Luque
| Date of birth | 11 March 1978 |
| Place of birth | Barcelona |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Weight | 80 kg |
| Height | 1.83 m |
| Position | Forward |
A major surprise inclusion when Spain's 2002 World Cup squad was announced, Alberto had yet to make his debut at international level.
A product of the Barcelona youth system, he could not break into the first team and moved to Real Mallorca in 1997.
Again he found first team football hard to come by despite forging an excellent partnership with Diego Tristran in the second string and he spent a season on loan at Malaga in 1999-2000.
He returned to Real Mallorca and formed an excellent attacking partnership with Samuel Eto'o that enabled the club to avoid relegation for two seasons.
Alberto joined Newcastle United in August 2005 with a five-year contract.
On the plus side, Alberto scored his first Newcastle goal in a 4-1 win at Sunderland. On the negative side, his transfer from Deportivo La Coruna was questioned by the Stevens Inquiry into football corruption.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Mallorca | 01 Jul 1997 | 01 Jul 2002 | |
| Malaga | 01 Aug 1999 | 31 May 2000 | L |
| Deportivo La Coruna | 01 Jul 2002 | 26 Aug 2005 | |
| Newcastle United | 26 Aug 2005 | 25 Aug 2007 | |
| Ajax | 25 Aug 2007 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | Real Mallorca | Primera Liga | 32 | 9 |
5
|
||
| 2001-02 | Real Mallorca | Primera Liga | 36 | 14 |
3
|
||
| 2001-02 | Real Mallorca | UEFA Champions League | 7 | 1 |
1 |
1
|
|
| 2001-02 | Real Mallorca | UEFA Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2002-03 | Deportivo La Coruna | Primera Liga | 5 | 27 |
8 |
1
|
|
| 2002-03 | Deportivo La Coruna | UEFA Champions League | 3 | 6 |
2
|
||
| 2003-04 | Deportivo La Coruna | Primera Liga | 28 | 4 |
8 |
3
|
|
| 2003-04 | Deportivo La Coruna | UEFA Champions League | 9 | 2 |
5 |
||
| 2004-05 | Deportivo La Coruna | Primera Liga | 26 | 11 |
11 |
5
|
|
| 2004-05 | Deportivo La Coruna | UEFA Champions League | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2005-06 | Deportivo La Coruna | UEFA Intertoto Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2005-06 | Newcastle United | FA Cup | 1 | 2 |
|||
| 2005-06 | Newcastle United | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Newcastle United | Premier League | 6 | 8 |
1 |
1
|
|
| 2006-07 | Newcastle United | Premier League | 7 |
1
|
|||
| 2006-07 | Newcastle United | UEFA Cup | 5 | 3 |
1 |
||
| 2006-07 | Newcastle United | UEFA Intertoto Cup | 1 | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Sep 2002 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Betis | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 1 |
| 18 Sep 2002 | Bayern München v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group G |
| 28 Sep 2002 | Alavés v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 4 |
| 01 Oct 2002 | Deportivo La Coruña v RC Lens | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group G |
| 06 Oct 2002 | Deportivo La Coruña v Racing Santander | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 5 |
| 19 Oct 2002 | Villarreal v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 6 |
| 23 Oct 2002 | RC Lens v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group G |
| 26 Oct 2002 | Rayo Vallecano v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 7 |
| 02 Nov 2002 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Madrid | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 8 |
| 09 Nov 2002 | Real Sociedad v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 9 |
| 13 Nov 2002 | AC Milan v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group G |
| 16 Nov 2002 | Deportivo La Coruña v Barcelona | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 10 |
| 23 Nov 2002 | Sevilla v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 11 |
| 26 Nov 2002 | Deportivo La Coruña v Juventus | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Phase 2 group D |
| 01 Dec 2002 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Mallorca | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 12 |
| 07 Dec 2002 | Recreativo de Huelva v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 13 |
| 11 Dec 2002 | Manchester United v Deportivo La Coruña | L | 2-0 | UEFA Champions League | Phase 2 group D |
| 15 Dec 2002 | Deportivo La Coruña v Malaga | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 14 |
| 22 Dec 2002 | Valencia v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 15 |
| 04 Jan 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Celta Vigo | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 16 |
| 12 Jan 2003 | Atlético Madrid v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 17 |
| 19 Jan 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Athletic Bilbao | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 18 |
| 26 Jan 2003 | Español v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 19 |
| 02 Feb 2003 | Real Betis v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 20 |
| 09 Feb 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Osasuna | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 21 |
| 15 Feb 2003 | Valladolid v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 22 |
| 19 Feb 2003 | FC Basel v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Phase 2 group D |
| 22 Feb 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Alavés | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 23 |
| 25 Feb 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v FC Basel | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Phase 2 group D |
| 02 Mar 2003 | Racing Santander v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 24 |
| 15 Mar 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Rayo Vallecano | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 26 |
| 18 Mar 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Manchester United | W | 2-0 | UEFA Champions League | Phase 2 group D |
| 23 Mar 2003 | Real Madrid v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 27 |
| 06 Apr 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Sociedad | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 28 |
| 20 Apr 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Sevilla | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 30 |
| 27 Apr 2003 | Real Mallorca v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 31 |
| 17 May 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Valencia | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 34 |
| 24 May 2003 | Celta Vigo v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 35 |
| 01 Jun 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Atlético Madrid | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 36 |
| 15 Jun 2003 | Athletic Bilbao v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 37 |
| 21 Jun 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Español | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 38 |
| 26 Aug 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Rosenborg BK | D |
0-0 Agg: 0-0 |
UEFA Champions League | 3rd qualifying round 2nd leg |
| 31 Aug 2003 | Real Zaragoza v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 1 |
| 03 Sep 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Athletic Bilbao | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 2 |
| 13 Sep 2003 | Sevilla v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 3 |
| 17 Sep 2003 | AEK Athens v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group C |
| 21 Sep 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Albacete Balompié | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 4 |
| 27 Sep 2003 | Osasuna v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 5 |
| 18 Oct 2003 | Barcelona v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 7 |
| 21 Oct 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v AS Monaco | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group C |
| 25 Oct 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Valencia | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 8 |
| 29 Oct 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Mallorca | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 9 |
| 01 Nov 2003 | Murcia v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 10 |
| 08 Nov 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Sociedad | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 11 |
| 25 Nov 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v AEK Athens | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group C |
| 30 Nov 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Villarreal | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 13 |
| 03 Dec 2003 | Valladolid v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 14 |
| 06 Dec 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Malaga | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 15 |
| 10 Dec 2003 | PSV Eindhoven v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group C |
| 14 Dec 2003 | Real Madrid v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 16 |
| 21 Dec 2003 | Deportivo La Coruña v Español | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 17 |
| 03 Jan 2004 | Celta Vigo v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 18 |
| 11 Jan 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Racing Santander | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 19 |
| 18 Jan 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Zaragoza | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 20 |
| 25 Jan 2004 | Athletic Bilbao v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 21 |
| 01 Feb 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Sevilla | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 22 |
| 08 Feb 2004 | Albacete Balompié v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 23 |
| 15 Feb 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Osasuna | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 24 |
| 21 Feb 2004 | Atlético Madrid v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 25 |
| 25 Feb 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Juventus | W | 1-0 | UEFA Champions League | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 29 Feb 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Barcelona | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 26 |
| 06 Mar 2004 | Valencia v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 27 |
| 09 Mar 2004 | Juventus v Deportivo La Coruña | W |
0-1 Agg: 0-2 |
UEFA Champions League | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 20 Mar 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Murcia | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 29 |
| 23 Mar 2004 | AC Milan v Deportivo La Coruña | L | 4-1 | UEFA Champions League | Quarter-final 1st leg |
| 27 Mar 2004 | Real Sociedad v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 30 |
| 04 Apr 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Betis | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 31 |
| 07 Apr 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v AC Milan | W |
4-0 Agg: 5-4 |
UEFA Champions League | Quarter-final 2nd leg |
| 11 Apr 2004 | Villarreal v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 32 |
| 17 Apr 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Valladolid | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 33 |
| 21 Apr 2004 | FC Porto v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 01 May 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Madrid | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 35 |
| 04 May 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v FC Porto | L |
0-1 Agg: 0-1 |
UEFA Champions League | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 09 May 2004 | Español v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 36 |
| 28 Aug 2004 | Español v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 1-1 | Primera Liga | 1 |
| 12 Sep 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Osasuna | L | 1-3 | Primera Liga | 2 |
| 19 Sep 2004 | Athletic Bilbao v Deportivo La Coruña | W | 1-2 | Primera Liga | 3 |
| 22 Sep 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Valencia | L | 1-5 | Primera Liga | 4 |
| 26 Sep 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Betis | D | 1-1 | Primera Liga | 5 |
| 03 Oct 2004 | Real Madrid v Deportivo La Coruña | W | 0-1 | Primera Liga | 6 |
| 16 Oct 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Getafe | W | 2-1 | Primera Liga | 7 |
| 19 Oct 2004 | Liverpool v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group A |
| 23 Oct 2004 | Malaga v Deportivo La Coruña | L | 2-0 | Primera Liga | 8 |
| 31 Oct 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Albacete Balompié | W | 2-1 | Primera Liga | 9 |
| 03 Nov 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Liverpool | L | 0-1 | UEFA Champions League | Group A |
| 06 Nov 2004 | Barcelona v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 0-0 | Primera Liga | 10 |
| 13 Nov 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Levante | W | 1-0 | Primera Liga | 11 |
| 20 Nov 2004 | Villarreal v Deportivo La Coruña | W | 0-2 | Primera Liga | 12 |
| 28 Nov 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Sociedad | D | 2-2 | Primera Liga | 13 |
| 05 Dec 2004 | Racing Santander v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 2-2 | Primera Liga | 14 |
| 12 Dec 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Sevilla | D | 2-2 | Primera Liga | 15 |
| 19 Dec 2004 | Atlético Madrid v Deportivo La Coruña | L | 1-0 | Primera Liga | 16 |
| 22 Dec 2004 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Zaragoza | L | 2-3 | Primera Liga | 17 |
| 09 Jan 2005 | Real Mallorca v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 2-2 | Primera Liga | 18 |
| 16 Jan 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña v Numancia | D | 1-1 | Primera Liga | 19 |
| 23 Jan 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña v Español | W | 4-1 | Primera Liga | 20 |
| 30 Jan 2005 | Osasuna v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 1-1 | Primera Liga | 21 |
| 06 Feb 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña v Athletic Bilbao | D | 1-1 | Primera Liga | 22 |
| 12 Feb 2005 | Valencia v Deportivo La Coruña | W | 1-2 | Primera Liga | 23 |
| 20 Feb 2005 | Real Betis v Deportivo La Coruña | L | 2-0 | Primera Liga | 24 |
| 26 Feb 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Madrid | W | 2-0 | Primera Liga | 25 |
| 02 Mar 2005 | Getafe v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 1-1 | Primera Liga | 26 |
| 06 Mar 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña v Malaga | W | 1-0 | Primera Liga | 27 |
| 13 Mar 2005 | Albacete Balompié v Deportivo La Coruña | W | 0-1 | Primera Liga | 28 |
| 19 Mar 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña v Barcelona | L | 0-1 | Primera Liga | 29 |
| 03 Apr 2005 | Levante v Deportivo La Coruña | W | 0-1 | Primera Liga | 30 |
| 10 Apr 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña v Villarreal | D | 1-1 | Primera Liga | 31 |
| 16 Apr 2005 | Real Sociedad v Deportivo La Coruña | L | 1-0 | Primera Liga | 32 |
| 24 Apr 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña v Racing Santander | L | 1-4 | Primera Liga | 33 |
| 01 May 2005 | Sevilla v Deportivo La Coruña | L | 2-0 | Primera Liga | 34 |
| 15 May 2005 | Real Zaragoza v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 2-2 | Primera Liga | 36 |
| 22 May 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña v Real Mallorca | L | 0-3 | Primera Liga | 37 |
| 29 May 2005 | Numancia v Deportivo La Coruña | D | 1-1 | Primera Liga | 38 |
| 27 Jul 2005 | Deportivo La Coruña v Newcastle United | W | 2-1 | Intertoto Cup | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 03 Aug 2005 | Newcastle United v Deportivo La Coruña | W |
1-2 Agg: 2-4 |
Intertoto Cup | Semi-final 2nd leg |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980-81 | Spain | UEFA Under-21 | 1 |
||||
| 1980-81 | Spain | Under-20 v Under 21 | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 1998-99 | Spain | UEFA Under-21 | 1 | 2 |
1 |
||
| 1998-99 | Spain | Under-21 | 1 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Spain | UEFA Under-21 | 4 | 2 |
3 |
||
| 1999-00 | Spain | Under-21 | 1 |
||||
| 2000-01 | Spain | Olympics | 2 |
||||
| 2001-02 | Spain | FIFA World Cup | 2 |
||||
| 2003-04 | Spain | International Friendly | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2003-04 | Spain | UEFA European Championship | 2 |
||||
| 2004-05 | Spain | FIFA World Cup | 2 | 3 |
2 |
||
| 2004-05 | Spain | International Friendly | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2005-06 | Spain | FIFA World Cup | 1 |
||||
| 2005-06 | Spain | International Friendly | 1 | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 1980 | Spain v Luxembourg | W | 4-1 | UEFA U21 | Group |
| 06 May 1981 | Spain v Italy | W | 2-1 | Under-20 v Under-21 | |
| 17 Nov 1998 | Italy v Spain | D | 0-0 | U21 | |
| 26 Mar 1999 | Spain v Austria | W | 4-0 | UEFA U21 | Group 6 |
| 30 Mar 1999 | Netherlands v Spain | W | 0-1 | UEFA U21 | Group 6 |
| 04 Jun 1999 | Spain v Netherlands | W | 4-1 | UEFA U21 | Group 6 |
| 07 Sep 1999 | Spain v Cyprus | D | 1-1 | UEFA U21 | Group 6 |
| 16 Nov 1999 | Spain v Norway | W | 4-0 | UEFA U21 | Quarter-final |
| 28 Mar 2000 | Spain v Italy | W | 3-0 | U21 | |
| 27 May 2000 | Spain v Czech Republic | D | 1-1 | UEFA U21 | Final round group A |
| 27 May 2000 | Spain v Czech Republic | D | 1-1 | UEFA U21 | Final round group A |
| 29 May 2000 | Spain v Croatia | D | 1-1 | UEFA U21 | Final round group A |
| 01 Jun 2000 | Netherlands v Spain | W | 0-1 | UEFA U21 | Final round group A |
| 14 Sep 2000 | Korea Republic v Spain | W | 0-3 | Olympics | Finals Group B |
| 17 Sep 2000 | Spain v Chile | L | 1-3 | Olympics | Finals Group B |
| 12 Jun 2002 | South Africa v Spain | W | 2-3 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 16 Jun 2002 | Spain v Republic of Ireland | W | 1-1 (3-2) | FIFA World Cup | Finals 2nd round |
| 11 Oct 2003 | Armenia v Spain | W | 0-4 | UEFA European Championship | Group 6 |
| 18 Feb 2004 | Spain v Peru | W | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 31 Mar 2004 | Spain v Denmark | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 05 Jun 2004 | Spain v Andorra | W | 4-0 | International Friendly | |
| 20 Jun 2004 | Portugal v Spain | L | 1-0 | UEFA European Championship | Finals Group A |
| 09 Oct 2004 | Spain v Belgium | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 7 |
| 13 Oct 2004 | Lithuania v Spain | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 7 |
| 17 Nov 2004 | Spain v England | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 09 Feb 2005 | Spain v San Marino | W | 5-0 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 7 |
| 26 Mar 2005 | Spain v China PR | W | 3-0 | International Friendly | |
| 04 Jun 2005 | Spain v Lithuania | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 7 |
| 08 Jun 2005 | Spain v Bosnia and Herzegovina | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 7 |
| 17 Aug 2005 | Spain v Uruguay | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 03 Sep 2005 | Spain v Canada | W | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 07 Sep 2005 | Spain v Serbia and Montenegro | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 7 |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.