Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Spain
Men's Football
Gold	1992 Barcelona	Team Competition

Alfonso Pérez Muñoz (born September 26, 1972 in Getafe), usually referred to as Alfonso, is a former Spanish footballer, in the striker position.

Having represented both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona during his career, Alfonso possessed above-average heading ability despite not reaching 180 cms.

[edit] Club career

In 1990, Alfonso made his professional debuts with Real Madrid and, although he never carved a regular place in the starting XI (playing mostly as understudy to club great Emilio Butragueño and then Iván Zamorano), helped the capital side to the 1994–95 national championship.

In that summer, Alfonso signed with Real Betis. In his second season at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, he converted 25 goals which was the most goals ever scored by a player in a season in the club's history. Teaming up with Pier, the pair combined for 60 first division goals from 1995–97, and helped the Andalusia outfit finish fourth in the latter.

In 2000–01, FC Barcelona signed Alfonso, whom had a difficult time adjusting at Camp Nou, scoring only twice in his debut season, and serving an unsuccessful loan spell at French League's Olympique de Marseille in January 2002 (alongside Real Madrid midfielder Alberto Rivera), where he once again failed to shine.

Barça then loaned Alfonso to former club Betis, which signed him permanently at the end of the season. After two additional seasons where he struggled with injuries and loss of form (only ten scoreless games in 2004–05), Alfonso retired from football after his contract finished, in June 2005. He subsequently returned to Real Madrid, joining its veterans' team.

[edit] International career

Alfonso appeared in thirty-eight international games for Spain, scoring 11 goals. His debut came in a friendly match against England, on September 9, 1992, in Santander, Cantabria.

The most well-known of those 11 goals was perhaps one scored against Yugoslavia in UEFA Euro 2000. Spain were losing 3–2 in injury time, needing a win to qualify from the group at Norway's expense. In the 90th minute, Spain won a penalty, which was converted by Gaizka Mendieta. With seconds remaining, Alfonso volleyed a spectacular shot past Ivica Kralj to claim victory for Spain and his second goal of the match.

He also appeared in all of the nation's matches at UEFA Euro 1996 (equalizing against Bulgaria after just one minute on the pitch) and played in two 1998 FIFA World Cup contests.

Additionally, Alfonso was a member of the national side that won the golden medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

[edit] Personal

• Alfonso is the older brother of another footballer and striker, Iván Pérez Muñoz. Both Real Madrid youth graduates, they coincided one season at Betis, and reunited at Real Madrid veterans.^[1]

• Getafe CF's stadium, the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, is named after him, despite the fact that he never played for his hometown club (or even once in the ground).

[edit] Honours

[edit] Club

• Spanish League: 1994–95
• Spanish Cup: 1992–93, 2004–05
• Spanish Supercup: 1993

[edit] Country

• Summer Olympics: 1992

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Alfonso Pérez FIFA competition record

Spain Squad v • d • e Spain squad – 1992 Summer Olympics Gold Medalists 1 Cañizares • 2 Ferrer • 3 Lasa • 4 Solozábal • 5 López • 6 Villabona • 7 Amavisca • 8 Luis Enrique • 9 Guardiola • 10 Abelardo • 11 Manjarín • 12 Paqui • 13 Toni • 14 Vidal • 15 Soler • 16 Miguel • 17 Berges • 18 Pinilla • 19 Kiko • 20 Alfonso • Coach: Miera v • d • e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 1996 1 Zubizarreta • 2 López • 3 Belsué • 4 Alkorta • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro • 7 Amavisca • 8 Guerrero • 9 Pizzi • 10 Donato • 11 Alfonso • 12 Sergi • 13 Cañizares • 14 Kiko • 15 Caminero • 16 Otero • 17 Manjarín • 18 Amor • 19 Salinas • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Molina • Coach: Clemente v • d • e Spain squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Zubizarreta • 2 Ferrer • 3 Aranzábal • 4 Alkorta • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro • 7 Morientes • 8 Guerrero • 9 Pizzi • 10 Raúl • 11 Alfonso • 12 Sergi • 13 Cañizares • 14 Campo • 15 Aguilera • 16 Celades • 17 Etxeberria • 18 Amor • 19 Kiko • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Molina • Coach: Clemente v • d • e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 2000 1 Cañizares • 2 Salgado • 3 Aranzábal • 4 Guardiola • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro (c) • 7 Helguera • 8 Fran • 9 Munitis • 10 Raúl • 11 Alfonso • 12 Sergi • 13 Casillas • 14 Gerard • 15 Engonga • 16 Mendieta • 17 Etxeberria • 18 Paco • 19 Velasco • 20 Urzaiz • 21 Valerón • 22 Molina • Coach: Camacho