Albert Jorquera

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

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

Albert Jorquera
Jorquera (left) with Carles Puigdemont in a meeting in 2011
Personal information
Full name Albert Jorquera Fortià[1]
Date of birth (1979-03-03) 3 March 1979[1]
Place of birth Bescanó, Spain[1]
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
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)
National team
2007–2010 Catalonia 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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

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 B the following year.

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

In March 2007, Jorquera agreed to a contract extension at Barcelona until June 2008.[4] 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.[5]

In March 2008, Jorquera's contract was extended again, 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;[6][7] additionally, Pinto had previously been cast as the starter in the Copa del Rey.

In August 2009, Jorquera signed with Girona FC of the second level, with Barcelona having the right to recall him if needed.[8][9] After starting throughout most of the season, however, the 31-year-old announced his retirement, citing personal reasons.[10]

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.[11][12]

Personal life

Jorquera was cousin of another Barcelona youth graduate, Marc Crosas. Professionally, he played for Celtic amongst other clubs.[13]

After retiring, he took advantage of his gemology degree from the University of Barcelona and joined the family's jewellery business.[14]

Club statistics

[15][16][17]

Club Season League Cup[18] Europe[19] Club World Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona B 1999–2000 80------80
Total 80------80
Ceuta 2000–01 3010----40
Total 3010----40
Mataró 2001–02 310------310
Total 310------310
Barcelona B 2002–03 230------230
2003–04 180------180
Total 410------410
Barcelona 2003–04 200000--20
2004–05 200000--20
2005–06 304010--80
2006–07 0090000090
2007–08 001010--20
2008–09 000010--10
Total 701403000240
Girona 2009–10 3301000--340
Total 3301000--340
Career totals 123016030001420

Honours
Jorquera playing against Getafe in 2007.

Barcelona[1]

References
  1. "Albert JORQUERA Fortiá" (in Spanish). El Mundo. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  2. El Barcelona muere al final del camino (Barcelona die at the end of the road); El Mundo, 18 January 2004 (in Spanish)
  3. 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, 25 May 2004 (in Spanish)
  4. Jorquera signs contract extension; FC Barcelona, 2 March 2007
  5. Jorquera se rompe el ligamento cruzado anterior de la rodilla derecha (Jorquera ruptures right knee anterior cruciate ligament); Marca, 29 December 2007 (in Spanish)
  6. Eight out of Shakhtar game; FC Barcelona, 7 December 2008
  7. El Shakhtar se da un homenaje en el Camp Nou (Shakhtar honour themselves at the Camp Nou); Diario AS, 9 December 2008 (in Spanish)
  8. Jorquera se va del Barça al Girona (Jorquera goes from Barça to Girona); Marca, 25 August 2009 (in Spanish)
  9. Albert Jorquera signs for Girona CF; FC Barcelona, 25 August 2009
  10. Jorquera cuelga las botas (Jorquera hangs up boots); Sport, 11 August 2010 (in Spanish)
  11. "Albert Jorquera Fortia". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  12. "Tall keeper with great reflexes". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  13. Bojan, Giovani and Crosas added to squad Archived 22 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine; FC Barcelona Web, 12 June 2007
  14. Jorquera, una joya de portero (Jorquera, a gem of a goalkeeper); Mundo Deportivo, 23 August 2010 (in Spanish)
  15. "Albert Jorquera". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  16. Albert Jorquera at ESPN FC
  17. "Albert Jorquera". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  18. Includes Supercopa de España
  19. Includes UEFA Super Cup
  20. "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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