| José Alberto | |
| Full Name: | José Alberto López Menéndez |
| Birth Date: | 21 May 1982 |
| Birth Place: | Oviedo, Spain |
| Position: | Defender |
| Currentclub: | Racing Santander (manager) |
| Years1: | 2001–2002 |
| Clubs1: | San Lázaro |
| Caps1: | 14 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Manageryears1: | 2001–2006 |
| Managerclubs1: | Oviedo ACF (youth) |
| Manageryears2: | 2006–2007 |
| Managerclubs2: | Vallobín (youth) |
| Manageryears3: | 2007–2008 |
| Managerclubs3: | Astur (youth) |
| Manageryears4: | 2009–2013 |
| Managerclubs4: | Sporting Gijón (youth) |
| Manageryears5: | 2013–2014 |
| Managerclubs5: | Covadonga |
| Manageryears6: | 2014–2016 |
| Managerclubs6: | Sporting Gijón (youth) |
| Manageryears7: | 2016–2018 |
| Managerclubs7: | Sporting Gijón B |
| Manageryears8: | 2018–2019 |
| Managerclubs8: | Sporting Gijón |
| Manageryears9: | 2020–2021 |
| Managerclubs9: | Mirandés |
| Manageryears10: | 2021–2022 |
| Managerclubs10: | Málaga |
| Manageryears11: | 2022– |
| Managerclubs11: | Racing Santander |
José Alberto López Menéndez (born 21 May 1982), known as José Alberto, is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as a defender, who is currently in charge of Racing de Santander.
Born in Oviedo, Asturias, José Alberto started his career at Astur CF's youth setup in 2001 (later renamed Oviedo ACF); at that time, he was playing as a senior for Tercera División side SDR San Lázaro, but retired shortly after. In 2006 he took over CD Vallobín's under-19 squad, but returned to Astur in the following year.[1]
In 2008, José Alberto moved to Sporting de Gijón, being named assistant manager of the under-14s. He was appointed manager of the under-13 team in the following year, and subsequently took over the under-14s.[1]
On 12 October 2013, José Alberto was named manager of Tercera División side CD Covadonga,[2] and led the side to fifth position during the campaign, one point shy of the play-offs. He resigned the following 19 May,[3] and returned to Sporting on 2 June.[4]
On 9 June 2016, José Alberto was appointed manager of the reserves, freshly relegated to the fourth division.[5] He achieved promotion to Segunda División B in his first season, and reached the play-offs to Segunda División in his second.[6]
On 18 November 2018, José Alberto replaced Rubén Baraja at the helm of the first team.[7] His first match in charge occurred five days later, a 2–1 away win against Granada CF.[8] He was sacked on 21 December 2019, after two losses against fourth-tier Zamora CF in the Copa del Rey, and Extremadura UD.[9]
On 27 July 2020, José Alberto was appointed in charge of CD Mirandés, still in the second division.[10] The following 1 June, he was named in charge of fellow league team Málaga CF.[11]
On 24 January 2022, after a 5–0 home loss to UD Ibiza, José Alberto was dismissed by the Andalusians.[12] On 13 December, he replaced sacked Guillermo Fernández Romo at the helm of Racing de Santander, still in division two.[13]
José Alberto's younger brother Dani was a footballer. A left back, he was a Real Oviedo youth graduate.[14]
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covadonga |  | 12 October 2013 | 19 May 2014 | [15] | ||||||||
| Sporting Gijón B | | 9 June 2016 | 18 November 2018 | [16] | ||||||||
| Sporting Gijón | | 18 November 2018 | 21 December 2019 | [17] | ||||||||
| Mirandés | | 27 July 2020 | 1 June 2021 | [18] | ||||||||
| Málaga | | 1 June 2021 | 24 January 2022 | [19] | ||||||||
| Racing Santander | | 13 December 2022 | Present | [20] | ||||||||
| Total | — | |||||||||||