Alvarito

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is Ros.

Alvarito
Personal information
Full name Álvaro Rodríguez Ros
Date of birth (1936-01-16)16 January 1936
Place of birth Ujo, Spain
Date of death 16 June 2018(2018-06-16) (aged 82)
Place of death Huércal-Overa, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
San Juan de Mieres
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1953–1954 Langreano
1954–1955 Caudal 14 (0)
1955–1957 Oviedo 45 (0)
1957–1963 Atlético Madrid 39 (0)
1963–1964 Murcia 20 (1)
1964–1965 Shelbourne 6 (0)
1965 Córdoba 0 (0)
1968 Vancouver Royals 0 (0)
1969–1970 Santa Barbara
International career
1959 Spain B 1 (0)
1960 Spain 2 (0)
Managerial career
1965 Shelbourne
1979–1980 Benimar
1980–1982 Benicarló
1983 Algemesí
1983–1984 Alaquàs
1984–1985 Benicarló
1985 Requena
1987–1988 Marbella
1989–1990 Melilla
1990–1991 Linense
1991–1992 Melilla
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Álvaro Rodríguez Ros (16 January 1936 – 16 June 2018), commonly known as Alvarito, was a Spanish football defender and manager.

Club career

Alvarito was born in Ujo, Mieres. After playing for two clubs in his native Asturias, he joined the professionals in 1955, going on to spend two seasons in Segunda División with Real Oviedo also in his region of birth. In summer 1957, he joined La Liga side Atlético Madrid alongside teammate Toni Cuervo, also a fullback.[1]

Cuervo returned to Oviedo shortly after a health problem halted his progression, but Alvarito stayed with Atlético, helping them to back-to-back Copa del Rey conquests, both won at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium against Real Madrid. He never appeared in more than nine league games for the club during his six-year spell as no substitutions were allowed at that time, and often played understudy to Isacio Calleja; he also suffered a tibia and fibula injury, in a match against Real Valladolid.[1]

Alvarito's last season in his country's top division would be 1963–64, playing the most he had in years to help Real Murcia finish in 12th position and scoring his first and only goal in the competition on 16 February 1964, in a 1–0 home win over former team Oviedo.[2] Subsequently, he plied his trade in the Republic of Ireland, Canada and the United States – very briefly returning to Spain to appear for Córdoba CF – acting as player-coach for Shelbourne. He retired in 1970, at the age of 34.

Subsequently, Alvarito worked as a manager, never in higher than Segunda División B.[3][4]

International career

Alvarito earned two caps for Spain in July 1960, in as many away friendlies: on the 14th, he made his debut in a 4–0 win against Chile.[5] Ten days later, he appeared in a 0–2 loss with Argentina.[6]

Death

Alvarito died on 16 June 2018 in Huércal-Overa, Province of Almería, at the age of 82.[7][4]

Honours

Atlético Madrid

References

  1. ^ a b Siempre quiso jugar en el Atleti (He always wanted to play for Atleti); Mundo Deportivo, 13 October 2004 (in Spanish)
  2. ^ R. Murcia, 1 – R. Oviedo, 0; Mundo Deportivo, 17 February 1964 (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Fallece Álvaro Rodríguez 'Alvarito', exentrenador de la Balona (Death of Álvaro Rodríguez 'Alvarito', former manager of la Balona); Europa Sur, 16 June 2018 (in Spanish)
  4. ^ a b Fallece a los 82 años Álvaro Rodríguez Ros, 'Alvarito', ex entrenador de la U.D. Melilla (Death of former U.D. Melilla manager Álvaro Rodríguez Ros, 'Alvarito', at the age of 82); Melilla Hoy, 17 June 2018 (in Spanish)
  5. ^ Chile, 0 – España, 4 (Chile, 0 – Spain, 4); Mundo Deportivo, 15 July 1960 (in Spanish)
  6. ^ Argentina, 2 – España, 0 (Argentina, 2 – Spain, 0); Mundo Deportivo, 25 July 1960 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ La RFEF lamenta el fallecimiento de Álvaro Rodríguez Ros "Alvarito" (RSFF mourn passing of Álvaro Rodríguez Ros "Alvarito") Archived 23 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine; Royal Spanish Football Federation, 16 June 2018 (in Spanish)