Alberto Junior Rodríguez Valdelomar, nicknamed El mudo () (born 31 March 1984), is a Peruvian former professional footballer who played as a central defender.
Club career Born in Lima, Rodríguez joined Sporting Cristal's youth system at the age of 16. He never appeared in less than 30 Primera División matches over four full seasons, with the capital side winning two Clausura titles.
On 28 December 2006, Rodríguez signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Primeira Liga club S.C. BragaBraga bring in Peruvian youngster; UEFA, 29 December 2006 and, on 18 February 2007, played his first league match against U.D. Leiria. He finished his first season in Portugal with nine appearances, helping the Minho team to finish fourth.
Rodríguez was irregularly used in the following campaigns due to constant injury problems, but contributed 20 games as the team finished in a best-ever second place in 2010, adding seven in their subsequent runner-up run in the UEFA Europa League. On 27 May 2011, he agreed to a four-year contract with Sporting CP.Rodriguez assinou por quatro épocas: "Quero ser campeão" (Rodriguez signed for four seasons: "I want to be champion") ; A Bola, 27 May 2011 (in Portuguese)
Under former Braga boss Domingos Paciência, Rodríguez's only season was again greatly undermined by physical problems, and he only played 13 competitive matches.Sporting: Rodríguez foi operado (Sporting: Rodríguez underwent surgery) ; Relvado, 31 March 2012 (in Portuguese)Godinho Lopes admite número anormal de lesões (Godinho Lopes admits to abnormal number of injuries) ; Record, 16 April 2012 (in Portuguese) In mid-July 2012 he was loaned to Deportivo de La Coruña of La Liga, moving to the Spanish club as many teammates,Official: Alberto Rodriguez joins Deportivo on loan from Sporting Lisbon; Goal, 14 July 2012El Deportivo incorpora al peruano Alberto Rodríguez (Deportivo add Peruvian Alberto Rodríguez) ; El Correo Gallego, 14 July 2012 (in Spanish) but returned to Lisbon after failing his medical.D. Corunha: Alberto Rodríguez não passou nos exames médicos (D. Corunha: Alberto Rodríguez did not pass medical) ; Mais Futebol, 18 July 2012 (in Portuguese)
On 24 July 2012, Rodríguez bought out his contract with Sporting and signed for one year with Rio Ave F.C. in the same league. After returning to his country, he represented in quick succession Sporting Cristal, FBC Melgar, Club Universitario de Deportes and Atlético Junior (Colombia).
International career Rodríguez represented Peru during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after winning the first of his 75 caps on 2 April 2003 in a friendly with Chile, and quickly became a defensive cornerstone for the national side. He appeared for the country at the 2007 Copa América, in an eventual quarter-final exit.
Rodríguez was also selected for the 2011 Copa América squad, being an important defensive unit as the Sergio Markarián-led team finished in third place in Argentina. At age 34, he was selected to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, making his debut in the competition on 16 June by playing the entire 1–0 group stage loss against Denmark.
Career statistics International PeruYearAppsGoals20033020042020053020062020079020084020098020100020117020123020137020142020150020161102017100201840Total750
Honours Sporting Cristal Peruvian Primera División: Clausura 2002, 2004, 2016
Braga UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2008 UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2010–11
Sporting CP Taça de Portugal runner-up: 2011–12
Rio Ave Taça de Portugal runner-up: 2013–14 Taça da Liga runner-up: 2013–14
Peru Copa América third place: 2011
Peru U18 Bolivarian Games: 2001
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