Albert Celades

Albert Celades López (born 29 September 1975) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

A tactically astute player with a strong defensive mentality, he was best known for his stints with Barcelona and Real Madrid, and he amassed La Liga total of 223 matches and eight goals over 12 seasons, totalling ten major titles with the clubs.

Celades appeared with the Spain national team at the 1998 World Cup. He worked as a manager after retiring, mainly with Spain's youth sides.

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Celades – who left Barcelona at age seven with his family to live in Andorra– was a product of Barcelona's youth system. He made his debut with the main squad during 1995–96, and finished his first professional season with 16 games and two goals as the Catalans finished third in La Liga. Nevertheless, he would still spend another full campaign with the reserves.

Celades played 36 matches in 1997–98, mostly as a sweeper, as the Louis van Gaal-led team conquered the national title after a three-year drought. He also started both legs of the 1997 UEFA Super Cup, helping to a 3–1 aggregate victory over Borussia Dortmund, but appeared less significantly in the following season, with Barça renewing their domestic supremacy.

After a year with Celta de Vigo, Celades moved to Real Madrid, against which he had scored the winner (1–0) in the previous campaign, on 28 November 1999. He featured sparingly over four seasons, but added two league trophies and the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League to his résumé. He also spent 2003–04 on loan to Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.

From 2005 to 2008, Celades represented Real Zaragoza. In his first year, he helped the club reach the Copa del Rey final, and would be relatively used during his tenure as the Aragonese were relegated at the end of 2007–08, and the player was released after his contract expired. In February 2009, he went on trial with the New York Red Bulls in the Major League Soccer and, after impressing, signed in March.

Celades retired from competitive football on 24 October 2009, immediately following the conclusion of the season. In early 2010, however, Kitchee from Hong Kong signed him alongside compatriot Agustín Aranzábal; they both appeared with the team at the 2010 Lunar New Year Cup, a mid-season exhibition tournament.