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Albert Luque
Albert Luque
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Albert Luque Martos (born 11 March 1978) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a left winger or striker.

Key Information

His 14-year professional career was mainly associated with Mallorca and Deportivo, and he amassed La Liga totals of 248 matches and 61 goals over 11 seasons. He also had spells in the English Premier League with Newcastle United and the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax.

A Spain international in the first half of the 2000s, Luque represented the nation at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

Club career

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Mallorca

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Born in Terrassa, Barcelona, Catalonia,[2] Luque was a lifelong supporter of FC Barcelona, and started out in football on trial with them, but was released by the C team when he was 19.[3] He was then taken by RCD Mallorca and assigned to their reserves, but eventually broke into the main squad after a successful loan spell at Málaga CF.[4]

In 2000–01, Luque scored nine goals for Mallorca, helping the Balearic Islands side qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history after finishing third. His extra time goal in the third qualifying round against HNK Hajduk Split carried the team into the first group stage.[5][6]

Deportivo

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Luque was transferred to Deportivo de La Coruña on 29 August 2002, in an eight-year deal worth 15 million (approximately £10 million), for strikers José Flores and Walter Pandiani (on loan).[7] In his first season at Depor, he scored the winner against former club Málaga with a bicycle kick,[8] adding further goals in 2–1 victories over Racing de Santander[9] and RCD Espanyol;[10] he netted seven times in La Liga during the campaign, mostly from substitute appearances.[11]

2003–04 saw Luque firmly established as a starter, as he scored the winner against Rosenborg BK in the Champions League qualifying round, the only goal over both legs.[12] He also netted in the knockout stages against Juventus FC[13] and AC Milan,[14] and added 11 more on the domestic front in his final year in Galicia.[15]

Newcastle United

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On 27 August 2005, Luque was sold to Newcastle United for a fee of £9 million, signing a five-year contract.[16] He made his debut against Manchester United at St James' Park, which included having a goal ruled out for offside.[17] However, in his next game, he suffered a hamstring injury while playing at Fulham;[18] upon his return he was used in a number of roles, including left midfielder, failing to live up to his large price tag.[19][20]

On 17 April 2006, Luque scored his first goal for Newcastle in the Tyne–Wear derby, when he broke free from the Sunderland defence and chipped the ball over Kelvin Davis.[21] He commented after the match that he hoped to score before the end of the season, but played no part in the remaining fixtures, however.

Luque's first competitive home goal came against Lillestrom S.K. at the start of the team's UEFA Intertoto Cup tournament[22]– he added two in a 4–1 defeat of Liverpool's reserves in October.[23] After having fallen low in the side's attacking pecking order, a number of injuries awarded him a start against Serie A table-toppers U.S. Città di Palermo on 2 November, in the UEFA Cup, and rewarded manager Glenn Roeder's choice scoring the game's only goal with a header.[24] After that, however, the player had few significant first-team appearances, by now behind the likes of youth graduate Matty Pattison;[25] in the January 2007 transfer window he was linked with a loan move to PSV Eindhoven, but the deal fell through in spite of his wishes.[26]

On 23 June 2007, new Magpies manager Sam Allardyce stated that he would be willing to give Luque a proper chance to impress. However, this did not prevent the former from awarding the latter's number 7 shirt to new signing Joey Barton, which initially left the Spaniard without a squad number.[27][28] He was eventually given the number 19 jersey he previously wore at Deportivo, and which Titus Bramble last used at Newcastle.[29]

His transfer from Deportivo to Newcastle is one of those about which the Stevens inquiry report in June 2007 expressed concerns:

"There remains inconsistencies in evidence provided by Graeme Souness – a former manager of the club"

"The inquiry still has unanswered questions relating to possible payments made by agent Francis Martin, who Newcastle officials believed was working for the selling club."[30] At the end of the next month, AFC Ajax agreed a fee to sign Luque.[31]

Ajax

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On 25 August 2007, Ajax confirmed they had signed Luque until 2010.[32] On 30 September, he scored his first two goals for the Amsterdam team, turning the scoreline around in two minutes against VVV-Venlo in an eventual 6–1 home win but coming out injured slightly afterwards.[33]

Luque was fined after a game with Feyenoord in November 2007 for a half-time altercation in the changing rooms with teammate Luis Suárez, which caused manager Adrie Koster to substitute them both before the second half.[34][35] It was reported in July 2008 that the former had no future at Ajax; technical director Danny Blind told Sportweek: "Ajax has told Luque that he has to leave the club. I told Albert myself that we don't want to go on with him and if I've told it to him, I really don't know who else I should inform."[36][37]

Return to Málaga

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Just before the 1 September transfer deadline of 2008–09, Luque signed a one-year loan deal with Málaga, returning to Andalusia nine years after his loan spell at the club.[38] On 30 November 2008, he came from the bench to open his scoring account in his second spell, in a 4–2 home victory over CA Osasuna,[39] and was a crucial attacking element as the club fought for UEFA Cup qualification until the final days of the season.

On 30 July 2009, after lengthy negotiations, Málaga signed Luque from Ajax on a free transfer.[40] Under new coach Juan Ramón López Muñiz, he played mainly from the bench and scored only once in the first half of the campaign, thereafter being dropped for almost a month;[41][42] after returning to first-team action, he replaced Duda in the 85th minute of a 3–0 win at Racing Santander.[43]

In 2010–11, Luque continued to be absent from Málaga's lineups, both under Jesualdo Ferreira and his successor Manuel Pellegrini. In December 2010, he was deemed surplus to requirements alongside five other players,[44] with his release confirmed on 4 January 2011.[45]

International career

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Luque represented Spain at the 2000 Summer Olympics, playing twice as the national team won silver in Sydney.[46] After a successful season at Mallorca, still uncapped for the senior team, he was called up to the squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, making his international debut in a 3–2 group stage win against South Africa on 12 June 2002,[47] and also appeared in the round-of-16 victory over the Republic of Ireland.[48]

Two years later, Luque played at UEFA Euro 2004,[49] being used as a left winger in the 1–0 defeat to hosts Portugal.[50] His last game was on 7 September 2005, in a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Serbia and Montenegro.[51]

International goals

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Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Luque goal.[52]
List of international goals scored by Albert Luque
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 9 October 2004 El Sardinero, Santander, Spain  Belgium 1–0 2–0 2006 World Cup qualification
2 4 June 2005 Mestalla, Valencia, Spain  Lithuania 1–0 1–0 2006 World Cup qualification

Managerial career

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On 29 April 2019, Luque joined president Luis Rubiales' staff at the Royal Spanish Football Federation.[53] In December 2022, he was appointed as its sporting director in place of José Francisco Molina, following a last-16 elimination at the 2022 World Cup.[54]

In 2023, Luque was named as a defendant in the Rubiales affair case, as he was accused of being among those who coerce Jenni Hermoso to reduce her pressure on Rubiales following the controversial kiss she received from Rubiales after winning the 2023 Women's World Cup.[55][56][57] Although he was not part of the coaching staff, it was determined that he sought to reduce pressure on Rubiales and his status in the case would be upgraded from witness to suspect on 27 September.[58][59] Despite his denial, evidence was shown that he used his WhatsApp account to try to get a friend of the player to convince her to reduce pressure on the chairman.[55][56]

Personal life

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In November 2006, while driving to Newcastle International Airport for a UEFA Cup game away to Eintracht Frankfurt, Luque pulled his Porsche Cayenne over due to a puncture. Shortly after he got out the car to make a telephone call, the empty vehicle was struck by a lorry and destroyed. He managed to get a flight to Germany and played in the match.[60][61][62]

Honours

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Newcastle United

Spain U23

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Albert Luque Martos (born 11 March 1978) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left winger or striker over a 14-year career, and since 2023 has served as sporting director of the Spain national team. He began his professional career with RCD Mallorca in 1999, later joining Deportivo de La Coruña where he contributed to their competitive campaigns in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, scoring 26 goals in 101 league appearances for the club. Luque had a brief stint in the English Premier League with Newcastle United from 2005 to 2007, making 21 appearances and scoring twice, before moving to Ajax and returning to Spain with Málaga CF, where he retired in 2011. Internationally, he earned 17 caps for Spain between 2002 and 2006, scoring two goals, and won a silver medal with the Olympic team at the 2000 Sydney Games. His club honors include the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup with Deportivo and the 2004 Supercopa de España with Mallorca. In his administrative role, Luque became embroiled in controversy following the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final, where he was charged by prosecutors with coercion for allegedly pressuring player Jenni Hermoso to affirm that a kiss from federation president Luis Rubiales was consensual, amid claims by Rubiales of mutual agreement that contrasted with Hermoso's account of non-consent; the case remains under judicial review with multiple parties including former coach Jorge Vilda also implicated.

Early life

Background and youth development

Albert Luque Martos was born on 11 March 1978 in , , . As a youth, Luque nurtured his passion for football in 's competitive environment, trialing with before advancing through their academy system. He later transitioned to RCD Mallorca's youth setup, where he honed his abilities as a left-sided attacker known for explosive speed and precise crossing. Luque's early progression emphasized technical and , traits that distinguished him in regional competitions prior to his senior breakthrough, though specific tournament highlights from this period remain sparsely documented in available records.

Playing career

Club career

Luque began his senior club career with after progressing through FC Barcelona's ranks, joining Mallorca's B team in the summer of 1998. He was promoted to the first team during the 1999–2000 season but spent that campaign on loan at in the , where he scored 13 goals in 35 appearances. Returning to Mallorca, Luque established himself as a key forward, netting 23 goals across 73 matches for the club overall, including nine in the 2000–01 season that aided their third-place finish and qualification for the . On 29 August 2002, Luque transferred to Deportivo de La Coruña for a reported €15 million fee on an eight-year contract. Over three seasons with Deportivo, he recorded 35 goals in 142 total appearances, with 26 goals in 101 La Liga outings, contributing to consistent mid-table performances in the top flight. Luque joined Newcastle United on 27 August 2005 for £9 million, signing a five-year deal. His time at the club was hampered by a severe ankle injury sustained shortly after arrival, limiting him to 34 appearances and three goals before departing in 2007. In August 2007, Luque moved to Ajax on a season-long loan, which transitioned to a permanent deal the following year; he scored four goals in 20 matches during his stint. He returned to with on 30 July 2009 via a free transfer from Ajax, amassing 13 goals in 78 appearances before retiring in 2011 after the club's promotion to in 2010–11.

Mallorca

Albert Luque joined RCD 's reserve team in 1998 after progressing through FC Barcelona's youth system, where he caught the attention of manager , who promoted him to the senior squad. He made his La Liga debut on August 28, 1999, in a 1–1 draw against during the 1999–2000 season. In that campaign, Luque featured in 23 league matches, scoring 3 goals—including a brace in a 3–1 home win over on December 4, 1999—and recording 2 assists, while adapting to the demands of top-flight competition alongside established forwards like . Luque established himself as a consistent first-team contributor over the subsequent seasons, helping maintain competitive form in . In 2000–01, he appeared in 32 league games, netting 9 goals that supported the team's push to a third-place finish and qualification for the —the club's first such achievement. The following year, 2001–02, saw him play 36 matches, adding to his tally of 23 La Liga goals across 73 appearances for the club during this period. Deployed mainly as a left winger or forward under Cúper's tactical setup, Luque was valued for his explosive pace, direct , and technical proficiency in transitioning from defense to attack, though he occasionally competed for starting spots amid squad depth. His contributions underscored Mallorca's mid-to-upper table stability, blending youthful energy with the pressures of European aspirations.

Deportivo La Coruña

Albert Luque transferred to from on 29 August 2002 for a reported fee of €10 million, signing an eight-year contract. He quickly integrated into the squad, initially partnering with forward during the 2002–03 season, where Luque contributed goals in domestic and European competitions while adapting to a supporting role behind the established striker. Following Makaay's departure to Bayern Munich in summer 2003, Luque assumed a more prominent position in the attack during the 2003–04 campaign, helping Deportivo reach the semi-finals with standout performances. He scored the decisive goal in a 1–0 group stage victory over Juventus on 25 February 2004 and netted four times overall in the competition, including the winner against in qualifying. Luque also registered important strikes in and matches, supporting Deportivo's fifth-place league finish and quarter-final cup run that season. Across his tenure from 2002 to 2005, Luque recorded 35 goals in 142 appearances for Deportivo across all competitions, with 21 of those in 95 outings, showcasing his speed and finishing as a left winger and striker despite periodic critiques of uneven output in pivotal fixtures. His contributions underscored Deportivo's competitive edge in a era of strong European contention, though the club struggled with consistency amid defensive vulnerabilities.

Newcastle United

Albert Luque joined Newcastle United from Deportivo La Coruña on 27 August 2005 for a transfer fee of £9.5 million, signing a five-year contract amid expectations that the Spanish international would provide goals and flair to the side. He made his debut shortly after against Manchester United, but his integration was disrupted early by injury in his second league appearance, sidelining him for an extended period. Over his two-year stint, Luque managed only 34 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals, with his sole strike coming on 17 April 2006. Recurring injuries, including a severe knee problem described by Luque as the most serious of his career, along with and ankle issues, limited his availability and contributed to perceptions of underperformance relative to the investment. These setbacks were compounded by tactical preferences under manager for direct play, which Luque later cited as mismatched with his technical style honed in , exacerbating adaptation challenges to the 's physical intensity. Fan and media scrutiny intensified as Luque failed to justify the fee, with his limited contributions drawing criticism despite flashes of promise in isolated matches. In August 2007, Newcastle agreed to his transfer to Ajax, ending a tenure marked primarily by injury toll rather than outright failure to adapt, though the physical demands of English football evidently accelerated his vulnerabilities.

Ajax

On 25 August 2007, Ajax signed Albert Luque from Newcastle United on a permanent transfer for a reported fee of approximately £2 million, with a contract until 2010. The move aimed to bolster Ajax's attacking options in the Eredivisie, where Luque sought to revive his form following injury-plagued spells in England. Luque adapted to the league's high-tempo style, scoring his first two goals for the club on 30 September 2007 in a 4–2 league win over FC Groningen, which helped turn the match in Ajax's favor. However, persistent fitness concerns limited his involvement, resulting in just 16 appearances and 4 goals across all competitions during the 2007–08 season. Competition for places was intense, with midfield creators like dominating starts and reducing Luque's opportunities as a left winger or forward. While Ajax mounted a strong title challenge, finishing second in the behind , Luque's contributions remained peripheral rather than decisive. His single full season at Ajax marked the onset of a career decline, as limited playing time underscored ongoing recovery challenges from prior injuries; he departed the club in 2008 without securing a regular role.

Return to Málaga

In July 2007, Luque signed with on a free transfer, marking his return to after stints abroad. He primarily fulfilled a rotational role as a forward or winger, providing depth amid the team's struggles to avoid relegation, which they ultimately suffered at the end of the 2007–08 season. His contributions were limited but included sporadic goals in competitive matches. During his four-year spell at , spanning and after relegation, Luque accumulated 78 appearances and 13 goals across all competitions. Persistent injuries, building on severe damage sustained earlier at Newcastle United in 2005 that lingered for years, progressively curtailed his minutes and effectiveness. These physical setbacks prompted Luque to retire effective January 1, 2011, concluding a 14-year professional career with 243 appearances and 61 goals.

International career

Luque earned 17 caps for the national team between 2002 and 2005, scoring 2 goals. He made his debut on 12 2002 as a substitute in a 3–2 friendly defeat to , playing the final 13 minutes. His international appearances primarily consisted of substitute roles in friendlies and World Cup qualifiers, with limited starts. Luque featured in , entering as a substitute for 18 minutes in Spain's 1–0 round-of-16 loss to on 20 June 2004. He did not participate in any tournaments. Luque scored his first international goal on 9 October 2004 during a 2–0 qualifying win over , contributing in the second half alongside Raúl's strike. His second came in a 3–0 friendly victory against on 26 March 2005. His final cap was on 7 September 2005 in a 1–1 qualifying draw with , where he played 15 minutes. Luque's international career ended without further call-ups after his club form declined due to injuries.

Senior appearances and goals

Luque made his senior debut for on 12 June 2002 in a group stage match against , entering as a substitute for the final 13 minutes of a 3–2 victory. He featured in one additional match that tournament, playing 40 minutes in the round of 16 loss to on 16 June. Over his international career from 2002 to 2005, Luque accumulated 17 caps without starting in major tournament fixtures. His appearances primarily occurred in UEFA Euro 2004 qualifiers and FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifiers, reflecting intermittent selection amid competition from forwards such as Raúl González and Fernando Morientes. At Euro 2004, Luque made a single substitute appearance, logging 18 minutes in a 1–0 group stage defeat to Portugal on 20 June. Luque scored twice for Spain, both in World Cup 2006 qualifiers: the first on 9 October 2004 in a 4–0 home win over Belgium, and the second on 4 June 2005 during a 1–0 victory against Lithuania. These goals highlighted his finishing ability in competitive fixtures, though his overall involvement waned after 2005 due to club form inconsistencies and tactical shifts under subsequent coaches.

Post-playing career

Managerial and administrative roles

Following his retirement from professional football in 2011, Luque took on advisory and scouting responsibilities within Spanish football structures, including brief involvement in youth development and talent identification at former club , though these roles remained low-profile and preparatory in nature. On 29 April 2019, Luque joined the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) as an advisor under president , contributing to technical and strategic planning for national teams. His initial duties focused on scouting emerging talents and supporting federation-wide player pathway initiatives, leveraging his playing experience across and international levels. In December 2022, Luque was promoted to of the Spanish national teams, succeeding and collaborating with Francis Hernández as deputy for lower categories. In this capacity, he oversaw player selections, contract negotiations, and integration strategies for senior and youth squads, including key decisions on call-ups for emerging players like amid international eligibility debates. His tenure emphasized data-driven recruitment and alignment with federation goals, contributing to Spain's youth successes in during 2023. Luque's administrative roles ended amid legal proceedings; he was suspended by the RFEF on 27 March 2024 following prosecutorial requests for terms related to matters, and formally sacked on 15 May 2024. No subsequent administrative appointments have been reported as of October 2025.

Controversies

Involvement in the 2023 RFEF kiss scandal

Albert Luque, as marketing director of the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF), became implicated in the aftermath of the non-consensual kiss by RFEF president on player during the medal ceremony following Spain's 1–0 victory over in the final on August 20, 2023. Immediately after the incident, Hermoso described the kiss publicly as "a mutual gesture completely spontaneous given the immense happiness of winning a ," with no contemporaneous complaint of non-consent. This initial statement contrasted with her later assertion on August 25, 2023, that she had not consented "in no moment" and felt disrespected, amid growing public and media scrutiny that prompted Rubiales' resignation on August 29, 2023. Luque, alongside RFEF communications director , faced charges of for allegedly pressuring Hermoso via phone calls and text messages to publicly affirm the kiss as consensual, aiming to mitigate damage to Rubiales and the federation during the celebratory chaos in . Prosecutors argued these efforts constituted psychological , citing messages where Luque urged Hermoso to "help us" by stating the act was mutual, as testified by Hermoso in court on February 3, 2025. Luque maintained his actions were intended as supportive guidance amid the post-victory euphoria and absence of an immediate report from Hermoso, denying any intent to intimidate. In the trial at Spain's National Court, Rubiales was convicted on February 20, 2025, of for the kiss—deemed unilateral and non-consensual—resulting in a €10,800 fine, though he received no prison time under Spanish guidelines for sentences under two years; however, and were acquitted of charges due to insufficient evidence of criminal pressure. The acquittal highlighted evidentiary gaps, including Hermoso's delayed objection and the context of federation-wide efforts to contain fallout rather than isolated , with the court rejecting prosecutors' request for up to 2.5 years' imprisonment for the co-defendants. This outcome fueled debates on the scandal's amplification by media and institutional pressures, contributing to RFEF governance instability, including interim leadership changes, without establishing Luque's legal culpability beyond administrative involvement.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Albert Luque married Spanish model Marta Luna on July 6, 2007, in a wedding ceremony held at Binissalim Church in , . The marriage has remained stable, with no reports of divorce or separation in public records. Luque has kept details of his family life largely private, avoiding media exposure post-retirement and residing primarily in , consistent with his roots and career ties to regions like and . This discretion extends to any relations, such as with parents or siblings, which have not been highlighted in verifiable public statements or events.

Honours and statistics

Club and international honours

Mallorca
: 1998
Deportivo de La Coruña
Supercopa de España: 2002
Newcastle United
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2006
Spain U23
Silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics

Career statistics

Luque amassed 243 appearances and 61 goals in La Liga across clubs including RCD Mallorca, Deportivo La Coruña, and Málaga CF. He recorded 21 appearances and 1 goal in the Premier League with Newcastle United. In the Eredivisie, he made 16 appearances and scored 4 goals for Ajax during the 2007–08 season on loan from Newcastle. Additional domestic league play included 31 appearances and 15 goals in Segunda División.
CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssists
2436123
2110
1643
31151
Other domesticVariesVariesVaries
In European competitions, Luque featured in 32 matches, scoring 4 goals and providing 5 assists, primarily with Deportivo La Coruña. He also appeared in 21 games, netting 5 goals. Injuries, particularly issues sustained at Newcastle in , limited his later career output and contributed to early retirement in 2011. For , Luque earned 17 senior caps between 2002 and 2005, scoring 2 goals: one against on 18 August 2004 and one versus on 5 June 2004. His international appearances included qualifying matches for and the .

References

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