Sergio Álvarez Conde (born 3 August 1986), known simply as Sergio, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
He spent his entire career with Celta, making 197 competitive appearances.
Club career
Born in Catoira, Province of Pontevedra,El “gato” de moda del fútbol español sitúa a Catoira en el mapa internacional (The fashionable "cat" of Spanish football places Catoira in the international map) ; Diario de Arousa, 25 September 2014 (in Spanish)Sergio, «O Gato» que vuela de pie (Sergio, "The Cat" who flies standing); La Voz de Galicia, 25 September 2014 (in Spanish) Sergio began his career with local Arosa, joining Galician neighbours Celta de Vigo in 1999 at the age of 13. He made his senior debut with their reserves in Segunda División B, playing four full seasons in that tier and spending 2008–09 on loan to another club in that league and region, Racing de Ferrol.
Sergio made his debut for Celta's first team on 4 June 2011, in a 3–0 Segunda División home win against Cartagena, the last matchday of the campaign.Balaídos se reencuentra con el triunfo justo antes de la promoción (Balaídos rediscovers winning ways just before the promotion); Marca, 4 June 2011 (in Spanish) Shortly after, following the starter Ismael Falcón's departure to Hércules, he was definitely promoted to the main squad, being awarded the #1 jersey.Sergio Álvarez: «No me he rendido nunca y ahora voy a luchar por jugar» (Sergio Álvarez: "I have never surrendered and now i will fight for a place"); La Voz de Galicia, 30 June 2011 (in Spanish)
Sergio played his first match in La Liga on 5 October 2012, keeping a clean sheet in the 2–0 home victory over Sevilla.El Celta defiende su casa (Celta defend their home); Marca, 5 October 2012 (in Spanish) He would spend the season as a backup to Javi Varas, however.
Varas subsequently returned to Sevilla from his loan but Sergio remained as understudy, behind fellow youth graduate Yoel. After the latter's departure to Valencia, he renewed his link until 2016 and was finally chosen as first choice.Sergio Álvarez renueva hasta 2016: "Cumplo un sueño" (Sergio Álvarez renews until 2016: "I fulfill a dream"); Diario AS, 20 August 2014 (in Spanish)
On 1 November 2014, Sergio made a string of superb saves to deny Barcelona in a 1–0 win at the Camp Nou.Palo tras palo para el Barça (Post after post for Barça); Marca, 1 November 2014 (in Spanish) He was also an important unit of the Célticos in a 2–0 home defeat of Atlético Madrid on 15 February of the following year,El Celta zarandea al Atlético (Celta shake up Atlético); Marca, 15 February 2015 (in Spanish) finishing the season between the posts.Sergio Álvarez: "Ha sido la mejor temporada de mi carrera" (Sergio Álvarez: "It's been the best season of my career); Marca, 25 May 2015 (in Spanish)
In 2016–17, Sergio took part in his first European campaign, playing ten UEFA Europa League matches as Celta reached the semi-finals and lost 2–1 on aggregate to eventual champions Manchester United.Man Utd 1 Celta Vigo 1 (2–1 on agg): United dice with danger but cling on to make it through to the final; The Daily Telegraph, 11 May 2017 The following campaign, under new manager Juan Carlos Unzué, he battled for the starting position against youngster Rubén Blanco.EXCLUSIVA | El Celta se cansa de la guerra Rubén Blanco – Sergio Álvarez y negocia con su próximo portero (EXCLUSIVE | Celta get tired of the Rubén Blanco – Sergio Álvarez war and are negotiating with their next goalkeeper); El Gol Digital, 22 October 2017 (in Spanish)
Having made only two league appearances, Sergio suffered a meniscus injury to his right knee in May 2020; Celta used the emergency transfer allocation to sign attacker Nolito rather than another goalkeeper. On 20 May 2021, aged 34, he announced his retirement from professional football.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCelta B2004–05Segunda División B320———3202005–06Segunda División B160———1602006–07Segunda División B260———2602007–08Segunda División B290———2902009–10Segunda División B350———3502010–11Segunda División B290———290Total1670———1670Racing Ferrol (loan)2008–09Segunda División B15010——160Celta2009–10Segunda División0000——002010–11Segunda División1000—00102011–12Segunda División19040——2302012–13La Liga2040——602013–14La Liga3010——402014–15La Liga38000——3802015–16La Liga31010——3202016–17La Liga36080100—5402017–18La Liga17040——2102018–19La Liga13010——1402019–20La Liga2020——402020–21La Liga0000——00Total1620250100001970Career total3440260100003800
References
External links