Albert Riera Ortega Biography | Albert Riera Ortega News

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Description

Albert Riera Ortega, Riera (born April 15, 1982 in Manacor, Balearic Islands), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for Premier League side Liverpool, as a left winger.

 



 

Club career

Riera started his career with hometown RCD Mallorca, winning a Spanish Cup medal in 2003, as he was already an undisputed starter. During his three years at the club as a professional he made a total of 46 appearances in La Liga, scoring 6 goals from the wing.

In the summer of 2003 Riera moved to FC Girondins de Bordeaux, where he was a first team regular for two seasons. He made more than 50 Ligue 1 appearances for the French club and scored 4 goals.

Riera returned to Spain in 2005, when he signed for RCD Espanyol. In his first season at the club he played only 8 league matches, prompting a January 2006 move to Manchester City, where he was also unable to establish himself in the first team, returning to Catalonia prior to 2006-07.

During that season, which included an almost 100% successful run in the UEFA Cup (Espanyol lost on penalties to Sevilla FC, with Riera scoring in regulation time), Riera displayed a vast array of skills. Over his two spells at the club (the loan move notwithstanding) he made a total of 72 appearances and scored 8 goals.

Riera signed a four-year deal with Liverpool, after much speculation, on September 1, 2008 (transfer deadline day), for a fee reported to be between £5.5 and £8.0 million. He was given the number 11 jersey. He made his league debut on September 13, 2008, playing 72 minutes of a 2-1 home win against Manchester United.

 



 

International career

Riera has won five caps for the Spanish national team and scored one goal. In his debut, on October 13, 2007, he scored from outside the box against Denmark, in a 3-1 Euro 2008 qualifier away win.

However, Riera failed to make Spain's title-winning team at the 2008 European Championships held in Austria and Switzerland.

 



Last edited by:
On: September 19, 2008
Version: 4