MLC - Albert Riera

[indonewyork]

Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 15/04/1982
Height:
Weight:
1st team games: 13
1st team goals: 1
International caps: 6
International goals: 1
Former clubs: RCD Mallorca, Girondins Bordeaux, RCD Espanyol, Manchester City loan
Birth Place: Mancacor, Spain



Rafael Benitez secured the signing of Spanish left winger Albert Riera just before the transfer deadline in August 2008.

He is an exciting player who likes to take on defenders and is a good crosser of the ball. Riera was a popular figure at Espanyol and their supporters were sorry to see him leave.

Riera has experience of playing in England before when he had a loan spell with Manchester City during the 2005-2006 season. During that period he made an appearance on the hallowed Anfield turf when he came on as a 78th minute substitute for City during Liverpool's 1-0 win on February 26, 2006.

During his spell in Manchester he played 15 games under Stuart Pearce and scored one goal against Newcastle United.

Riera, who hails from the island of Mallorca, comes from a town called Manacor, which incidentally, is the same place where tennis star Rafael Nadal was born.

Rieira can boast to have matched new teammate Steven Gerrard's achievement of scoring in a UEFA Cup final. However, unlike Stevie, it would prove to be a bitter-sweet occasion for the winger, as Espanyol eventually succumbed to a penalty shoot-out defeat in the 2007 final against Sevilla. The match had ended 2-2 after extra-time.

He scored his one and only international goal in Spain's 3-1 win away to Denmark in a European Championship qualifier on October 13, 2007. He has five caps for his country to-date.