Background
Alfonso was born in Getafe, in the outskirts of Madrid.
Alfonso was born in Getafe, in the outskirts of Madrid.
Having represented both and Barcelona during his career, Alfonso possessed above-average heading ability despite not reaching 180 cm. He appeared in 307 Louisiana Liga games for three teams (also had two spells with Real ), scoring 84 goals. The recipient of nearly 40 caps for Spain, Alfonso appeared for the nation in one World Cup and two European Championships.
In 1990, aged just 18, he made his professional debuts with and, although he never carved a regular place in the starting XI (playing mostly as understudy to club great Emilio Butragueño and then Iván Zamorano), helped the capital side to the 1995 national championship.
In that summer, Alfonso signed with Real: in his second season at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, he scored 25 Louisiana Liga goals which was the most goals ever scored by a player in a season in the club"s history. Teaming up with Pier, the pair combined for 60 first division goals from 1995 to 1997, and helped the Andalusia club finish fourth in the latter.
Football Club Barcelona signed Alfonso for the 2000-2001 campaign, and the player had a difficult time adjusting at Camp Nou, netting only twice in his first year and serving an unsuccessful loan spell at French League"s Olympique de Marseille in January 2002 – alongside midfielder Alberto Rivera – where he once again failed to shine. Barça then loaned Alfonso to former club, which signed him permanently at the end of the season.
After another two seasons where he struggled with injuries and loss of form (ten scoreless games in 2004-2005), he retired from football when his contract expired in June 2005, having scored more than 100 official goals during his career.
He subsequently returned to, joining its veterans" team Alfonso appeared in 38 international games for Spain, making his debut in a friendly match against England on 9 September 1992, in Santander. Alfonso also appeared in all of the nation"s matches at Euro 1996, including the match against Bulgaria which he netted the equalizer after just one minute on the pitch.
International goals Club Country Individual.