Álvaro Rodríguez Ros (16 January 1936 – 16 June 2018), commonly known as Alvarito, was a Spanish football defender and manager.
Club career Alvarito was born in Ujo, Mieres. After playing for two clubs in his native Asturias, he joined the professionals in 1955, going on to spend two seasons in Segunda División with Real Oviedo also in his region of birth. In summer 1957, he joined La Liga side Atlético Madrid alongside teammate Toni Cuervo, also a fullback.Siempre quiso jugar en el Atleti (He always wanted to play for Atleti); Mundo Deportivo, 13 October 2004 (in Spanish)
Cuervo returned to Oviedo shortly after a health problem halted his progression, but Alvarito stayed with Atlético, helping them to back-to-back Copa del Rey conquests, both won at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium against Real Madrid. He never appeared in more than nine league games for the club during his six-year spell as no substitutions were allowed at that time, and often played understudy to Isacio Calleja; he also suffered a tibia and fibula injury, in a match against Real Valladolid.
Alvarito's last season in his country's top division would be 1963–64, playing the most he had in years to help Real Murcia finish in 12th position and scoring his first and only goal in the competition on 16 February 1964, in a 1–0 home win over former team Oviedo.R. Murcia, 1 – R. Oviedo, 0; Mundo Deportivo, 17 February 1964 (in Spanish) Subsequently, he plied his trade in the Republic of Ireland, Canada and the United States – very briefly returning to Spain to appear for Córdoba CF – acting as player-coach for Shelbourne. He retired in 1970, at the age of 34.
Subsequently, Alvarito worked as a manager, never in higher than Segunda División B.Fallece Álvaro Rodríguez 'Alvarito', exentrenador de la Balona (Death of Álvaro Rodríguez 'Alvarito', former manager of la Balona); Europa Sur, 16 June 2018 (in Spanish)Fallece a los 82 años Álvaro Rodríguez Ros, 'Alvarito', ex entrenador de la U.D. Melilla (Death of former U.D. Melilla manager Álvaro Rodríguez Ros, 'Alvarito', at the age of 82); Melilla Hoy, 17 June 2018 (in Spanish)
International career Alvarito earned two caps for Spain in July 1960, in as many away friendlies: on the 14th, he made his debut in a 4–0 win against Chile.Chile, 0 – España, 4 (Chile, 0 – Spain, 4); Mundo Deportivo, 15 July 1960 (in Spanish) Ten days later, he appeared in a 0–2 loss with Argentina.Argentina, 2 – España, 0 (Argentina, 2 – Spain, 0); Mundo Deportivo, 25 July 1960 (in Spanish)
Death Alvarito died on 16 June 2018 in Huércal-Overa, Province of Almería, at the age of 82.La RFEF lamenta el fallecimiento de Álvaro Rodríguez Ros "Alvarito" (RSFF mourn passing of Álvaro Rodríguez Ros "Alvarito") ; Royal Spanish Football Federation, 16 June 2018 (in Spanish)
Honours Atlético Madrid Copa del Generalísimo: 1959–60, 1960–61
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