Albert Ferrer

Albert Ferrer

Ferrer in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Albert Ferrer Llopis
Date of birth	(1970-06-06) 6 June 1970
Place of birth	Barcelona, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Right back
Youth career
1986–1988	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1988–1990	Barcelona B	47	(2)
1990–1998	Barcelona	204	(1)
1990	→ Tenerife (loan)	17	(0)
1998–2003	Chelsea	76	(0)
Total		344	(3)
International career
1988	Spain U18	7	(1)
1988–1989	Spain U19	3	(0)
1989–1990	Spain U20	5	(0)
1990–1991	Spain U21	2	(0)
1991–1992	Spain U23	6	(0)
1991–1999	Spain	36	(0)
Managerial career
2010–2011	Vitesse
2014	Córdoba
2015	Mallorca
Medal record Men's Football Representing Spain Olympic Games 1992 Barcelona Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Ferrer and the second or maternal family name is Llopis.

Albert Ferrer Llopis (Catalan pronunciation: [əɫˈβɛr fəˈre]; born 6 June 1970) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right back, and a current coach.

Having represented local Barcelona for almost a decade, he went on to appear for England's Chelsea until his retirement. During his spell in his country he was nicknamed Chapi, and appeared in a total of 221 La Liga games during nine seasons.

A Spanish international on more than 30 occasions, Ferrer represented the nation in two World Cups and at the 1992 Olympic Games, winning the latter tournament. He started working as a manager in 2010, with Vitesse.

Playing career

Club

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Ferrer was a pacy and tough-tackling defender. He began his professional career with FC Barcelona B, then served a loan with CD Tenerife in the 1989–90 season, with whom he made his La Liga debuts at the age of 19.

Ferrer returned to the main squad the following summer, and became the club's first-choice right back, remaining as such for the following eight years and scoring once. He often partnered another club graduate, Sergi Barjuán, in the defensive wings.

Ferrer was a key member of the famous Dream Team and, during his time with the Blaugrana, won five leagues, a European Cup, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two domestic cups, four Supercups and two UEFA Super Cups.

As the Dutch dominance at the Camp Nou in terms of players was still an important one (the club was coached by Louis van Gaal), Ferrer left in June 1998 amongst other club greats as Guillermo Amor, moving to Chelsea for £2.2 million and quickly establishing himself in the side, helping it qualify for its first ever Champions League campaign in his debut campaign. Chelsea won the FA Cup the following year (but he missed the final through injury) and reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League; during his team's run in the latter he played in 14 of 16 games, and scored his only goal for the Blues in a 2–0 win against Hertha BSC.

A combination of injuries and manager Gianluca Vialli's squad rotation policy reduced Ferrer's opportunities in the following season and he made only 14 league appearances. Chelsea reached another FA Cup final in 2002 – which he again missed, though this time through not being selected. Out of favour and facing strong competition from younger teammates he made just seven league appearances in his final two years, and left in May 2003 upon the expiry of his contract, playing 113 overall matches for the Londoners and retiring shortly after at 33.

International

Ferrer was a Spanish international on 36 occasions. His debut came on 4 September 1991 in a friendly win with Uruguay in Oviedo, as La Roja eventually did not qualify for UEFA Euro 1992.

Subsequently, Ferrer was a regular figure in the national side, appearing as starter at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and playing once in the 1998 edition, the 2–3 group stage loss against Nigeria, missing Euro 1996 and 2000 through injury (with Barça teammate Sergi on the other flank in all these tournaments).

In 1992, Ferrer was first-choice for the Olympic team that won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics, held in his hometown.

Coaching career

After retiring, Ferrer spent several years working as a color commentator, working for a number of Spanish broadcasters. In late October 2010, he was announced as new head coach of Vitesse in the Eredivisie, his staff also including compatriot Albert Capellas (formerly youth coach at Barcelona) and former Dutch goalkeeper Stanley Menzo, who left his post at SC Cambuur in order to join the Spaniards.

Ferrer led Vitesse to the 15th position, in a narrow escape from relegation. He was subsequently relieved from his duties, being replaced by John van den Brom.

On 17 February 2014 Ferrer was appointed at Segunda División club Córdoba CF. After finishing the season in the seventh place, the club defeated UD Las Palmas in the play-off final to return to the top flight for the first time in 42 years.

Ferrer was relieved of his duties on 20 October 2014, as Córdoba ranked dead last with only four points in eight matches. On 20 June of the following year he was named RCD Mallorca manager, signing a one-year deal.

Honours

Club

Barcelona

• European Cup: 1991–92
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1996–97
• UEFA Super Cup: 1992, 1997
• La Liga: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98
• Copa del Rey: 1996–97, 1997–98
• Supercopa de España: 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996

Chelsea

• UEFA Super Cup: 1998
• FA Cup: 1999–2000
• FA Community Shield: 2000

Spain

• Summer Olympics: 1992

External links

• Albert Ferrer profile at BDFutbol
• Albert Ferrer manager profile at BDFutbol
• National team data
• Albert Ferrer career statistics at Soccerbase
• Albert Ferrer at National-Football-Teams.com
• Albert Ferrer – FIFA competition record