| ALVARO ARBELOA PROFILE
by Dave Usher Date of Birth - 17/01/83
Nationality - Spanish
Position - Right Back
Squad Number - 2
Cost - £2.6m
Club Hons (Lpool) - None
Club Hons (Other) - None
Intnl Hons - None
Other Clubs - Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna |
Right back Arbeloa joined the reds in January 2006 from Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna. He'd only been a Deportivo player for five months, having signed for them the previous summer after a season in the Secunda Division with Real Madrid's B team. Rafa Benitez needed cover for Steve Finnan, and moved swiftly for Arbeloa after missing out on Lucas Neill.
Arbeloa played 21 times for Deportivo, either at right back or occasionally as a centre half, and he had been one of their top performers. Deportivo's fans were sorry to see him go, but the club needed the money from the transfer and the player himself felt it was too good an opportunity to turn down.
Arbeloa had previously spent three seasons with Real Madrid's B side, captaining them in the 2005/06 season, and also played twice for Real's first team in 2004/05.
He made his Liverpool debut as a second half substitute in a defeat at St James' Park in February 06, and his first start came in the Champions League tie at the Nou Camp. Alvaro was handed a surprise start in the unfamilar position of left back, as Rafa Benitez wanted to use a player who was quick and strong on his right side to combat the tricky of Barca's left footed right winger Lionel Messi.
It proved to be a tactical masterstroke, as Messi's impact on the game was minimal as Arbeloa stuck to his task well. On the one occasion when Messi looked as though he had created an opening for himself, Arbeloa was on to hand to make a fantastic block to deflect the ball over the bar. He used the ball well too and as far as full debut's go, it was most impressive.
