Roberto Lago Soto (Spanish pronunciation: [roˈβeɾto ˈlaɣo ˈsoto]; born 30 August 1985) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left-back.
He spent the better part of his career with Celta and Getafe, totalling 159 games in the Segunda División (six goals) and 86 in La Liga. In 2016, he signed with Cypriot club APOEL.
Born in Vigo, Galicia, Lago was a product of hometown RC Celta de Vigo's youth system. He made his debut with the first team in the 2007–08 season, playing 33 matches for a Segunda División side which eventually finished 17th one year after being relegated. In the following years he was an undisputed starter when available, contributing 35 games and one goal[1] in the 2011–12 campaign as the club returned to La Liga.[2][3]
Lago's maiden appearance in the top flight was on 18 August 2012, starting in a 0–1 home loss against Málaga CF.[4] He only missed four fixtures during the season, as Celta eventually stayed up at the expense of neighbouring Deportivo de La Coruña.
Lago joined fellow top-tier club Getafe CF on 12 June 2013, signing a four-year deal.[5] In his three-year spell at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, often marred by injury,[6][7] he appeared in 58 competitive matches.[8]
In July 2016, following the team's top-tier relegation, Lago left by triggering a release clause in his contract.
On 9 July 2016, at nearly 31, Lago moved abroad for the first time in his career, penning a two-year contract with reigning Cypriot champions APOEL FC.[9] He made his official debut on 10 September, playing the full 90 minutes in a 4–0 away victory over Nea Salamis Famagusta FC in the First Division.[10]
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Celta B | 2003–04 | Segunda División B | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | 21 | 2 | — | — | — | 21 | 2 | |||||
| 2005–06 | 32 | 2 | — | — | — | 32 | 2 | |||||
| 2006–07 | 29 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 84 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 85 | 4 | ||||
| Celta | 2007–08 | Segunda División | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2008–09 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 26 | 1 | ||||
| 2009–10 | 32 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 1 | ||||
| 2010–11 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 37 | 3 | |||
| 2011–12 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 1 | ||||
| 2012–13 | La Liga | 34 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 37 | 1 | |||
| Total | 193 | 6 | 14 | 2 | — | 2 | 0 | 209 | 8 | |||
| Getafe | 2013–14 | La Liga | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 | ||||
| 2015–16 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 52 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 58 | 0 | ||||
| APOEL | 2016–17 | Cypriot First Division | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7[c] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Career total | 346 | 10 | 24 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 380 | 12 | ||
