Introducing Albert Luque

By European Football
August 26 2005

Newcastle United have landed Spanish star Albert Luque for a fee of 9.5 million pound from Deportivo La Coruña. He has been one of La Liga’s best players last seasons, having earned a place in the Spanish national team and a great reputation.

His signing will not strengthen the attack, it will make it world class.

Albert Luque was born in Barcelona, Catalunya, on March 11th, 1983. He is 1.83 m. tall and weighs 80 kg. His football career started in 1989, when he joined Barcelona’s youth, playing 5-a-side indoors football. He went through Barcelona’s youth teams until 1997, when he was released by the club, and he joined Mallorca.

He played for the B team for two years, and made his debut in the first team in 1998. In Mallorca he partnered up with Samuel Eto’o, with whom he created a great relationship inside the field and together they formed a feared attacking association. In 2002 he moved to Deportivo La Coruña, and he became a big star in the Spanish Liga, playing next to Diego Tristán, and also creating a great association with Valerón.

Luque is a natural striker, but he was moved to the left wing by Depor’s former coach Javier Irureta. This is because he is left footed and has great skills when dribbling in speed. Speaking about his new position, he said:

“As left winger, what is harder for me to do is to defend.”

“I am more into long runs than short ones; in the beginning, full backs would go forward or tackle me as soon as I got the ball, it served me well: I kicked the ball forwards and started to run.”

He has become a star by showing attributes that were unique and hard to find. Apart from being gifted with the ball, he is best known for his deadly finishing, very classy and powerful at the same time. It is his vicious shot that was so surprising in the first place. When asked how did he get to hit a ball so hard, he replied that he worked with his father a lot. His father taught him how to kick the ball, and practiced a lot shooting against walls and trying to hit the marks on it. It was also his father who made him develop his left foot, since he was born a right footer, therefore, he can use both sides.

His attacking skills are those of a top class forward, and Newcastle have got themselves nothing but quality. Since he can play both as a striker and as left winger, he will fit into the team perfectly. If he was to play as left winger, he will not have much problem when marking, since the team’s defensive midfield has looked very safe and reliable, so he can deploy all of his game when going forwards.

Playing as a striker, he would be a great partner to Shearer or whoever plays up front, since he has managed to develop nice relationships and understanding with his former teammates, as well as being the right man to partner up with. He can play wide and cross the ball as well as moving in the box looking for a header or a finishing touch.

Luque himself has spoken of his desire to move to the Premiership, which can ease up his adaptation process. This way, Newcastle have found a great player to strengthen the attack. A great deal for Toon, and results will appear shortly.