Alberto Lopo

{{short description|Spanish former professional footballer (born 1980)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Alberto Lopo

| image = Alberto Lopo DEP-ATM 045 1200.jpg

| caption = Lopo with Deportivo in 2015

| fullname = Alberto Lopo García{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/envivos/fichas/1/171/171.html|title=Alberto LOPO García|newspaper=El Mundo|language=es|access-date=26 March 2021}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|5|5|df=y}}

| birth_place = Barcelona, Spain

| height = {{convert|1.86|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1990–1998 | youthclubs1 = Espanyol

| years1 = 1998–2001 | clubs1 = Espanyol B | caps1 = 44 | goals1 = 1

| years2 = 1999–2006 | clubs2 = Espanyol | caps2 = 178 | goals2 = 9

| years3 = 2006–2011 | clubs3 = Deportivo La Coruña | caps3 = 151 | goals3 = 7

| years4 = 2011–2014 | clubs4 = Getafe | caps4 = 40 | goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2014–2016 | clubs5 = Deportivo La Coruña | caps5 = 56 | goals5 = 4

| years6 = 2016 | clubs6 = Gimnàstic | caps6 = 5 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2018 | clubs7 = Inter d'Escaldes | caps7 = 4 | goals7 = 0

| totalcaps = 478 | totalgoals = 22

| nationalyears1 = 1998 | nationalteam1 = Spain U17 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1998–1999 | nationalteam2 = Spain U18 | nationalcaps2 = 7 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2001 | nationalteam3 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps3 = 4 | nationalgoals3 = 0

| club-update =

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Alberto Lopo García (born 5 May 1980) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

His physical style of play resulted in him being one of the most booked players every season in Spanish football. He spent 16 years of his career – youth years accounted for – at Espanyol, twice winning the Copa del Rey.

Over 18 seasons, Lopo amassed La Liga totals of 409 matches and 19 goals, also representing in the competition Deportivo and Getafe.

Club career

=Espanyol=

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Lopo spent the bulk of his professional career at local RCD Espanyol, whose youth system he joined when he was 10. He made his La Liga debut on 11 April 1999 when he played injury time against Real Zaragoza at the age of 18,{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1999/04/12/deportes/923868016_850215.html|title=Benítez le da vida al Espanyol con un gol en el tiempo de descuento|trans-title=Benítez gives life to Espanyol with injury-time goal|newspaper=El País|last=Álvarez|first=Robert|language=es|date=12 April 1999|access-date=14 December 2017}} thus becoming the first player to have represented the club in all categories.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2015/09/25/primera/1443200370_444650.html|title=El más 'curtido' de toda la Liga espera al Espanyol en A Coruña|trans-title=The League's most 'seasoned' of them all waits for Espanyol in A Coruña|newspaper=Diario AS|last=Molero|first=Iván|language=es|date=25 September 2015|access-date=14 December 2017}} His breakthrough came in the 2001–02 season when he only missed five league matches and scored his first goal, in the first league round and against Zaragoza,{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2001/08/27/deportes/998863222_850215.html|title=El Espanyol repite triunfo en el debú ante el Zaragoza|trans-title=Espanyol repeat win in debut against Zaragoza|newspaper=El País|last=Carbonell|first=Rafael|language=es|date=27 August 2001|access-date=14 December 2017}} but also received his first red card during a 2–0 away loss to city rivals FC Barcelona.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2002/05/06/deportes/1020636020_850215.html|title=Monólogo azulgrana en el 'derby'|trans-title=Azulgrana monologue in derby|newspaper=El País|last=Besa|first=Ramón|language=es|date=6 May 2002|access-date=14 December 2017}}

Lopo would remain a starter under several managers – Juande Ramos, Javier Clemente, Luis Fernández and Miguel Ángel Lotina – until his departure, earning in the process a reputation as a superb but excessively rough defender.{{cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/deportivo-de-la-coruna/363190.html|title=Casillas, Iraola y Alberto Lopo|trans-title=Casillas, Iraola and Alberto Lopo|publisher=Vavel|last=Martínez Duarte|first=Fernando|language=es|date=25 June 2014|access-date=14 December 2017}} In 2002–03 he was booked 13 times in 23 games, including two in a 5–2 defeat at Racing de Santander.{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/65804?cc=5739|title=Racing Santander 5–2 Espanyol|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=1 June 2003|access-date=6 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102202034/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/65804?cc=5739|archive-date=2 January 2013}} The following campaign, after agreeing to a three-year extension,{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0190-0f8445bf2d4e-7692ac54daaa-1000--lopo-deal-lifts-clemente/|title=Lopo deal lifts Clemente|publisher=UEFA|date=3 April 2003|access-date=4 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016040844/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid%3D63182.html|archive-date=16 October 2014}} he was presented with 14 yellow cards and four red. Between 2004 and 2006 he received another 21 yellow cards and two red, although the numbers somewhat decreased in the subsequent years.

With two Copa del Rey trophies conquered, in 2000 and 2006, Lopo rejected an offer for a new deal and signed for Deportivo de La Coruña.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=432775.html|title=Two more signings at Deportivo|publisher=UEFA|date=28 June 2006|access-date=4 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628203107/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid%3D432775.html|archive-date=28 June 2011}} But although he was out of contract, Espanyol eventually started a court case to get financial compensation (an amount of €5.6 million was mentioned) for having educated the player in its youth system.{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/deportivo/es/desarrollo/671864.html|title=El Deportivo lleva el caso Lopo a los juzgados|trans-title=Deportivo take Lopo affair to court|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=17 July 2006|access-date=22 February 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006061951/http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/deportivo/es/desarrollo/671864.html|archive-date=6 October 2011}}

=Deportivo=

In his first season, Lopo continued as always, playing 31 times and receiving a total of 11 yellow cards (this included a double one at home against RC Celta de Vigo;{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/cronica/es/desarrollo/711065.html|title=El Celta repite y destroza el fortín de Riazor|trans-title=Celta do it again and destroy Riazor fortress|newspaper=Marca|last=Melero|first=Delfín|language=es|date=19 November 2006|access-date=26 March 2021}} he was also sent off in the cup with Real Valladolid).{{cite news|url=https://www.elcorreogallego.es/hemeroteca/deportivo-deja-visto-sentencia-pase-semifinales-PGCG130069|title=El Deportivo deja visto para sentencia su pase a semifinales|trans-title=Deportivo are all but qualified to the semi-finals|newspaper=El Correo Gallego|language=es|date=1 February 2007|access-date=26 March 2021}} He initially formed a stopper partnership with Álvaro Arbeloa but, after the latter was sold to Liverpool, it was Jorge Andrade who accompanied him at the back: that defence, with Capdevila and Fabrizio Coloccini at the sides and Dudu Aouate as goalkeeper, kept 16 clean sheets in 38 matches, and many of the points won were based on the defensive performance of a team not capable of scoring sufficient goals.{{cite news|url=https://www.laopinioncoruna.es/deportes/2007/02/22/coloccini-banda-25534634.html|title=Coloccini, a la banda|trans-title=Coloccini, to the flank|newspaper=La Opinión A Coruña|last=Patiño|first=Arturo|language=es|date=22 February 2007|access-date=26 March 2021}} In late April 2007, his injury-time header provided a much needed 1–0 home win over CA Osasuna.{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/204076?cc=5739|title=Deportivo La Coruña 1–0 Osasuna|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=22 April 2007|access-date=6 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103032501/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/204076?cc=5739|archive-date=3 January 2013}}

Lopo's status at the club increased significantly in the summer of 2007, as Juanma and Andrade both left the Estadio Riazor, the former on a free transfer to CD Tenerife whereas the latter was sold to Juventus FC – he himself confirmed that Deportivo rejected a €5 million offer from Real Zaragoza for him. However, he would spend the first five months out of action, due to a recurrent leg injury.{{cite news|url=https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/futbol/lopo-estoy-jugando-con-una-pierna-5808799|title=Lopo: "Estoy jugando con una pierna"|trans-title=Lopo: "I am playing on one leg"|newspaper=Sport|language=es|date=7 February 2008|access-date=14 December 2017}}

Ever-present throughout 2008–09, Lopo headed in the 2–1 home winner in the league opener against Real Madrid.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=743245.html|title=Rude awakening for Barça and Madrid|publisher=UEFA|date=1 September 2008|access-date=4 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016041908/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid%3D743245.html|archive-date=16 October 2014}} During the campaign, as his side finished seventh, he collected 13 yellow cards.

=Later years=

Lopo continued to be an undisputed starter for Depor in the following two seasons, with relegation befalling in 2010–11. In late June, the 31-year-old free agent signed a three-year contract with Getafe CF.{{cite news|url=http://www.lne.es/deportes/2011/06/22/getafe-ficha-deportivista-lopo/1093109.html|title=El Getafe ficha al deportivista Lopo|trans-title=Getafe sign Deportivo man Lopo|newspaper=La Nueva España|language=es|date=22 June 2011|access-date=29 December 2011}}

Lopo was played regularly in the first part of the 2011–12 campaign. He missed several months, however, after fracturing his humerus during a game against his former club Espanyol.{{cite news|url=http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/agencias/20120219/deportes/futbol/lopo-operado-satisfactoriamente-fractura-humero_201202192111.html|title=Lopo operado satisfactoriamente de una fractura de húmero|trans-title=Lopo successfully undergoes humerus operation|newspaper=El Diario Montañés|language=es|date=19 February 2012|access-date=12 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728015721/http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/agencias/20120219/deportes/futbol/lopo-operado-satisfactoriamente-fractura-humero_201202192111.html|archive-date=28 July 2014}}

On 29 January 2014, Lopo returned to Deportivo after cutting ties with the Madrid outskirts team.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/01/29/futbol/equipos/deportivo/1391010746.html|title=Lopo apuntala la línea defensiva del Deportivo|trans-title=Lopo bolsters Deportivo's defensive line|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=29 January 2014|access-date=26 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429061848/http://www.marca.com/2014/01/29/futbol/equipos/deportivo/1391010746.html|archive-date=29 April 2014}} He achieved top-flight promotion in June, contributing two goals{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/02/23/futbol/equipos/deportivo/1393160938.html|title=Lopo remata en el último suspiro|trans-title=Lopo shoots in the dying breath|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=23 February 2014|access-date=16 August 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/03/29/futbol/2adivision/1396131152.html|title=El Tenerife impide al Deportivo recuperar el liderato|trans-title=Tenerife prevent Deportivo from regaining first place|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=29 March 2014|access-date=16 August 2016}} from 16 appearances.

On 15 August 2016, aged 36, Lopo agreed to a one-year deal with second-tier Gimnàstic de Tarragona.{{cite web|url=http://www.gimnasticdetarragona.cat/lopo-oficialment-nou-jugador-del-nastic/|title=Lopo, oficialment nou jugador del Nàstic|trans-title=Lopo, officially new player of Nàstic|publisher=Gimnàstic Tarragona|language=ca|date=15 August 2016|access-date=16 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823080341/http://www.gimnasticdetarragona.cat/lopo-oficialment-nou-jugador-del-nastic/|archive-date=23 August 2016}} On 19 January 2018, after more than one year of inactivity, he joined Inter Club d'Escaldes of Andorra's Primera Divisió.{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/20180119/44125907521/albert-lopo-ficha-por-un-equipo-andorrano.html|title=Lopo ficha por un equipo andorrano|trans-title=Lopo signs with an Andorran team|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=19 January 2018|access-date=7 March 2018}}

International career

In early November 2006, Lopo was picked by Spain coach Luis Aragonés for a friendly with Romania,{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/seleccion/es/desarrollo/707943.html|title=Luis Aragonés aprovecha el amistoso de Rumanía para hacer una revolución|trans-title=Luis Aragonés profits from Romania friendly to stage a revolution|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=10 November 2006|access-date=10 April 2015}} and said about it: "Every player has to fight hard for his pick and to be part of the national team is a reward. This is probably the most important day in my career, it's a dream coming true". In the end, he did not play during the 1–0 loss{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/seleccion/previaxcronica/es/desarrollo/709901.html|title=Marica da otro varapalo a la España de Luis|trans-title=Marica strikes another blow to Luis' Spain|newspaper=Marca|last=Jurado|first=J. Carlos|language=es|date=15 November 2006|access-date=10 April 2015}} nor was he picked again for the national side.

Lopo made his debut for the regional team of Catalonia on 28 December 2001, against Chile.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2001/12/29/pagina-2/470999/pdf.html#&mode=fullScreen|title=Victoria de prestigio|trans-title=Prestigious win|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|last=Astruells|first=Andrés|language=es|date=29 December 2001|access-date=14 December 2017}}

Honours

Espanyol

Copa del Rey: 1999–2000, 2005–06{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2006/04/13/pagina-14/813719/pdf.html|title=¡Increíble Espanyol!|trans-title=Incredible Espanyol!|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|last=Astruells|first=Andrés|language=es|date=13 April 2006|access-date=10 April 2015}}

References

External links

{{BDFutbol|52}}
[http://hallofameperico.com/category/hall-of-famers-del-rcde/lopo/ Espanyol archives] {{in lang|es}}
{{Futbolme profile|9133}}
{{Soccerway|alberto-lopo-garcia/3063}}

Category:1980 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen

Category:Spanish men's footballers

Category:Footballers from Barcelona

Category:Men's association football central defenders

Category:La Liga players

Category:Segunda División players

Category:Segunda División B players

Category:RCD Espanyol B footballers

Category:RCD Espanyol footballers

Category:Deportivo de La Coruña players