Albert Jorquera
Jorquera in action for Barcelona in 2007
Personal information
Full name Albert Jorquera Fortià[1]
Date of birth (1979-03-03) 3 March 1979 (age 45)[1]
Place of birth Bescanó, Spain[1]
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Costa Brava (assistant)
Youth career
Vilobí
1994–1998 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Barcelona C 7 (0)
1999–2004 Barcelona B 49 (0)
2000–2001 → Ceuta (loan) 3 (0)
2001–2002 → Mataró (loan) 31 (0)
2003–2009 Barcelona 7 (0)
2009–2010 Girona 33 (0)
Total 130 (0)
International career
2007–2010 Catalonia 3 (0)
Managerial career
2015–2017 Barcelona (youth assistant)
2017–2018 Sion (assistant)
2018–2020 Andorra (assistant)
2020–2021 Santa Coloma
2021– Costa Brava (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Albert Jorquera Fortià (born 3 March 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He spent the bulk of his professional career with Barcelona (ten years, including loans), but could never be more than second or third choice at his main club, which he left in 2009.

Club career

Playing

Born in Bescanó, Girona, Catalonia, Jorquera started playing in FC Barcelona's youth ranks in 1994. After that he went to its C team in 1998, being promoted to FC Barcelona Atlètic the following year.[2]

After loan stints with Segunda División B clubs AD Ceuta and CE Mataró, Jorquera returned as first choice for the reserves.[2] His first appearance in La Liga was against Athletic Bilbao on 17 January 2004 (a 1–1 home draw where he put on a Player of the match performance)[3] and, the following season, following the departure of unsettled Rüştü Reçber, he joined the main squad permanently.[4]

Jorquera signed a new contract in March 2007, until June 2008.[5] However, on 29 December, playing an unofficial game for the Catalonia national team, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee, which kept him out of the pitches for six months; eventually, RC Celta de Vigo's José Manuel Pinto was brought in until the end of the campaign.[6]

In March 2008, Jorquera agreed to a new extension, this time running until summer 2010. On 9 December he got his first start in 2008–09, playing in a 2–3 home loss against FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the last UEFA Champions League group-stage match – Víctor Valdés, amongst other regulars, was being rested for El Clásico against Real Madrid, the following Saturday.[7][8] Additionally, Pinto had previously been cast as the starter in the Copa del Rey.

Jorquera joined Girona FC of the Segunda División on 25 August 2009, with Barcelona having the right to recall him if needed.[9][10] After starting throughout most of the season, however, the 31-year-old announced his retirement citing personal reasons.[11]

Coaching

Jorquera joined newly promoted second-tier team UE Llagostera as goalkeeping coach in 2014.[12] In October 2017, he left the Barcelona youth ranks to be Gabri's assistant for FC Sion in Switzerland.[13]

In December 2018, Jorquera was second-in-command to the same former teammate at FC Andorra as part of Gerard Piqué's takeover of the principality-based club playing in Catalan regional football.[14] He received his first outright job in August 2020, at FC Santa Coloma in the microstate's own league.[15] Eleven months later, after elimination from the inaugural edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League by Hibernian, he returned to his job at Llagostera, now renamed UE Costa Brava.[16][17]

Style of play

A tall, consistent and well-rounded goalkeeper, Jorquera was known mainly for his reflexes, anticipation and agility. He also stood out for his work-rate, determination, character and mentality throughout his career.[18][19]

Personal life

Jorquera (left) and Carles Puigdemont at a Convergence and Union event in 2011

Jorquera was cousin of another Barcelona youth graduate, Marc Crosas. Professionally, he played for Celtic amongst other clubs.[20]

After retiring, he took advantage of his gemology degree from the University of Barcelona and joined the family's jewellery business.[2] In February 2011, he was entered in 12th place on Convergence and Union's (CiU) list for the local elections in Girona, headed by Carles Puigdemont.[21] While his party won, he was not elected as they earned ten seats in the city hall.[22]

Club statistics

[23][24][25]

Club Season League Cup[26] Europe[27] Club World Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona B 1999–2000 8 0 - - - - - - 8 0
Total 8 0 - - - - - - 8 0
Ceuta 2000–01 3 0 1 0 - - - - 4 0
Total 3 0 1 0 - - - - 4 0
Mataró 2001–02 31 0 - - - - - - 31 0
Total 31 0 - - - - - - 31 0
Barcelona B 2002–03 23 0 - - - - - - 23 0
2003–04 18 0 - - - - - - 18 0
Total 41 0 - - - - - - 41 0
Barcelona 2003–04 2 0 0 0 0 0 - - 2 0
2004–05 2 0 0 0 0 0 - - 2 0
2005–06 3 0 4 0 1 0 - - 8 0
2006–07 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2007–08 0 0 1 0 1 0 - - 2 0
2008–09 0 0 0 0 1 0 - - 1 0
Total 7 0 14 0 3 0 0 0 24 0
Girona 2009–10 33 0 1 0 0 0 - - 34 0
Total 33 0 1 0 0 0 - - 34 0
Career totals 123 0 16 0 3 0 0 0 142 0

Honours

Barcelona

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Albert JORQUERA Fortiá". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Gascón, Javier (23 August 2010). "Jorquera, una joya de portero" [Jorquera, a gem of a goalkeeper]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  3. ^ G. Lifona, Daniel (18 January 2004). "El Barcelona muere al final del camino" [Barcelona die at the end of the road]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  4. ^ "El Barca apuesta por Valdés y Jorquera y dará salida a Rustu" [Barca bet on Valdés and Jorquera and will show door to Rustu]. La Nación (in Spanish). 25 May 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Jorquera signs contract extension". FC Barcelona. 2 March 2007. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
  6. ^ "Jorquera se rompe el ligamento cruzado anterior de la rodilla derecha" [Jorquera ruptures right knee anterior cruciate ligament]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 December 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Eight out of Shakhtar game". FC Barcelona. 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  8. ^ a b Rubio, Juanma (9 December 2008). "El Shakhtar se da un homenaje en el Camp Nou" [Shakhtar honour themselves at the Camp Nou]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Jorquera se va del Barça al Girona" [Jorquera goes from Barça to Girona]. Marca (in Spanish). 25 August 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Albert Jorquera signs for Girona CF". FC Barcelona. 25 August 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  11. ^ "Jorquera cuelga las botas" [Jorquera hangs up boots]. Sport (in Spanish). 11 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  12. ^ Roura, Jordi (28 August 2014). "Jorquera: "Quan em vaig retirar estava cremat però ara he recuperat la il·lusió pel futbol"" [Jorquera: "When I was retired I was burned out but now I have recovered my enthusiasm for football"]. Diari de Girona (in Catalan). Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Barcelona youth coach Gabri joins Swiss club Sion". Marca. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  14. ^ "FC Andorra members approve Pique's purchase of the club". Marca. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  15. ^ Alonso, Carles (5 August 2020). "Albert Jorquera dirigeix el primer entrenament del Vallbanc Santa Coloma" [Albert Jorquera led first training session at Vallbanc Santa Coloma]. El Principat (in Catalan). Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  16. ^ Duaso, Víctor (30 July 2021). "Adeu d'Albert Jorquera" [Albert Jorquera's farewell]. Bondia (in Catalan). Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Albert Jorquera s'integra al cos tècnic d'Oriol Alsina" [Albert Jorquera joins Oriol Alsina's coaching team]. L'Esportiu (in Catalan). 31 July 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Albert Jorquera Fortia". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  19. ^ "Tall keeper with great reflexes". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  20. ^ "Bojan, Giovani and Crosas added to squad". FC Barcelona Web. 12 June 2007. Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  21. ^ "CiU de Girona ficha al portero Albert Jorquera" [Girona's CiU sign goalkeeper Albert Jorquera]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 10 February 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  22. ^ "El convergente Puigdemont gana las elecciones en Girona" [Convergence's Puigdemont wins the election in Girona]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 22 May 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Albert Jorquera". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  24. ^ Albert Jorquera at ESPN FC
  25. ^ "Albert Jorquera". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  26. ^ Includes Supercopa de España
  27. ^ Includes UEFA Super Cup
  28. ^ "Fútbol/Supercopa.– Crónica del FC Barcelona-RCD Espanyol, 3–0" [Football/Supercup.– FC Barcelona-RCD Espanyol match report, 3–0] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 21 August 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2019.

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