Alberto Cifuentes Explained

Alberto Cifuentes
Fullname:Alberto Cifuentes Martínez
Birth Date:29 May 1979
Birth Place:Albacete, Spain
Height:1.890NaN0
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Cádiz B (manager)
Years1:1998–1999
Years2:1998
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:1999–2000
Caps3:24
Goals3:0
Years4:2000–2003
Caps4:83
Goals4:0
Years5:2003–2005
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2004
Clubs6:Ciudad Murcia (loan)
Caps6:18
Goals6:0
Years7:2005–2007
Caps7:70
Goals7:0
Years8:2007–2009
Caps8:55
Goals8:0
Years9:2009–2013
Caps9:90
Goals9:0
Years10:2013–2014
Caps10:37
Goals10:0
Years11:2014–2015
Caps11:15
Goals11:0
Years12:2015
Caps12:5
Goals12:0
Years13:2015–2020
Caps13:201
Goals13:0
Totalcaps:600
Totalgoals:0
Manageryears1:2021–
Managerclubs1:Cádiz B

Alberto Cifuentes Martínez (born 29 May 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, currently manager of Cádiz CF B.

Playing career

Born in Albacete, Castilla–La Mancha, Cifuentes started playing as a senior with local Albacete Balompié's reserves. On 15 November 1998, after starter Julio Iglesias was sent off early into a home game against CP Mérida, he made his debut in the Segunda División with the first team, going on to concede twice in a 0–2 home loss.[1]

Cifuentes spent several years of his career in the Segunda División B, representing in the second tier, other than Albacete, Ciudad de Murcia, UD Salamanca, Real Murcia and Cádiz CF for a total of 293 appearances. In the 2004–05 season he was part of RCD Mallorca's La Liga roster, being only third choice behind Miguel Ángel Moyá and Sander Westerveld.[2]

Cifuentes moved abroad for the first time in summer 2014 at the age of 35, joining a host of compatriots – including manager Ángel Pérez García – at Polish club Piast Gliwice. He made his debut in top-flight football on 20 July of that year, starting in a 4–0 Ekstraklasa defeat at Lech Poznań.[3] He totalled 21 games during his spell, including five for the B side.[4]

In July 2015, Cifuentes returned to Spain after signing a contract with Cádiz CF.[5] He played 42 matches in his debut campaign, which ended in promotion from division three.[6]

Cifuentes rarely missed a game for the Andalusians the following seasons, notably winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the category in 2017–18.[7] He was again instrumental as they returned to the top flight in 2020 after 14 years, still under coach Álvaro Cervera.[8] [9]

On 20 September 2020, aged 41, Cifuentes made his Spanish top-tier debut by starting in a 2–0 away win against SD Huesca, becoming the oldest player to do so in the process.[10] On 5 October, after 209 competitive games for Cádiz, he retired.[11]

Coaching career

On 14 February 2021, after a spell as Cádiz sporting director, Cifuentes replaced Juan Manuel Pavón at the helm of their reserves.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: La expulsión del meta local, decisiva. Ejection of local goalie, decisive. Mundo Deportivo. Líbero. Pedro. Spanish. 16 November 1998. 19 September 2017.
  2. Web site: Alberto Cifuentes, frente a su pasado bermellón. Alberto Cifuentes, against his bermellón past. La Voz Digital. Anelo Moreno. Daniel. Spanish. 25 August 2016. 6 September 2019.
  3. News: Lech – Piast (4:0): Ubiparip kompletuje hat tricka. Lech – Piast (4:0): Ubiparip completes hat-trick. Przegląd Sportowy. Polish. 20 July 2014. 6 September 2019.
  4. Web site: Sezon 2014/15. 2014/15 season. 90 Minut. Polish. 29 May 2024.
  5. Web site: ¿Quién es Alberto Cifuentes?. Who is Alberto Cifuentes?. El Desmarque. Spanish. 4 July 2015. 23 July 2020.
  6. Web site: Anuario VAVEL 2016: Cádiz CF, un año de plata. 2016 VAVEL yearbook: Cádiz CF, a silver year. Vavel. Spanish. 28 December 2016. 23 July 2020.
  7. News: Alberto Cifuentes cumple 40 años. Alberto Cifuentes turns 40. Diario de Cádiz. Jaques Nuche. Jesús. Spanish. 29 May 2019. 23 July 2020.
  8. Web site: Los 200 partidos de Alberto Cifuentes en 5 momentos. Alberto Cifuentes' 200 matches in 5 moments. La Voz Digital. López. Rubén. Spanish. 22 June 2020. 23 July 2020.
  9. Web site: Cadiz, the club and city where the rules are different, finally return to La Liga. The Athletic. Corrigan. Dermot. 13 July 2020. 23 July 2020.
  10. News: Un debut histórico con sabor a victoria. An historical debut with the taste of victory. Marca. Bejarano. Isabelo. Spanish. 20 September 2020. 20 September 2020.
  11. Web site: Cifuentes formará parte del organigrama de la entidad. Cifuentes will be a part of the organisation's backroom staff. Cádiz CF. Spanish. 5 October 2020. 5 October 2020.
  12. Web site: Relevo en el banquillo del filial. Change of guard on the reserves bench. Cádiz CF. Spanish. 14 February 2021. 5 July 2021.
  13. Web site: Alberto Cifuentes: Alberto Cifuentes Martínez: Matches 2020–21. BDFutbol. 15 July 2021.
    Web site: Alberto Cifuentes: Alberto Cifuentes Martínez: Matches 2021–22. BDFutbol. 15 July 2021.
    Web site: Alberto Cifuentes: Alberto Cifuentes Martínez: Matches 2022–23. BDFutbol. 11 April 2024.
    Web site: Alberto Cifuentes: Alberto Cifuentes Martínez: Matches 2023–24. BDFutbol. 11 April 2024.