Álvaro Ratón

Álvaro Ratón
Ratón with Galicia in 2024
Personal information
Full name Álvaro López Ratón
Date of birth (1993-01-29) 29 January 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth O Carballiño, Spain
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 3+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Lamia
Number 1
Youth career
Arenteiro
Pabellón
2007–2010 Valencia
2010–2011 Deportivo La Coruña
2011–2012 Montañeros
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Arroyo 0 (0)
2013 Algeciras 5 (0)
2013–2014 Betis B 2 (0)
2014–2015 Villanovense 15 (0)
2015–2016 Zaragoza B 43 (0)
2016–2023 Zaragoza 56 (0)
2023–2024 Wisła Kraków 27 (0)
2024– Lamia 4 (0)
International career‡
2024– Galicia 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 June 2024
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is López and the second or maternal family name is Ratón.

Álvaro López Ratón (born 29 January 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Greek Super League club Lamia.

Club career

Early career

Born in O Carballiño, Ourense, Galicia, Ratón joined Valencia CF's youth setup in 2007, aged 13, after spells at CD Arenteiro and Pabellón CF. He subsequently represented Deportivo de La Coruña and Montañeros CF as a youth, before signing for Arroyo CP in 2012.[1]

After making no appearances for Arroyo, Ratón left the club in December 2012 and moved to Algeciras CF in Tercera División.[2] He made his senior debut on 10 February 2013, starting in a 2–0 home win against CD Alcalá.

Ratón joined Real Betis' reserve team also in the fourth level in June 2013, after impressing on a trial.[3] After being rarely used, he signed with CF Villanovense on 17 July 2014.[4]

Zaragoza

On 12 June 2015 Ratón moved to another reserve team, Real Zaragoza B in the fourth division.[5] On 15 July of the following year, after being an undisputed starter, he renewed his contract until 2019 and was definitely promoted to the first team.[6]

Ratón made his professional debut on 7 September, starting in a 1–2 Copa del Rey home loss against Real Valladolid.[7] He made his Segunda División debut on 23 October, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 away draw against the same opponent.[8]

After overtaking Xabi Irureta and Sebastián Saja in his first season, Ratón spent the following years as a backup to Cristian Álvarez. On 2 June 2023, he left the club after eight seasons as his contract was due to expire.[9]

Wisła Kraków

On 24 June 2023, Ratón moved abroad to join Polish second division side Wisła Kraków on a one-year deal.[10] He made two Polish Cup appearances during the 2023–24 season, in two 2–1 victories over Ekstraklasa clubs Widzew Łódź and Piast Gliwice,[11] as Wisła went on to win the final against Pogoń Szczecin on 2 May 2024.[12]

On 26 April 2024, his contract was extended for another year.[13] He made no further appearances for Wisła past that point, and left the club by mutual consent on 13 June 2024.[14]

Lamia

On 4 July 2024, Ratón signed with Super League Greece club Lamia.[15]

International career

Ratón earned his first cap for Galicia in the region's first match in eight years on 31 May 2024, coming on as a substitute in the 33rd minute of a 0–2 friendly loss to Panama.[16]

Honours

Wisła Kraków

References

  1. ^ "Álvaro Ratón, de O Carballiño a Zaragoza para cumplir un sueño" [Álvaro Ratón, from O Carballiño to Zaragoza to fulfill a dream] (in Spanish). GaliFutbol. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Alvaro Ratón, portero del Arroyo, ultima su marcha" [Alvaro Ratón, goalkeeper of Arroyo, concludes his departure] (in Spanish). El Periódico de Extremadura. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  3. ^ "El Betis ficha a Marc Mas, del Sant Andreu, y someterá a prueba al meta Álvaro Ratón" [Betis sign Marc Mas, from Sant Andreu, and will offer a trial to goalkeeper Álvaro Ratón] (in Spanish). El Correo de Andalucía. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Álvaro Ratón llega del Betis B para defender la portería del Villanovense" [Álvaro Ratón arrives from Betis B to defend the goal of Villanovense] (in Spanish). Área Deportiva. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  5. ^ "El guardameta Álvaro Ratón, segundo fichaje del filial maño" [Goalkeeper Álvaro Ratón, second signing of the Aragonese reserves] (in Spanish). Vavel. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Álvaro Ratón amplía su contrato con el Real Zaragoza hasta 2019" [Álvaro Ratón extends his contract with Real Zaragoza until 2019] (in Spanish). Real Zaragoza. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  7. ^ "El Valladolid quiso más que el Zaragoza" [Valladolid wanted it more than Zaragoza] (in Spanish). Marca. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Real Valladolid y Real Zaragoza firman tablas" [Real Valladolid and Real Zaragoza draw blank] (in Spanish). Marca. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Finaliza la relación contractual con Álvaro Ratón" [Ends the contractual relationship with Álvaro Ratón] (in Spanish). Real Zaragoza. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Álvaro Ratón zawodnikiem Wisły" [Álvaro Ratón joins Wisła]. 90minut.pl (in Polish). 24 June 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Sezon 2023/24". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Olbrzymia niespodzianka w finale Pucharu Polski. Wisła Kraków wygrała z Pogonią Szczecin [WIDEO]". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Jesús Alfaro, Marc Carbó, Álvaro Ratón i Joan Román na dłużej w Wiśle". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Álvaro Ratón opuszcza Wisłę Kraków" (in Polish). Wisła Kraków. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με Alvaro Raton" (in Greek). Lamia. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Alvaro Raton zagrał w reprezentacji Galicji". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). 1 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.