Roberto Solozábal Explained

Roberto Solozábal
Fullname:Roberto Solozábal Villanueva
Birth Date:15 September 1969
Birth Place:Madrid, Spain
Height:1.80 m
Position:Centre-back
Youthclubs1:Atlético Madrid
Years1:1988–1989
Caps1:28
Goals1:1
Years2:1989–1997
Caps2:231
Goals2:3
Years3:1997–2000
Caps3:42
Goals3:0
Totalcaps:301
Totalgoals:4
Nationalyears1:1987–1988
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1988–1989
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1989–1990
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:1989–1991
Nationalcaps4:4
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:1991–1992
Nationalcaps5:12
Nationalgoals5:1
Nationalyears6:1991–1993
Nationalcaps6:12
Nationalgoals6:0

Roberto Solozábal Villanueva (born 15 September 1969) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a central defender.

He appeared in 273 La Liga games over 11 seasons, representing in the competition Atlético Madrid and Betis.

Club career

Atlético Madrid

A product of local Atlético Madrid's youth system, Madrid-born Solozábal represented the first team from 1989 to 1997, his debut being on 2 September in a 3–1 away win against Valencia CF (90 minutes played). Other than his first season – ten appearances – he never played less than 18 La Liga games during his eight-year spell.

During the 1995–96 campaign, Solózabal formed a solid centre-back partnership with another Colchonero youth graduate, Juan Manuel López, as the capital side achieved an historic double, with the former featuring in 40 league matches.

Betis

After leaving Atlético, Solozábal signed with Real Betis.[1] In his last season, where the Andalusian club was relegated and he was ousted from the squad for allegedly organising a riot, he ultimately took it to court for lack of payment in a suit which lasted several years, with the player having already retired.[2] [3]

International career

Solozábal was part of the Spanish side that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona,[4] and also earned 12 full caps in two years, the first coming on 17 April 1991 in a 0–2 friendly loss to Romania, in Cáceres.[5]

Honours

Atlético Madrid

1995–96

1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96

Spain U23

1992[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://elpais.com/diario/1997/07/23/deportes/869608811_850215.html Solozábal ya es futbolista del Betis (Solozábal is already a Betis footballer)
  2. http://elpais.com/diario/2000/09/08/deportes/968364010_850215.html El Betis despide a Solozábal un mes después del motín del equipo (Betis fire Solozábal one month after team riot)
  3. http://elpais.com/diario/2001/02/22/deportes/982796414_850215.html Un juez da la razón al Betis ante Solozábal (Judge rules in favour of Betis against Solozábal)
  4. Web site: La Roja de 1992, nuestra medalla de oro Olímpica. 1992's La Roja, our Olympic gold medal. Antena 3. Spanish. 3 July 2012. 13 July 2017.
  5. http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1991/04/18/pagina-22/1233096/pdf.html De nuevo vencidos y sin gloria (Again beaten hopelessly)
  6. News: Supervivientes de oro. Golden survivors. El País. Spanish. 25 February 2007. 24 May 2018.