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ALBERT LUQUE MARCOS
Date of Birth: 11 March, 1978
Nationality: Spain (international from 2002 until now)
Period at Deportivo: 2002 - 2005
Transfer: €15 million + Turu Flores & Walter Pandiani (on loan) (2002)
Clubs: Newcastle United (2005-now), Deportivo (2002-2005), Málaga (1999-2000, on loan), Real Mallorca (1998-2002), Real Mallorca B (1997-1998), FC Barcelona B (1996-1997)
Sold: €14 million (2005, to Newcastle)
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Position: Attacking Midfielder (left)/Striker
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ALBERT LUQUE played three seasons at Deportivo and was a vital part of the team which almost reached the Champions League final in 2004. Facing rivalry of players like Walter Pandiani, Diego Tristán and Roy Makaay made him occupy the left wing on many occasions, despite this preference for the central striking position. Nevertheless, his performances earned him a move to the Premiership in 2005. A contrast to almost ten years earlier when he was rejected from the Barcelona youth system at the age of 19.
Luque was born in Terrassa (Catalunya) and has been a supporter of FC Barcelona for all his life. But Barça’s coach back then (Louis van Gaal) didn’t consider him to be good enough and in 1997 he moved to the B-team of Mallorca. Early 1999, aged twenty-one, he made five entries into Mallorca’s first team which finished third that season. But there was fierce competition on the island those days of strikers Dani García (who later joined Barcelona), Leo Biagini and Carlos. With the appearance of players like Diego Tristán (23) and Samuel Eto’o (18), the Mallorca board decided that it was best for Luque to gain experience at another team.
During his loan spell at Málaga (1999/2000) Luque finally began to blossom. The team finished twelfth but again there was fierce rivalry; this time of players like Catanha (who scored 24 Liga goals that season), Rufete (who later joined Valencia), Edgar and Dario Silva. Although he played just 758 Liga minutes, the skills he displayed and the 3 goals he scored would give him another chance at Mallorca when he returned in 2000.
After having finished tenth that year, Mallorca qualified for pre-round Champions League football in 2001 by finishing third. This time Luque was more fundamental, which probably was related to Tristán’s departure to Deportivo. Luque had played with Spain at the Sydney Olympics (winning a silver medal) and became a starting player, scoring 9 Liga goals (including one at Riazor and a winner against Real Madrid). In the summer of 2001 it was Luque himself who earned qualification to the Champions League Group Stage by scoring an extra-time goal against Hajduk Split.
A small club as Mallorca was living through their finest moments and almost eliminated Arsenal in 2001 from Europe (but lost on goal difference). But the European efforts might have influenced their poor Liga season. Luque (who allies a fierce left foot with pace and aerial power) formed a fast and dangerous duo with Samuel Eto’o and scored 14 Liga goals. Again Real Madrid were a victim (1-1), but so were Deportivo at the island. On 25 November 2001 the Galicians suffered one of the worst defeats under Irureta (4-1) at Mallorca. Luque scored Mallorca’s first two goals and Depor’s defensive duo César/Hélder seemed helpless. Luque had finally made his breakthrough and even was included in Spain's FIFA World Cup finals squad. He made his debut on 12 June, 2002 and he appeared twice as a substitute in the Far East, coming on in the matches against South Africa and the Republic of Ireland.
 Luque’s transfer to Deportivo that summer became one of the most important moves on the transfer market. At the age of 24 he cost the Galician club a fortune. A total of €40 million was invested in Jorge Andrade, Albert Luque and 'Toro' Acuña to keep Deportivo at their high level of the past three years. These players were the last ones the Galicians spent heavily on until today. Luque would quickly repay the investment though. Again the rivalry was heavily with Makaay (29 Liga goals that season), Diego Tristán and Fran. After a handful of entries as a substitute he made his Liga debut as a starting player on 9 November 2002 at title-contenders Real Sociedad (1-1). He scored Depor’s equalizer and had earned his starting place after the two goals he had scored some days earlier in the Copa at Galician neighbours Ferrol (2-4). His personal highlight of these weeks will probably have been the goal he scored as a substitute against Barcelona (2-0) one week after the goal in the Basque country.
But starting places remained scarce that season. He played just 989 Liga minutes during 2002/2003 but scored an incredible amount of 7 Liga goals in them. His contribution against Málaga was vital when he scored a late-winner with a fantastic bicycle kick against his former club (1-0). It were much-needed points because the Galicians had a difficult first part of the season, partly caused by the injury of playmaker Valerón. Still, at the end of the season Deportivo were fighting for the title. Luque, known for celebrating goals as a torero, scored a total of 4 Copa goals that season, meaning a total of 13 goals combining Liga and Copa.
The Primera División had become to know Luque as class player. Europe was to follow. In the summer of 2003 the main reason why was Makaay’s departure to Bayern Munich. Because Luque was used both as left winger and striker, he surpassed all Fran, Pandiani and Diego Tristán in Liga playing minutes during the season 2003/2004. Luque again was responsible for lifting a club into the Champions League as he scored the winner against Rosenborg in the decisive pre-round match (1-0) in August. He scored his first goal ever at the Nou Camp in October (0-2) against Barcelona and personally qualified Depor for the second round of the Champions League with a fantastic free-kick in The Netherlands against PSV Eindhoven.
His best days as a Deportivo player had arrived. In February 2004 Luque’s goal in Riazor against Juventus (1-0) paved the way to the Quarter Finals. 7 April 2004 will forever be in the history books of European football because that day Deportivo crushed title holders AC Milan 4-0 to make up for the 1-4 loss in Italy earlier. Again, Luque’s goal (Depor’s third) can be considered decisive. His fine season earned him a place in the Spanish squad which played the Euro 2004 tournament. That became a disappointment though. Spain were out much too quickly and Luque only made a brief appearance, out of position on the right-wing, against Portugal. At least it put his name in the books as having played his second international tournament with Spain.
A third tournament never arrived though. By that time the relationship between Deportivo and Luque had cooled down, especially after the ‘flirt’ he had with Barcelona. Luque’s father spoke to Barcelona officials in La Coruña when the Catalans were there to play in Riazor in February 2004. This became only known after the match to the public, but Luque’s poor performance seemed to have an explanation. Lendoiro was furious when he got to know this during the match and immediately made clear that Deportivo would not give in to the effort of both Luque and Barcelona. Because the player had a contract running until 2010, the Catalans knew that their plan to get him cheaply had failed. Luque scored (again) a total of 13 goals that season. But the ‘Barcelona-incident’ had ruined Luque’s time in La Coruña.
Irureta used him in most matches during the season 2004/2005, but Luque didn’t became the leader as can be expected of a Spanish international player turning twenty-seven that season. Deportivo played their worst season in years by finishing eighth in Spain and not scoring a single goal in the Champions League. One of the few highlights of Luque that season was his fantastic goal at the Bernabéu (0-1) which earned Deportivo a historic win in October 2004. But things had changed. Irureta was on his way out and had a public row with striker Walter Pandiani. Besides, the financial problems of the club became clear when, like in 2003, much-demanded investments weren’t made. Depor’s board thought that the team having reached the final four in Europe was still usable. But that was a wrong thought. An influential player like Naybet already had left the club in 2004. The season 2004/2005 was the final one of veterans Fran and Mauro Silva. The glorious days of a generation were over. Luque was blamed that he already had his mind set on a move and didn't take responsibility.
 Still, Luque’s name in Europe was valuable. Lendoiro knew this and, of course, was perfectly aware of Luque’s wishes. These weren’t vital though; the financial situation of the Galicians obligated Lendoiro to negotiate with interested clubs. Despite these difficult circumstances, Depor’s president demonstrated why he is considered as one of the best negotiators in Spain. A deal with Newcastle United was reached and the Magpies paid €14 million. A decent amount taking in mind that the market wasn't the same one anymore as when Depor signed him for a fraction more.
There was a feeling that Luque never had fully lived up to the expectations at Deportivo, especially after the good impression he gave during his first season and the European goals of his second season. Luque’s attitude in matches was heavily criticized by many supporters, who openly blamed him for the ‘Barcelona-incident’. They called him a ‘gold-digger’ and he left the club through the back-door. But there also remained many great memories. Rosenborg, Juventus, Milan, PSV Eindhoven...
Afterwards one can say that Deportivo sold Luque just at the right time. At Newcastle he signed a contract until 2010 with a huge gain in salary. Luque made an impressive debut against Manchester United at St. James Park, but in his next game he suffered a hamstring injury which kept him sidelined for a while. Since then he was used in a number of roles, but failed to live up to his large price tag. His highlight of the season was his goal at Sunderland in April 2006. His first goal at home he scored against Lillestrom at the start of Newcastle's Intertoto Cup tournament that summer. But neither in the season 2006/2007 made Luque impact in England. His appearances had little influence and Luque keeps occupying the bench. In the January 2007 transfer window Luque was linked with a loan move to PSV Eindhoven, but in the end this deal fell through. At the age of 29, his dream of playing for Barcelona seems further away than ever.
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