| Álvaro Mejía | |
| Fullname: | Álvaro Mejía Pérez[1] |
| Birth Date: | 18 January 1982 |
| Birth Place: | Madrid, Spain |
| Height: | 1.81m (05.94feet) |
| Position: | Defender |
| Youthyears1: | 1993–1998 |
| Youthclubs1: | Las Rozas |
| Youthyears2: | 1998–2001 |
| Youthclubs2: | Real Madrid |
| Years1: | 2001–2002 |
| Caps1: | 10 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2002–2004 |
| Caps2: | 44 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2004–2007 |
| Caps3: | 40 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2007–2010 |
| Caps4: | 100 |
| Goals4: | 4 |
| Years5: | 2010–2011 |
| Caps5: | 12 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2011–2012 |
| Caps6: | 42 |
| Goals6: | 2 |
| Years7: | 2012–2013 |
| Caps7: | 22 |
| Goals7: | 1 |
| Years8: | 2013–2014 |
| Caps8: | 26 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Years9: | 2014–2020 |
| Caps9: | 137 |
| Goals9: | 0 |
| Totalcaps: | 433 |
| Totalgoals: | 9 |
Álvaro Mejía Pérez (born 18 January 1982) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played primarily as a central defender.
Born in Madrid, Mejía started his career at Las Rozas CF. He signed for Real Madrid in 1998, subsequently moving up the various youth ranks.[2]
Mejía joined the third team for 2001–02 but moved shortly after to the reserves, being admitted to the main squad the following season and making his La Liga debut in a 2–1 home win against Villarreal CF on 24 January 2004.[3] He also appeared in the UEFA Champions League's round of 16 on 3 March (again playing the full match) in a 1–0 home victory over FC Bayern Munich.[4] In May he renewed his contract until 2010,[5] and he was subsequently put to use in different defensive positions.[6]
The following year, Mejía appeared in just eight games for Real Madrid in all competitions, adding 26 in the league over the next two seasons. His only goal came in a 2–0 away defeat of Real Betis on 29 October 2005 after one minute on the pitch, having come on as a substitute for Carlos Diogo.[7]
In July 2007, Mejía joined top-flight newcomers Real Murcia on a four-year deal,[8] and scored in the first league round in a 2–1 home win over Real Zaragoza.[9] A starter throughout the vast majority of the campaign, he faced relegation for the first time in his career.[10]
On 30 July 2010, after Murcia dropped another tier,[11] Mejía moved to AC Arles-Avignon in France, newly promoted to Ligue 1, on a one-year contract.[12] In January of the following year he changed teams – and countries – again, signing for Turkish Süper Lig club Konyaspor.[13]
On 13 July 2012, Mejía agreed to a one-year deal with UD Almería in the Segunda División, after passing his medical.[14] On 18 June 2014, after one season in the Super League Greece with Ergotelis FC, he joined newly promoted Qatar Stars League side Al Shahaniya SC.[15]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 2003–04[16] | La Liga | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | La Liga | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | La Liga | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2006–07 | La Liga | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Total | 40 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 57 | 1 | |||
| 2007–08 | La Liga | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2008–09 | Segunda División | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 36 | 2 | |||
| 2009–10 | Segunda División | 37 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | |||
| Total | 100 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | 106 | 4 | ||||
| Arles-Avignon | 2010–11[17] | Ligue 1 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| Konyaspor | 2010–11 | Süper Lig | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | TFF First League | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | |||
| Total | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 42 | 2 | ||||
| Almería | 2012–13 | Segunda División | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |
| Ergotelis | 2013–14 | Super League Greece | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | ||
| Al Shahaniya | 2014–15 | Qatar Stars League | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 265 | 8 | 20 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 297 | 8 | |||
Real Madrid
Al Shahaniya
2017–18[17]