Real
Mallorca (Spain), Malaga (Spain), Real Mallorca (Spain),
Deportivo La Coruña (Spain), Newcastle United (England)
Honours
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Biography
Albert Luque (born March 11, 1978 in Terrassa, Barcelona,
Spain) is a football player from Spain. He can play as either an
attacking midfielder (left) or a striker. He currently plays for
Newcastle United F.C. coming from Deportivo de La Coruña.
A lifelong supporter of FC Barcelona, he started out in football
on trial with them, but manager Louis van Gaal didn't consider
him good enough and he was released from Barcelona's youth
system at the age of 19.
He was transferred from Real Mallorca in 2002 in a deal worth
€15 million (approximately £10 million), along with strikers
Turu Flores & Walter Pandiani (on loan).
He was taken on by Real Mallorca's B-team in 1998, but broke
through to the first team after a successful loan spell at
Málaga the following year, where he made 23 La Liga appearences
and scored 5 goals. Later, he scored 9 goals for Mallorca in the
2000-2001 season helping them qualify for the UEFA Champions
League pre-round for the first time in their history by
finishing third. Luque’s extra-time goal in the qualifying round
against Hajduk Split in the summer of 2001 that carried Mallorca
into the first group stage.
He also played for Spain's side in the 2000 Sydney Olympics,
winning a silver medal.
The following year he scored 14 goals and earned himself a place
in Spain's World Cup squad.
He made his international debut on 12 June, 2002 and appeared
twice as a substitute in the Far East, coming on in the matches
against South Africa and the Republic of Ireland. He made a
brief appearance, out of position on the right-wing for Spain in
Euro 2004.
In his first season at Deportivo, he scored the memorable
winning goal against his former club Málaga with a bicycle kick.
That season Luque scored other winners against Athletic Bilbao,
Santander and Espanyol. He scored a total of 12 goals in that
season, although mostly from substitute appearances.
The 2003-2004 season saw Luque's real breakthrough into
Deportivo's first team. He scored the winner against Rosenborg
in the Champions League qualifying round that summer. He also
scored important goals against PSV Eindhoven, Juventus and Milan.
In August 2005, Luque was sold to Newcastle United for a fee of
€14 million (£9.5 Million), signing a 5 year contract. Albert
Luque made an impressive debut against Manchester United at
St.James Park but in his next game he got a Hamstring Injury
against Fulham.
Since returning, he has been used in a number of roles for
Newcastle United including central and left midfield, failing to
live up to his large price tag, however many believe the best of
Albert Luque will be seen when he is allowed to play as a
striker, in a similar role as his Deportivo days when he became
renowned for his superb finishing and spectacular free kicks.
