Full name Alberto Vitoria Soria Name Alberto Vitoria Role Footballer | Height 1.71 m Playing position Position Midfielder | |
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Date of birth (1956-01-11)11 January 1956 Date of death 26 April 2010(2010-04-26) (aged 54) Died April 26, 2010, Zaragoza, Spain | ||
Alberto Vitoria Soria (11 January 1956 – 26 April 2010) was a Spanish professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
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Club career
Vitoria was born in Ágreda, Province of Soria, Castile and León, being the sixth of seven children. He spent nine years with Real Madrid all categories comprised, playing five seasons with the first team; he made his La Liga debut on 7 September 1974 at the age of only 18, playing 52 minutes in a 2–1 away win against Valencia CF.
Vitoria received little playing time, however, during his senior spell with the Merengues, his best output being 20 games and one goal in the 1976–77 campaign, precisely when the club did not win any major trophies. On 27 February 1977 he became the first player from his native region to score in the top division, in a 4–2 home success over Real Zaragoza.
Leaving Real Madrid in the 1979 summer after appearing in 88 official games, Vitoria signed for Burgos CF, being relegated from the top flight in his first year. He then spent three seasons with Granada CF (two in Segunda División B, one in Segunda División), retiring in June 1985 at the age of 29 with Rayo Vallecano, which he helped promote to the second level.
International career
Vitoria represented Spain at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, appearing in two group stage losses (the only games the national team played in the tournament after Nigeria withdrew).
Death
Vitoria died on 26 April 2010 in Zaragoza, Aragon, due to heart failure. He was 54 years old.