Alberto Bueno
Personal information
Full name Alberto Bueno Calvo[1]
Date of birth (1988-03-20) 20 March 1988 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth Madrid, Spain[2]
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward, winger
Youth career
EF Concepción
2001–2006 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Real Madrid B 97 (22)
2008–2009 Real Madrid 3 (0)
2009–2013 Valladolid 85 (13)
2010–2011 → Derby County (loan) 29 (5)
2013–2015 Rayo Vallecano 72 (28)
2015–2019 Porto 4 (0)
2016–2017 → Granada (loan) 13 (1)
2017 → Leganés (loan) 11 (1)
2018 → Málaga (loan) 11 (0)
2018 Porto B 1 (0)
2019 → Boavista (loan) 15 (2)
2019–2020 Boavista 19 (3)
2021 Volos 9 (2)
2021–2022 Ionikos 3 (0)
2022 Algeciras 13 (0)
International career
2004 Spain U16 4 (4)
2004–2005 Spain U17 6 (3)
2006–2007 Spain U19 13 (11)
2007 Spain U20 4 (1)
2008 Spain U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 8 July 2022 (UTC)

Alberto Bueno Calvo (Spanish pronunciation: [alˈβeɾto ˈβweno];[a] born 20 March 1988) is a Spanish professional footballer. He operates mainly as a forward, but can also appear as a left winger.

After starting out at Real Madrid, he went on to represent mainly Valladolid and Rayo Vallecano, amassing La Liga totals of 164 matches and 36 goals over seven seasons. He also played in England, Portugal and Greece.

Bueno earned 28 caps for Spain at youth level all categories comprised, scoring 19 goals.

Club career

Real Madrid

Born in Madrid, Bueno was a product of Real Madrid's youth system, and he started playing for the Juvenil team, scoring 37 goals in 37 matches.[3] The following season he progressed to Real Madrid Castilla, playing 31 games in the second division.[4][5]

In August 2007, Real Madrid signed Bueno on a professional contract with the first team. He was called up to the pre-season training under coach Bernd Schuster, teaming up in a friendly with FC Lokomotiv Moscow where he was replaced at half-time by another cantera player, Javier Balboa.

On 11 November 2008, due to many injuries to the main squad, Bueno was given his official debut, in a Copa del Rey home contest against Real Unión (third level): within minutes of his entry, 15 minutes into the second half, he scored in a 4–3 final win, but Real Madrid suffered a shock exit from the competition (6–6 aggregate).[6] Eleven days later he made his La Liga debut, replacing Raúl late into a 1–0 home success over Recreativo de Huelva.[7]

Valladolid

On 15 July 2009, Real Valladolid purchased Bueno on a five-year deal, with Real Madrid having an option to repurchase during the first two.[8] During his first season he was used intermittently, as the Castile and León side also suffered top flight relegation.

On 30 August 2010, English club Derby County announced that Bueno was a guest at the Rams' 2–2 draw against Queens Park Rangers, and that a loan deal was very close to being completed in time for the close of the transfer window.[9][10] It was revealed the following day that the player signed on a season-long loan.[11]

After making his debut as a substitute in a 0–1 home loss against Sheffield United,[12] and his first start in a 0–2 defeat at Hull City,[13] Bueno helped spark a run of six unbeaten matches as Derby earned 14 points from a possible 18 – after just one win in the first four games – earning praise from first-team coach Gary Crosby, who said: "Alberto is a natural footballer – his awareness, his touch and his ability are outstanding at times."[14]

Playing as one of three support strikers in Derby's 4–2–3–1 formation, Bueno grabbed his first goals for the club with a brace against Crystal Palace,[15] and followed it up with the second in a 3–0 win over Preston North End,[16] earning the player of the match award in both games.[14] His form was such he was linked with a move to Premier League side Wigan Athletic,[17] but Derby dismissed the link, stating "There is no clause in the loan agreement which allows (Bueno) to leave during the January transfer window."[18]

After a promising start, Bueno, and the team as a whole, faded throughout the rest of the campaign, winning just four of 26 league games and dropping from fourth in the table to 19th. He contributed with only two goals in the final seven months, in defeats against Ipswich Town[19] and Norwich City,[20] and at the end of the season Clough stated himself "unsure" over the player's future, saying his signature was "not a priority".[21]

Bueno subsequently returned to Valladolid, scoring seven times from 32 appearances to help it return to the top flight after two years.[22][23][24] He added five in the following season, in an eventual escape from relegation.

Rayo Vallecano

Bueno signed with Rayo Vallecano in the summer of 2013, for two years.[25] On 28 February 2015, he scored four goals in only 14 minutes in a 4–2 league home win over Levante UD, being the second fastest to accomplish this feat after Bebeto in 1995.[26][27]

Porto

On 25 May 2015, free agent Bueno signed with FC Porto for five years, joining a host of compatriots at the Portuguese club including manager Julen Lopetegui.[28] He spent most of his first season on the sidelines, due to a meniscus injury.[29]

On 31 August 2016, Bueno returned to Spain and its first division after agreeing to a one-year loan deal at Granada CF.[30] He scored his only goal for the team on 16 September, in a 2–2 draw at neighbouring Real Betis.[31]

Bueno went back to his hometown on 31 January 2017, as he joined CD Leganés halfway through their debut top-flight campaign.[32] Mostly used as a substitute, he only scored in a 4–0 home win over Deportivo de La Coruña on 25 February, as relegation was avoided.[33]

In early January 2018, still owned by Porto, Bueno signed with Málaga CF until 30 June.[34] Deemed surplus to requirements by Porto manager Sérgio Conceição, he was assigned to the reserves in the Segunda Liga until his situation was resolved.[35]

Boavista

On 26 January 2019, Bueno was loaned across the city to Boavista F.C. until the end of the season,[36] and scored a free kick in a 3–1 home win over C.D. Feirense on his debut on 2 February.[37] In an interview with Radio Marca in his homeland the following month, he accused his parent club of workplace bullying.[38]

Though a clause in his contract gave him the freedom to leave if he received a satisfactory offer from a Spanish top-flight team, Bueno committed himself to the side from the Estádio do Bessa for the 2019–20 campaign.[39]

Greece

Bueno signed with Volos FC of the Super League Greece in January 2021.[40] In the ensuing off-season, he joined newly promoted Ionikos FC.[41]

International career

Bueno was part of the Spain under-19 team which won the 2006 UEFA European Championship. He was the top scorer of the competition with five goals, with another Real Madrid product, Juan Mata, adding four.[42]

Subsequently, Bueno represented the nation at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. He scored in extra time as the team defeated Brazil 4–2 in a last-16 match in Burnaby.[43]

Honours

Spain U19

Notes

  1. ^ In isolation, Bueno is pronounced [ˈbweno].

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 July 2007. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Alberto Bueno" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Rafa eyes Negredo and Bueno bids". FourFourTwo. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  4. ^ Balderas, Miguel Ángel (26 November 2013). "La última plantilla que descendió con el Castilla. ¿Qué fue de ellos?" [The last squad to be relegated with Castilla. What happened to them?] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Alberto Bueno Calvo". Real Madrid CF. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  6. ^ Pelayo, Francisco (11 November 2008). "El Real Unión de Irún elimina al Real Madrid de la Copa del Rey pese a Raúl (4–3)" [Real Unión of Irún oust Real Madrid from the Spanish Cup in spite of Raúl (4–3)] (in Spanish). 20 minutos. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  7. ^ García, Óscar (22 November 2008). "Schuster se da un respiro" [Schuster takes a breather] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  8. ^ Mendilibar ya tiene el delantero que quería: Alberto Bueno (Mendilibar already has forward he wanted: Alberto Bueno); Marca, 15 July 2009 (in Spanish)
  9. ^ "Rams make loan bid for Spanish forward Bueno". Derby Telegraph. 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  10. ^ "Rams closing in on season-long deal for Spanish forward Alberto Bueno". Derby Telegraph. 30 August 2010. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Derby tie up Bueno loan". Derby County F.C. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  12. ^ "Derby 0–1 Sheff Utd". BBC Sport. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Hull 2–0 Derby". BBC Sport. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Little Alberto's made a big impact, says Rams coach". Derby Telegraph. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  15. ^ "Derby 5–0 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. 25 September 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Derby 3–0 Preston". BBC Sport. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Wigan scouting Derby striker Alberto Bueno". Tribal Football. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  18. ^ "Rams clarify Bueno situation". Derby County F.C. 21 October 2010. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  19. ^ "Derby 1–2 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  20. ^ "Norwich 3–2 Derby". BBC Sport. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Nigel Clough unsure on Alberton [sic] Bueno's Derby future". BBC Sport. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  22. ^ Otero, Pablo M. (29 August 2011). "El Valladolid, más 'bueno' que nunca" [Valladolid, more 'good' ("Bueno" in English) than ever] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  23. ^ "Dos goles de Bueno matan al Córdoba" [Two Bueno goals kill Córdoba] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  24. ^ Ramos, Javier (14 April 2012). "El Valladolid y Bueno están de dulce (3–0)" [Valladolid and Bueno are to die for (3–0)] (in Spanish). Noticias Castilla y León. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  25. ^ "Alberto Bueno, nuevo delantero del Rayo Vallecano" [Alberto Bueno, new Rayo Vallecano forward] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  26. ^ Egea, Pablo (28 February 2015). "El Rayo tiene un halcón del área" [Rayo have a hawk of the box] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  27. ^ "Bueno hizo historia con un póquer en 14 minutos" [Bueno made history with poker in 14 minutes] (in Spanish). Marca. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  28. ^ "Alberto Bueno: "Estou numa fase muito boa da carreira"" [Alberto Bueno: "I am at a very good stage in my career"] (in Portuguese). FC Porto. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  29. ^ "Bueno vuelve a entrenar con el Oporto tras meses lesionado" [Bueno returns to training with Porto after months injured] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  30. ^ "Bueno, un goleador de regreso a LaLiga" [Bueno, a goalscorer returning to LaLiga] (in Spanish). Granada CF. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  31. ^ "Betis y Granada salvan un punto en un partido de ida y vuelta" [Betis and Granada scrap a point in a game of two halves] (in Spanish). RTVE. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  32. ^ Carrasco, Javi (31 January 2017). "Alberto Bueno refuerza el ataque del Leganés" [Alberto Bueno bolsters Leganés' attack] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  33. ^ López, Ricard (25 February 2017). "Gaizka Garitano y el Deportivo, al borde del abismo" [Gaizka Garitano and Deportivo, on the edge of the abyss] (in Spanish). Sport. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  34. ^ Puga, Manu (9 January 2018). "Alberto Bueno ya se entrena con el Málaga CF" [Alberto Bueno is already training with Málaga CF] (in Spanish). La Opinión de Málaga. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  35. ^ Morais, André; Gouveia, Carlos (28 July 2018). "Bueno por resolver e na equipa B com mais dois" [Bueno a situation and to the B team with two others] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  36. ^ Gonçalves, André (26 January 2019). "FC Porto empresta Alberto Bueno ao Boavista" [FC Porto loan Alberto Bueno to Boavista] (in Portuguese). Record. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  37. ^ "Ex-portista Alberto Bueno com grande estreia pelo Boavista: o golaço de livre direto" [Former Porto player Alberto Bueno with great debut for Boavista: the wondergoal from direct free kick] (in Portuguese). Record. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Alberto Bueno: "No FC Porto fui alvo de bullying diariamente"" [Alberto Bueno: "At FC Porto I was a target of bullying every day"] (in Portuguese). Record. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  39. ^ Casaca, Manuel (17 July 2019). "Estão desfeitas as dúvidas em torno do futuro de Alberto Bueno" [Doubts around Alberto Bueno's future are ruled out] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  40. ^ Thorogood, Tom (4 January 2021). "'Outstanding' former Derby ace Alberto Bueno nets tenth club in surprise Greece move". Derby County F.C. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  41. ^ Papamakarios, Petros (6 July 2021). "Ιωνικός: Απέκτησε και τον Μπουένο Κάλβο" [Ionikos: Bueno Calvo also acquired] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  42. ^ Bueno basks in dream come true; UEFA, 30 July 2006
  43. ^ "Spain and U.S. progress in Under-20 World Cup, Brazil out". Reuters. 12 July 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  44. ^ Bueno double gives Spain glory; UEFA, 29 July 2006
  45. ^ Díaz Rubio, Julián. "European U-19 Championship 2006". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 July 2018.

External links

UEFA European Under-19 Championship awards
Categories