Álex López (footballer, born 1988)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is López and the second or maternal family name is Sánchez.

Alejandro "Álex" López Sánchez (born 11 January 1988) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Álex López

López with Galicia in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Alejandro López Sánchez
Date of birth	(1988-01-11) 11 January 1988 (age 37)
Place of birth	Ferrol, Spain
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Hórreo
1999–2000	San Pedro
2000–2002	San Rosendo
2002–2005	Racing Ferrol
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2007	Racing Ferrol	5	(0)
2005–2006	→ O Val (loan)
2007–2009	Narón
2009–2010	Celta B	36	(13)
2010–2017	Celta	162	(17)
2015–2016	→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	24	(0)
2016–2017	→ Valladolid (loan)	30	(1)
2017–2018	Sporting Gijón	9	(0)
2018–2019	Brisbane Roar	25	(3)
2019–2025	Racing Ferrol	150	(9)
Total		441	(43)
International career
2004	Spain U16	1	(0)
2005	Spain U17	2	(0)
2024	Galicia	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Early years

Born in Ferrol, Galicia, López graduated from Racing de Ferrol's youth system, and made his professional debut on 14 May 2005 when he came on as a late substitute in a 2–2 home draw against CD Tenerife in the Segunda División.^[1] In July, he was loaned to lowly SD O Val of Tercera División.^[2]

López returned to Racing in June 2006, and after appearing sparingly in the first part of the season (with his team now in the Segunda División B), he cancelled his contract and joined Narón BP of the fourth level.^[3]

Celta

In June 2009, López joined RC Celta de Vigo, initially being assigned to the reserves in the third division.^[3] After scoring 13 goals with the B team,^[4][5] he made his official debut with the main squad on 13 June 2010, playing 14 minutes in a 2–0 away loss to Real Sociedad.^[6] On 13 February 2013, he renewed his link until 2018.^[7]

On 9 July 2015, López signed a contract extension with Celta until 2019, being immediately loaned to Sheffield Wednesday.^[8] A year later, still owned by the former, he joined Real Valladolid.^[9]

Later career

López with Racing Ferrol in 2022

López spent the 2017–18 campaign with Sporting de Gijón also in the second tier.^[10] He appeared in only 13 competitive matches during his spell, mainly due to lower back problems.^[11]

On 28 September 2018, López joined Brisbane Roar FC on a one-year deal.^[12] Following his one season in the Australian A-League, he returned to third-division Racing de Ferrol in June.^[13]

López contributed 37 games and four goals (play-offs included) in 2022–23, as Racing won their group and returned to the professional leagues 15 years later.^[14] On 3 February 2025, he announced his retirement aged 37 in order to make room for new signings, but remained connected to the club in directorial capacities.^[15]

Career statistics

As of match played 9 May 2021^[16][17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Racing Ferrol	2004–05	Segunda División	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2005–06		0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2006–07	Segunda División B	3	0	1	0	—		—		4	0
	Total		5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Celta B	2009–10	Segunda División B	36	13	—		—		—		36	13
Celta	2009–10	Segunda División	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2010–11		35	3	1	0	—		1[a]	0	37	3
	2011–12		36	6	2	0	—		—		38	6
	2012–13	La Liga	33	2	1	0	—		—		34	2
	2013–14		31	5	2	0	—		—		33	5
	2014–15		25	1	3	1	—		—		28	2
	Total		162	17	9	1	0	0	1	0	172	18
Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	2015–16	Championship	24	0	1	0	2	0	—		27	0
Valladolid (loan)	2016–17	Segunda División	30	1	1	0	—		—		31	1
Sporting Gijón	2017–18	Segunda División	9	0	2	0	—		2[a]	0	13	0
Brisbane Roar	2018–19	A-League	25	3	0	0	—		—		25	3
Racing Ferrol	2019–20	Segunda División B	17	2	1	0	—		—		18	2
	2020–21		21	2	0	0	—		—		21	2
	Total		38	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	39	4
Career total			329	38	15	1	2	0	3	0	349	39

1. Appearances in La Liga play-offs