Alberto Vitoria

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Alberto Vitoria

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Alberto Vitoria Soria

| birth_date = {{birth date|1956|1|11|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ágreda, Spain

| death_date = {{death date and age|2010|4|26|1956|1|11|df=y}}

| death_place = Zaragoza, Spain

| height = {{height|m=1.71}}

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1970–1972 | youthclubs1 = Real Madrid

| years1 = 1972–1974 | clubs1 = Castilla | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1974–1979 | clubs2 = Real Madrid | caps2 = 57 | goals2 = 1

| years3 = 1979–1981 | clubs3 = Burgos | caps3 = 55 | goals3 = 6

| years4 = 1981–1984 | clubs4 = Granada | caps4 = 101 | goals4 = 28

| years5 = 1984–1985 | clubs5 = Rayo Vallecano | caps5 = 27 | goals5 = 6

| totalcaps = 240 | totalgoals = 41

| nationalyears1 = 1972–1974 | nationalteam1 = Spain U18 | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 1977 | nationalteam2 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 1976 | nationalteam3 = Spain amateur | nationalcaps3 = 2 | nationalgoals3 = 0

}}

Alberto Vitoria Soria (11 January 1956 – 26 April 2010) was a Spanish professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Vitoria was born in Ágreda, Province of Soria, Castile and León, being the sixth of seven children.[http://www.heraldodesoria.es/index.php/mod.noticias/mem.detalle/idnoticia.6282 El primer gol soriano en Primera División (First goal from Soria in Primera División)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429170133/http://www.heraldodesoria.es/index.php/mod.noticias/mem.detalle/idnoticia.6282|date=29 April 2010}}; Heraldo de Soria (in Spanish) He spent nine years with Real Madrid all categories comprised, playing five seasons with the first team; he made his La Liga debut on 7 September 1974 at the age of 18, playing 52 minutes in a 2–1 away win against Valencia CF.[http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1974/09/08/pagina-9/998877/pdf.html 1–2: En un impresionante «rush» final, el Madrid se impuso al Valencia (1–2: In impressive final rush, Madrid bested Valencia)]; Mundo Deportivo, 8 September 1974 (in Spanish)

Vitoria received little playing time, however, during his senior spell at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, his best output being 20 games and one goal in the 1976–77 campaign, precisely when the club did not win any major trophies. On 27 February 1977 he became the first player from his native region to score in the top division, in a 4–2 home victory over Real Zaragoza.

Leaving Real Madrid in summer 1979 after appearing in 88 competitive matches, Vitoria signed for Burgos CF, being relegated from the top flight in his first year. He then spent three seasons with Granada CF (two in Segunda División B, one in Segunda División), retiring in June 1985 at the age of 29 with Rayo Vallecano, which he helped promote to the second level.

International career

Vitoria represented Spain at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, appearing in two group stage losses (the only games the national team played in the tournament after Nigeria withdrew).

Death

Vitoria died on 26 April 2010 in Zaragoza, Aragon, due to heart failure. He was 54 years old.[http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1330003854707/noticia/Noticia/Alberto_Vitoria_dies.htm Alberto Vitoria dies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428190306/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1330003854707/noticia/Noticia/Alberto_Vitoria_dies.htm|date=28 April 2010}}; Real Madrid CF, 26 April 2010[http://www.europapress.es/deportes/futbol-00162/noticia-futbol-fallece-alberto-vitoria-jugador-real-madrid-anos-setenta-20100426205236.html Fallece Alberto Vitoria, jugador del Real Madrid en los años setenta (Alberto Vitoria, Real Madrid footballer in the 70s, dies)]; Europa Press, 26 April 2010 (in Spanish)