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Raul BravoSpanish footballer, defender
Date of Birth: 14.04.1981
Country:  Spain |
Content:
- Early Career
- Real Madrid Debut
- Seeking Opportunities Abroad
- Greek Adventure
- International Glory
- Senior Spain Cap
Early Career
Alberto Bravo González, born on January 12, 1981, embarked on his football journey in Spain, starting off with Palma and Gandía. At the tender age of 16, he joined Real Madrid's youth ranks, honing his skills for the next three years.
Real Madrid Debut
Bravo ascended to Real Madrid C and Real Madrid B in the fourth and third tiers, respectively. He made his senior team debut on October 6, 2001, in a match against Athletic Bilbao at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu. The opportunity arose due to the absence of key players called up for international duty.
Seeking Opportunities Abroad
In 2003, Bravo was loaned out to Leeds United in search of regular playing time. However, he struggled to make an impact, making only five appearances. Upon returning to Real Madrid, he continued to feature sporadically but never cemented his place in the starting lineup.
Greek Adventure
August 2007 marked a new chapter for Bravo as he signed a four-year deal with Olympiacos. Despite a significant transfer fee of €2.3 million, he found limited opportunities (13 games in two seasons). He was loaned to Numancia in the January 2009 transfer window for a brief stint of six matches.
International Glory
Bravo represented Spain at the U-16 level, winning the Algarve tournament in 1997-1998. He also contributed two goals in three appearances for the U-17 team in an international tournament held in Nymburk. In 2002, he earned three caps for the U-21 team.
Senior Spain Cap
Alberto Bravo made his Spain debut in an international friendly against Hungary on August 21, 2002. He was part of the Euro 2004 squad that failed to progress beyond the group stage. He played in all three group matches against Portugal, Russia, and Greece. However, he did not receive any further call-ups, ending his international career with 14 appearances.
