Julio Alberto

Julio Alberto Moreno Casas (born 7 October 1958), known as Julio Alberto, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a left back.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Moreno and the second or maternal family name is Casas.

Julio Alberto
Personal information
Full name Julio Alberto Moreno Casas
Date of birth (1958-10-07) 7 October 1958
Place of birth Candás, Spain
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Left back
Youth career
Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1982 Atlético Madrid 67 (2)
1979–1980 → Recreativo (loan) 8 (1)
1982–1991 Barcelona 202 (9)
Total 277 (12)
National team
1978 Spain U21 4 (0)
1982 Spain U23 1 (0)
1983 Spain amateur 2 (0)
1981 Spain B 4 (0)
1984–1988 Spain 34 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

During his professional career he played mainly for Atlético Madrid and Barcelona, amassing La Liga totals of 269 matches and 11 goals.

A Spain international in the mid-to-late 1980s, Alberto represented the nation at the 1986 World Cup and Euro 1984.

Club career

Born in Candás, Asturias, Julio Alberto came through the ranks of Atlético Madrid, appearing rarely for the Colchoneros during his early years and also serving a Segunda División loan stint with Recreativo de Huelva in 1979–80. Fully promoted to the first team for the following campaign, he played 59 La Liga games that and the next seasons combined, subsequently attracting interest from FC Barcelona.

With Barça, the offensive-minded Julio Alberto played a further nine years, with opposed fates: he was a key element in the side's 1985 league conquest and, during the following campaign, scored a stunning goal against Juventus F.C. in the semi-finals of the European Cup, in a 1–0 home win (eventually 2–1 on aggregate).[1][2] He would also start in the penalty shootout loss to FC Steaua Bucureşti in the final.[3]

From 1988 to 1991, however, Julio Alberto only appeared in 29 matches as the "Dream Team" was coming to fruition, retiring after only three appearances in the latter season as Barcelona won the national championship.[4]

International career

Julio Alberto earned 34 caps for Spain over four years, and was included in the squad for UEFA Euro 1984 (appearing in all the games for the runners-up) and the 1986 FIFA World Cup.[5] His debut came on 29 February in a friendly match leading to Euro 1984, against Luxembourg, and he received the game's only yellow card in a 1–0 away win.[6]

Post-retirement

After retiring, Julio Alberto fell into a deep depression which led to a severe drug addiction.[7] Eventually he recovered, becoming a lecturer on the subject while he also began assisting former club Barcelona in a community role, working with fans and the foundation.[8]

Honours

Club

Barcelona

International

Spain

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References
  1. Aguilar, Francesc (13 May 2015). "Barça-Juve, la final más deseada en Berlín" [Barça-Juve, the most awaited final in Berlin]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. "5 de març del 1986: L'obús de Julio Alberto" [5 March of 1986: Julio Alberto's rocket] (in Catalan). FC Barcelona. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. "Steaua 0–0 Barcelona". UEFA. 7 May 1986. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  4. Stevenson, Jonathan; Bevan, Chris (22 April 2008). "When Bryan Robson tamed Barca". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  5. Pascual, Alfredo (21 May 2016). "Del utillero falangista al positivo de Calderé: nuestro Mundial 86 en diez episodios" [From the falangista kit man to Calderé's positive: our 86 World Cup in ten episodes]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  6. Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Julio Alberto Moreno Casas – International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  7. "Julio Alberto: una vida arruinada por la droga" [Julio Alberto: a life done in by drugs]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 18 July 2002. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  8. "Julio Alberto se va del FCB de forma amistosa" [Julio Alberto and FCB part ways in a friendly manner]. Sport (in Spanish). 30 July 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
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