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ARMANDO ÁLVAREZ ÁLVAREZ
Date of Birth: 18 July, 1970
Nationality: Spain (international from 1996 until 1997)
Period at Deportivo: 1996 - 1999
Transfer: Free Transfer (1996, Oviedo)
Previous Clubs: Oviedo (1991-1996), Vetusta (1989-1991), Hispano de Castrillón
Sold: Free Transfer (1999, to Mallorca)
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Position: Defender/Midfielder (right)
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 ARMANDO was born in France, but at the age of eighth moved with his parents to León. He first tried a professional career at Sporting de Gijón, but didn't accept their offer and started playing for Vetusta (now Real Oviedo B) before making his debut with their first team in the Primera División on 15 March, 1992. It concerned a 3-1 win against Osasuna Pamplona, and at the age of 21 he would play another twelve matches that campaign.
He was considered such a talent that Vicene Miera, coach of the Spanish U-21 team, considered picking him for the Olympic Games to be played in Barcelona that summer. In the end it didn’t happen, but he would make up for it by playing for the senior Spanish national team four years later.
As a player Armando was characterized by sufficient technical qualities, precise passes and speed. He was able to play on the right side as defender or midfielder. Between 1991 and 1996 his qualities made him play 149 Liga matches for Oviedo, a club playing for positions nine to sixteen. He scored 5 Liga goals for them before his contract ended in 1996 and he accepted a free transfer to Deportivo. According to Armando it was the personal interest shown by Deportivo coach Toshack that convinced him to sign at the Galician club.
In La Coruña he would become the undisputable right defender of the team for two seasons until Manuel Pablo was signed. At Deportivo he played 70 Liga matches in his first two seasons and during his first campaign it earned him two matches with Spain, both against little Malta.
During his third, and final season at Deportivo, he as well as his club realized that they had a very talented right defender in their squad in 22-year old Manuel Pablo. The Canarian player started taking over his position, and Armando left the club on a free transfer during the summer of 1999.
Armando played 97 Liga matches for Deportivo and scored three goals in these. He shared the dressing room with players like Rivaldo, Djalminha and ‘Turu’ Flores, but was at Deportivo at the wrong time. The club finished third, twelfth and sixth in those years and Armando would experience just one round of UEFA Cup football (against Auxerre).
In 1999, at the age of 29, he chose Real Mallorca as his new destination and was part of the squad which finished third during the season 2000/2001. But he played just 31 Liga matches in two seasons with them and moved to Atlético de Madrid.
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