Albert Luque
A dynamic Spanish forward whose powerful left foot and crucial goals fueled Deportivo La Coruña's historic title charge and European adventures.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Spanish retired footballer·Birthday: March 11·Generation X
Biography
Albert Luque's career arc captured the fleeting, intense glory of Spanish football in the early 2000s. He emerged at Mallorca as a pacy, direct winger with a hammer of a shot, but his defining years came at Deportivo La Coruña. There, as part of the thrilling 'Super Depor' side, he became a symbol of their ambition, scoring vital goals in La Liga and the Champions League with his preferred left foot. A big-money move to Newcastle United promised a new chapter, but injuries and adaptation struggles limited his impact in England. He later found redemption in Holland with Ajax before winding down his career. Luque is remembered not for longevity at the very top, but for the explosive moments of quality that defined an era for his clubs and made him a formidable opponent on his day.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Albert was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Albert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Albert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2006 Copa del Rey with Deportivo La Coruña, scoring in the final against Real Zaragoza.
- Scored a famous last-minute winning goal against AC Milan in the 2004-05 UEFA Champions League group stage.
- Was part of the Deportivo La Coruña squad that finished as La Liga runners-up in the 2003-04 season.
- Won the Eredivisie title and the KNVB Cup with Ajax in the 2006-07 season.
- Earned 17 caps for the Spanish national team, scoring two goals.
Did You Know?
His transfer from Deportivo La Coruña to Newcastle United in 2005 was for a fee of approximately £9.5 million.
Luque scored on his debut for three different clubs: RCD Mallorca, Deportivo La Coruña, and Ajax.
After retiring, he worked as a football commentator and analyst for Spanish television.
“I scored the goal that sent Deportivo to the Champions League semifinals.”
