David Albelda

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

David Albelda Aliqués (Spanish pronunciation: [daˈβið alˈβelda aliˈkes]; born 1 September 1977) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.^[3] He is the manager of Villarreal B.

David Albelda

Albelda as a Valencia player (2010)
Personal information
Full name	David Albelda Aliqués[1]
Date of birth	(1977-09-01) 1 September 1977 (age 47)[2]
Place of birth	La Pobla Llarga, Spain[1]
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Villarreal B (manager)
Youth career
1992–1995	Alzira
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1996	Valencia B	31	(4)
1995–2013	Valencia	351	(6)
1996–1997	→ Villarreal (loan)	34	(0)
1998–1999	→ Villarreal (loan)	35	(2)
Total		451	(12)
International career
1996	Spain U18	8	(0)
1997	Spain U20	5	(1)
1998–2000	Spain U21	12	(1)
2000	Spain U23	6	(0)
2001–2008	Spain	51	(0)
Managerial career
2019–2021	Atzeneta
2023–2025	Villarreal C
2025–	Villarreal B
Medal record Representing  Spain Men's Football 2000 Sydney Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He played mainly for Valencia during his 18-year senior career, being team captain for over a decade and appearing in 480 competitive matches.^[4] With his main club, he won five trophies including two La Liga championships and the 2004 UEFA Cup.

A Spain international in the 2000s, Albelda won 51 caps for the country, representing it in two World Cups and at Euro 2004. He later worked as a manager.

Club career

Born in La Pobla Llarga, Valencian Community, Albelda started his career as a central defender with local UD Alzira and, after having served two separate loans with Villarreal CF, also in the region, returned for good to first professional club Valencia CF in the 1999–2000 season, playing a major role in a squad that was crowned La Liga champions in 2002 and 2004,^[5] adding to that the 2004 UEFA Cup;^[6] since summer 2001, with Gaizka Mendieta's departure, he was also awarded team captaincy.^[7]

Albelda, along with teammates Santiago Cañizares and Miguel Ángel Angulo was axed from the squad on 20 December 2007 by recently arrived coach Ronald Koeman;^[8] in the captain's case, he had ironically just renewed his link with the Che until 2011.^[9] In response, on 2 January 2008, Albelda's lawyer claimed that Valencia had ignored his client's plea for an amicable end to the player's contract, with legal recourse the only possible avenue left.^[10] With news of this hitting the media, several teams, although he would not be able to join any Spanish team for the remainder of the season, having played more than four league games, studied the possibility of signing him in the winter transfer window, with hopes of a free transfer.

In late April 2008, however, with Koeman's dismissal, all three were reinstated by new manager Voro in a squad seriously threatened with relegation, with five remaining rounds. He returned to action in the second half of the 6–0 away loss against FC Barcelona on 4 May,^[11] and received his first post-reinstatement start in a 5–1 victory in the derby away at Levante UD the following week, as the side mathematically retained top-flight status.^[12]

For 2008–09, Albelda remained a regular fixture alongside longtime central midfield teammate Rubén Baraja.^[13] On 10 January 2009 he delivered an outstanding performance at right-back, replacing suspended Miguel in a 3–3 home derby against Villarreal.^[14][15]

Albelda in action for Valencia in 2012

Albelda was played intermittently by Valencia from 2010 to 2013, also suffering several injury problems.^[16][17][18] On 10 June 2013, it was announced that the 35-year-old would not renew his contract with the club, leaving as a free agent;^[19] he announced his retirement two months later.^[20]

International career

A Spanish international since 5 September 2001, in 2–0 away win against Liechtenstein for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Albelda was part of the Spanish squad in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups.^[5] He also played in UEFA Euro 2004.^[21]

After having been ousted from the Valencia squad, Albelda would still be called by national team boss Luis Aragonés to a 6 February 2008 friendly with France.^[22] He would eventually not make the final cut for Euro 2008, as Spain emerged victorious.

Albelda also won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney,^[2] and represented his nation at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Coaching career

On 29 May 2019, Albelda was appointed manager of Tercera División side Atzeneta UE.^[23] He led them to their first-ever promotion to Segunda División B on 26 July 2020, after beating CD Alcoyano in the play-offs.^[24]

On 24 May 2021, after being immediately relegated, Albelda left the club.^[25] He returned to Villarreal in December 2023, being put in charge of the C team in the Tercera Federación.^[26]

On 29 May 2025, Albelda replaced longtime incumbent Miguel Álvarez at the helm of the reserves in Primera Federación.^[27]

Personal life

Albelda married Spanish model and presenter Vicen Fernández in 2007.^[28]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[29][30]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Valencia B	1995–96	Segunda División B	31	4	–		–		5[a]	1	36	5
Valencia	1997–98	La Liga	5	0	0	0	–		–		5	0
	1999–2000	La Liga	21	0	1	0	11	0	2[b]	1	35	1
	2000–01	La Liga	21	0	0	0	13	0	–		34	0
	2001–02	La Liga	32	2	0	0	7	1	–		39	3
	2002–03	La Liga	26	0	0	0	11	0	–		37	0
	2003–04	La Liga	33	1	3	0	8	1	–		44	2
	2004–05	La Liga	28	0	1	0	6	0	3[c]	0	38	0
	2005–06	La Liga	32	2	3	0	5	0	–		40	2
	2006–07	La Liga	25	0	2	0	7	0	–		34	0
	2007–08	La Liga	15	0	0	0	6	0	–		21	0
	2008–09	La Liga	30	0	3	0	5	0	2[b]	0	40	0
	2009–10	La Liga	28	1	1	0	6	0	–		35	1
	2010–11	La Liga	16	0	2	0	4	0	–		22	0
	2011–12	La Liga	21	0	7	0	6	0	–		34	0
	2012–13	La Liga	18	0	4	0	5	0	–		27	0
	Total		346	6	27	0	100	2	7	1	480	9
Villarreal (loan)	1996–97	Segunda División	34	0	5	0	–		–		39	0
Villarreal (loan)	1998–99	La Liga	35	2	4	0	–		2[d]	0	41	2
Career total			446	12	36	0	100	2	14	2	596	16

1. Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
2. Appearances in Supercopa de España
3. Two appearances in Supercopa de España; one appearance in UEFA Super Cup
4. Appearances in La Liga promotion/relegation play-offs

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[31]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Spain	2001	1	0
	2002	5	0
	2003	6	0
	2004	11	0
	2005	6	0
	2006	11	0
	2007	10	0
	2008	1	0
Total		51	0

Honours

Valencia

• La Liga: 2001–02, 2003–04^[5]
• Supercopa de España: 1999^[32]
• UEFA Cup: 2003–04^[6]
• UEFA Super Cup: 2004^[33]
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 1999–2000,^[34] 2000–01^[35]

Spain U23

• Summer Olympics silver medal: 2000^[2]