football. Brought up through the Valencia youth system, Albiol is a fast, hardened center-back who dominates the aerial game. An international with the Spanish national team, the new Madridista was a member of the 2008 European Championship-winning squad. His youth and experience make him an attractive footballer for all coaches, who see Raul Albiol as the prototype center-back with plenty of resources to fall back on.

Albiol was born in a small town in Valencia called Villamarchante, located on the right bank of the Turia River. Playing with a football was his favorite pastime as a child, and Valencia quickly took notice and enrolled Albiol in their academy. On 24 September 2003, and only 18 years old, Rafa Benitez gave Albiol the chance to debut with the first team in a UEFA Cup match against AIK Solna. The current Liverpool coach saw the tremendous potential Albiol possessed, but the player finished the season playing for Mestalla, the youth team, and would have to wait to earn a spot on Valencia’s premier squad.

RESURGENCE
Valencia loaned Albiol to Getafe the following season in order for the player to gain experience in Spain’s top flight. It was then that Albiol suffered the most tragic chapter of his life. The center back suffered a serious car accident on his way to the Spanish capital and was in ICU for 17 days. His spleen was removed and Albiol was ordered to remain inactive for two months. They were difficult days for the Valencia native, who thought many times that he would never return to the pitch. But surprisingly, Albiol made a full recovery and joined Getafe midway through the season –he even scored a goal against Real Madrid-. Then Getafe coach Quique Sanchez Flores had all the faith in the world in Albiol, which made it no surprise that he asked Valencia’s head brass to reacquire the services of the player after he was appointed head coach of the Che.

Although his natural position was as a defensive midfielder, Quique repositioned Albiol as a center-back upon his return to Mestalla, and the moved suited the player to perfection. Albiol and Ayala formed one of the most solid defensive duos in La Liga. Tall, fast and strong, what Albiol is really known for is his ability to move the ball forward and to play it safely with the midfielders; a skill he surely acquired during his days as a midfielder. Albiol is also very tall and dominates the aerial game, making him a potential threat during set-pieces and the perfect player to clear balls curled into the box.

EUROPEAN CHAMPION WITH ‘LA ROJA'
Raul Albiol’s best season as a professional was no doubt 2007/08. A hands-down starter for Valencia, the defender made a name for himself domestically and abroad and earned several call-ups by Luis Aragones for Euro 2008 qualifiers. His debut took place on 13 October 2007 against Denmark. Once June rolled around, and after Valencia had won the Copa del Rey, the now Madridista was called up by the national team coach top participate in the European Championship in Austria and Switzerland, where he coincided with new teammates, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos. Albiol, who played against Sweden and Greece, finished the tournament as a European champion in Ernst Happel Stadion along with the rest of the Spanish expedition.

Despite only being 23-years old, Real Madrid has acquired the services of an already-experienced and mature player who has no fear of the responsibility that being a Madridistas entails. In his final season at Valencia, Albiol played 45 matches and scored two goals. Saying he is a true sportsman would be an understatement; he has only been shown one red card during his five seasons in Primera Division. Albiol is currently on Confederations Cup duty in South Africa, where Iker Casillas, his new captain, had the following to say about him: “If you had to put a face to this group, it would be Albiol’s. He is the face of this team because he reflects all that is good about us.”