Alberto Vitoria

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

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vitoria and the second or maternal family name is Soria.
Alberto Vitoria
Personal information
Full name Alberto Vitoria Soria
Date of birth (1956-01-11)11 January 1956
Place of birth Ágreda, Spain
Date of death 26 April 2010(2010-04-26) (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)
National team
1972–1974 Spain U18 8 (1)
1977 Spain U21 2 (0)
1976 Spain amateur 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Vitoria 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

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.[3][4]

Honours

Real Madrid[4]

References
  1. 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)
  2. 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)
  3. Alberto Vitoria dies Archived 28 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine; Real Madrid CF, 26 April 2010
  4. 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)
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