Julio Álvarez

Infobox Football biography
playername = Julio Álvarez
fullname = Julio Álvarez Mosquera
height = height|ft=5|in=11
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|5|1|df=yes
cityofbirth = Caracas
countryofbirth = Venezuela
currentclub = UD Almería
clubnumber = 4
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1997–1998 1998–1999 1999–2000
youthclubs = Deportivo B Real Madrid C Real Madrid B
years = 2000–2003 2000–2002 2002–2003 2003–2006 2006–2008 2008–
clubs = Real Madrid →Racing Santander "(loan)" →Rayo Vallecano "(loan)" Real Murcia CD Numancia UD Almería
caps(goals) = 0 (0) 44 (1) 26 (8) 72 (7) 66 (11) 5 (0)
nationalyears = 1995–1996
nationalteam = Spain U17
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = September 30, 2008

Julio Álvarez Mosquera, Álvarez (born 1 May 1981 in Caracas), is a Venezuelan-Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder, currently for UD Almería in the Spanish first division.

Football career

A playmaker, Álvarez started his career with Deportivo de La Coruña B, showing early promise and playing for Spain's U17 at the 1996 Meridian Cup (winning the tournament) and the 1998 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship (third place). Subsequently, he joined Real Madrid but, despite very good performances for the B and C outfits, could never break into the first team.

Following a successful season for Real Madrid B, Álvarez was loaned to Racing de Santander in 2000-01. However, he was mostly injured, and could not help the Cantabria team escape relegation at the season's end. The following season, his 31 matches (1 goal) helped Racing quickly return to the top flight.

In July 2002, Álvarez was sent on loan again to "La Liga" Rayo Vallecano, where he netted 8 times and was one of the team's best players, but again his team failed to keep its status, ranking last. Several teams made offers, and he was finally signed by Real Murcia. [cite news
date=2003-07-15
url=http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/murcia-ficha-julio-alvarez-luis/dasftb/20030715dasdasftb_10/Tes
title=Murcia signs Julio Álvarez and Luis García
publisher=AS
language=Spanish
accessdate=2008-09-25] Before playing any games for his new team, Álvarez got injured, and struggled throughout the vast majority of the season, finishing with 12 appearances, with Murcia also ending 20th. [cite news
date=2003-08-08
url=http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/julio-alvarez-estara-meses-baja/dasftb/20030808dasdasftb_13/Tes
title=Julio Álvarez to miss at least two months
publisher=AS
language=Spanish
accessdate=2008-09-25] Fully recovered, he went on to be a very important team player, showing impressive skills and netting some deciders, despite a poor year for the team in 2005-06, that almost ended in relegation. Álvarez also established himself as a free kick specialist. [cite news
date=2005-01-09
url=http://www.deia.com/es/digital/deportes/2005/01/09/58245.php
title=Julio Álvarez hands Murcia triumph in the 94'
publisher=DEIA
language=Spanish
accessdate=2008-09-25]

Following a worse second year, Álvarez was transfer listed and, on 9 August 2006, joined CD Numancia on a two-year deal. [cite news
date=2006-08-09
url=http://www.laverdad.es/murcia/pg060809/prensa/noticias/Deportes_Murcia/200608/09/MUR-SUB-139.html
title=Julio Álvarez joins Numancia, as well as Pulido
publisher=La Verdad
language=Spanish
accessdate=2008-09-25]

Playing as an attacking or holding midfielder, Álvarez again showed enough quality to earn a regular starting eleven berth, under manager Andoni Goikoetxea (2006-07). Following the departure of some important players, Álvarez became a key player in team's push for promotion, scoring more winning goals. [cite news
date=2007-05-11
url=http://www.nortecastilla.es/20071105/deportes/mas-futbol/julio-alvarez-pone-lider-20071105.html
title=Julio Álvarez makes Numancia leader
publisher=El Norte de Castilla
language=Spanish
accessdate=2008-09-25] Numancia won 2007-08, 5 points clear of Málaga CF.

Álvarez's contract expired by the end of the season and UD Almería signed him on a free transfer on July 3, 2008, [cite news
date=2008-07-03
url=http://www.espnsoccernet.es/news/story?id=553528
title=Almería: Numancia's Julio Álvarez signed
publisher=ESPN
language=Spanish
accessdate=2008-09-25] where he got the opportunity to work again with Gonzalo Arconada, his former boss at Numancia. He replaced Fiorentina-bound Felipe Melo.

tatistics

References

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=6928 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon
* [http://www.futbolme.com/futbol/jugadores/futbolistas/6977_julio_alvarez.asp Futbolme.com profile] es icon
* [http://blogs.periodistadigital.com/futbolisimo.php/2006/10/21/p51581 Julio Álvarez: The Venezuelan Luis Figo] es icon