Alberto Vitoria Soria (11 January 1956 – 26 April 2010) was a Spanish professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alberto Vitoria Soria | ||
| Date of birth | 11 January 1956 | ||
| Place of birth | Ágreda, Spain | ||
| Date of death | 26 April 2010 (aged 54) | ||
| Place of death | Zaragoza, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1970–1972 | Real Madrid | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1972–1974 | Castilla | ||
| 1974–1979 | Real Madrid | 57 | (1) |
| 1979–1981 | Burgos | 55 | (6) |
| 1981–1984 | Granada | 101 | (28) |
| 1984–1985 | Rayo Vallecano | 27 | (6) |
| Total | 240 | (41) | |
| International career | |||
| 1972–1974 | Spain U18 | 8 | (1) |
| 1977 | Spain U21 | 2 | (0) |
| 1976 | Spain amateur | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editVitoria was born in Ágreda, Province of Soria, Castile and León, being the sixth of seven children.[1] 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.[2]
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.[1]
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
editVitoria 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
editVitoria died on 26 April 2010 in Zaragoza, Aragon, due to heart failure. He was 54 years old.[3][4]
Honours
editReal Madrid[4]
References
edit- ^ a b El primer gol soriano en Primera División (First goal from Soria in Primera División) Archived 29 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine; Heraldo de Soria (in Spanish)
- ^ 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)
- ^ Alberto Vitoria dies Archived 28 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine; Real Madrid CF, 26 April 2010
- ^ a b 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)
External links
edit- Alberto Vitoria at BDFutbol
- Alberto Vitoria – FIFA competition record (archived)