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Laia Aleixandri

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Aleixandri and the second or maternal family name is López.
Laia Aleixandri
Aleixandri with Atlético Madrid in 2019
Personal information
Full name Laia Aleixandri López[1]
Date of birth (2000-08-25) 25 August 2000 (age 24)[2]
Place of birth Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender[1]
Team information
Current team
 Manchester City
Number 4
Youth career
2006–2008 Arrabal Calaf
2008–2012 Sant Gabriel
2012–2015 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Barcelona B
2017–2022 Atlético Madrid 115 (8)
2022– Manchester City 42 (1)
International career‡
2015–2017 Spain U-17 30 (5)
2017–2019 Spain U-19 11 (1)
2018–2023 Spain U-20 6 (0)
2019– Spain 35 (2)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  Spain
UEFA Women's Nations League
Winner 2024 France–Netherlands–Spain
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:10, 20 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:10, 18 September 2024 (UTC)

Laia Aleixandri López (born 25 August 2000) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as defender for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the Spain national team.[3]

In January 2020, she was named by UEFA as one of the 10 most promising young players in Europe.[4]

Club career

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Youth

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Laia started playing soccer when she was 4 years old.[5] Between 2006 and 2008 she played for CE Arrabal Calaf in the youngest category. In 2008 she started playing at CE Sant Gabriel where she stayed for four years. She entered the youth ranks of FC Barcelona at the age of 11 and played for three seasons.[6]

FC Barcelona "B"

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In the 2015/16 season Laia joined FC Barcelona B, making her debut in the Second Division at the age of 14 on the U17 team.[7] They were proclaimed champion of their group with 72 points in 26 games.[8]

In the 2016/17 season she was once again part of the club's B squad.[9] That season they once again became champions of their category with 60 points.[10]

Atlético Madrid

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Laia signed for Atlético Madrid and made her debut on 2 September 2017 in the First Division in an away match against Fundación Albacete, earning a 3-1 victory.[11][12]

On 25 April 2018 she suffered a fracture of the ulna and radius of her right arm while playing with the U20 national team.[13] Laia played seven league games in the 2017–18 season and ended up becoming champion of the League and runner-up in the Cup with Atlético Madrid.[14][15]

Laia played in the U-20 World Cup with an outstanding performance, establishing herself as a starter in the 2018–19 season. On November 4 she scored her first goal with Atlético against Levante and was chosen Player of the Match.[16][17] She continued to be a starter throughout the League, missing only one game due to injury and another due to suspension. In May 2019 she achieved her second League title.[18] In the Copa de la Reina she had a prominent role in the semi-finals and played in the final where Atlético were runners-up to Real Sociedad.[19]

During the 2019–20 season she established herself as a starter. She played 20 league games before it was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic and finished runner-up in the league.

In the 2020–21 season she debuted as captain in November,[20] and was named fourth captain in December.[21] In December she was included in the Football Draft Golden Eleven for her performances during the season.[22] In January 2021 she won the Super Cup and was named best player of the championship.[23] Then she was chosen best player of the month for February and March by the fans.[24] In March the IFFHS included her in its UEFA Under-20 Team of the Year 2020.[25]

In the 2021–22 season she scored a double in the 5-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano.[26] In October she was chosen in the Golden Eleven of Football Draft.[27] A regular starter in the team, in January 2022 the commemorative plaque was installed on the club's legends walk, which certifies having played more than 100 games for Atlético Madrid.[28]

Manchester City

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After another year being a key pillar at Atlético Madrid, on 9 June 2022, both Laia and Manchester City announced she would join the club at the beginning of the 2022–23 season.

Laia scored in the 74th minute in the 1-0 win over Arsenal in the fifth round of the 2023–24 FA Cup, advancing Manchester City to the quarterfinals.[29]

International career

[edit]

Youth

[edit]

With the U-16 national team Laia was called up to play in the UEFA Development Tournament on 9 February 2015. She was proclaimed champion of the tournament along with her teammates after beating Scotland, Germany, and Netherlands.[30]

Laia debuted with the Spain U-17 team on 11 March 2015 at the age of 14 in Spain's 1-0 victory over England in a friendly match, in which she scored the winning goal.  On March 22 she debuted in an official match against Russia with a three-zero victory, scoring one of the goals. That summer she was called up for the U-17 European Championship where she became champion by defeating Switzerland by 5-2 in the final.[31] Laia was chosen as part of the Best Team of the tournament.

In 2016 she played again in the U-17 European Championship where Spain lost the final on penalties against Germany, and Laia was again chosen in the ideal team of the tournament. That same year she played in the U-17 World Cup where Laia started in all the matches.[3] She scored against New Zealand in the group stage and was chosen Player of the Match. She was nominated for the Golden Ball of the tournament.  And she was chosen in the Best Team of the tournament. Spain won the bronze medal.

In 2017 she played her third U-17 European Championship, captaining the team and losing on penalties in the final. Laia was once again part of the tournament's best team.

Laia played a total of 34 games with the U-17 national team and scored 7 goals, being the player who has played the most games in this category.[32]

On 5 September 2017 Laia was called up to the U-19 national team. Laia debuted in this category on 12 September 2017 in Florence against Italy in a match that ended with a 2-2 draw.

Laia was called up with the U-20 national team to compete in the 2018 World Cup in France.[33] She started as a substitute but an injury to Ona Batlle in the first match allowed her to play the rest of the games as a starter. Spain was runner-up in the world after losing in the final 3-1 against Japan.[34]

She participated as a starter in the qualification for the 2019 U-19 European Championship. She played all four matches in the finals in Scotland as a starter, making her debut against Belgium as captain of the team and scoring the team's second goal by heading in a corner kick in a 2-1 victory. In the second match they beat England 1-0, with which they qualified for the semi-final and for the 2020 U-20 World Cup. In the third match they tied 0-0 against Germany, being second group by goal difference.[35] In the semifinal against France they tied the game and lost 3-1 in extra time.[36] At the end of the tournament she was chosen as part of the championship's ideal eleven.[37]

Senior

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She debuted with the senior national team on 17 May 2019 in a friendly against Cameroon in preparation for the World Cup in France, in which she scored a goal.[38] On 27 November 2020 she played her second match and her first in official competition in the 10-0 victory over Moldova. Since then she was regularly called up as a replacement for the starting centre-backs, Mapi León and Irene Paredes. She started the first qualifying match for the 2023 World Cup against the Faroe Islands in which she scored the last goal of the match, concluding with a result of 10-0.[39]

She was called up to the first list of those selected for the Euro 2022.[40] On June 27 she was part of the final call to compete in the Euro.[41]

In 2023, she was part of Las 15, a group of 15 players that withdrew themselves from the national team in a rift with the national team coach Jorge Vilda.[42][43]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 20 October 2024[44]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other[c] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlético Madrid 2017–18 Primera División 7 0 0 0 — 1 0 — 8 0
2018–19 Primera División 18 2 4 0 — 3 0 — 25 2
2019–20 Primera División 20 1 1 0 — 4 0 1 0 26 1
2020–21 Primera División 31 1 2 0 — 4 0 2 0 39 1
2021–22 Primera División 29 4 1 0 — 0 0 2 0 32 4
Total 105 8 8 0 — 12 0 5 0 130 8
Manchester City 2022–23 Women's Super League 16 0 3 0 4 0 2 0 — 25 0
2023–24 Women's Super League 21 1 3 1 5 0 — — 29 2
2024–25 Women's Super League 5 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 — 9 0
Total 42 1 6 1 9 0 6 0 — 63 2
Career total 147 9 14 1 9 0 18 0 5 0 193 10
  1. ^ Includes Copa de la Reina, Women's FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes FA Women's League Cup
  3. ^ includes Supercopa de España Femenina

International

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As of match played 9 August 2024[44]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Spain 2019 1 1
2020 0 0
2021 3 0
2022 12 1
2023 6 0
2024 13 0
Total 35 2
Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Aleixandri goal.
List of international goals scored by Laia Aleixandri
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 17 May 2019 Estadio Pedro Escartín, Guadalajara, Spain  Cameroon 4–0 4–0 Friendly
2. 16 September 2021 Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands  Faroe Islands 10–0 10–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification

Honours

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Atletico de Madrid

Barcelona B

Spain

Spain U20

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Laia Aleixandri at Soccerway
  2. ^ Laia Aleixandri – FIFA competition record (archived)
  3. ^ a b "Laia Aleixandri, el muro de La Rojita" [Laia Aleixandri, the wall of La Rojita] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Ten for the future: UEFA.com's women players to watch for 2020". UEFA. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. ^ Roldán, Isabel (23 March 2015). "Laia Aleixandri, con 14 años, es la benjamina de la Sub-17". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  6. ^ Gil, Aimara G. (21 August 2018). "Laia Aleixandri, el muro de La Rojita". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Plantilla Femenino B | Canal Oficial FC Barcelona". www.fcbarcelona.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  8. ^ "El Femenino B, campeón de la Segunda División". www.fcbarcelona.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Notícies del Formatiu Femení | Canal Oficial FC Barcelona". www.fcbarcelona.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  10. ^ "El filial concluye otra gran temporada". www.fcbarcelona.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Laia, Ludmila, Carla, Kaci y Viola debutaron como rojiblancas". Club Atlético de Madrid (in European Spanish). 2 September 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Laia Aleixandri, nuevo refuerzo del Atlético de Madrid Femenino". Club Atlético de Madrid (in European Spanish). 10 July 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Laia Aleixandri sufre una fractura de cúbito y radio". Club Atlético de Madrid (in European Spanish). 26 April 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  14. ^ Confidencial, El (13 May 2018). "El Atlético de Madrid vuelve a sorprender al Barça y se lleva la liga femenina". elconfidencial.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Fútbol Femenino: Mariona Caldentey da la Copa de la Reina al Barcelona con un gol en el último minuto". Marca.com (in Spanish). 2 June 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Importante triunfo ante el Levante". Club Atlético de Madrid (in European Spanish). 4 November 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  17. ^ "¿Quién fue la mejor jugadora de la jornada ocho de la Liga Iberdrola?". Página web oficial de LALIGA | LALIGA (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  18. ^ Giovio, Eleonora (6 May 2019). "El Atlético de Madrid Femenino gana su tercera Liga Iberdrola consecutiva". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  19. ^ "La Real Sociedad hace historia con la conquista de la Copa de la Reina". Marca.com (in Spanish). 11 May 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  20. ^ Fernández, Andrés España (9 November 2020). "Laia Aleixandri, una capitana de futuro". Atletico Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Amanda Sampedro, Meseguer, Menayo y Laia Aleixandri, capitanas para esta temporada". Club Atlético de Madrid (in European Spanish). 23 December 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  22. ^ "El Once de Oro Femenino, un equipo de muchos quilates". www.futboldraft.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.[permanent dead link‍]
  23. ^ "Laia Aleixandri, Mejor Jugadora de la Supercopa de España Iberdrola | www.rfef.es". Web oficial de la Real Federación Española de Fútbol. (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  24. ^ "Fútbol Mahou".
  25. ^ "IFFHS". www.iffhs.com. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  26. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Goleada en el estreno liguero". Club Atlético de Madrid (in European Spanish). 4 September 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Pedri, Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati, Berta Pujadas, Athenea y Nerea Eizagirre, en los Onces de Oro de Futbol Draft 2020/2021". www.futboldraft.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2024.[permanent dead link‍]
  28. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Aleixandri, Menayo, Ludmila y Lola Gallardo ya tienen su placa en el Wanda Metropolitano". Club Atlético de Madrid (in European Spanish). 28 January 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Man City beat Arsenal to reach Women's FA Cup last eight". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  30. ^ "España, campeona del Torneo de Desarrollo de la UEFA | SEFutbol". 11 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 November 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  31. ^ "2015 UEFA European U-17 Championship" (PDF).
  32. ^ "Laia Aleixandri, talento del Barça, al Atlético". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 28 June 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  33. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Misa, Menayo y Laia convocadas con España para el Mundial Sub-20 de Francia 2018". Club Atlético de Madrid (in European Spanish). 13 June 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  34. ^ "¡Japón, campeona del mundo! (1-3)". inside.fifa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  35. ^ "CRONICA | España suma un punto frente a Alemania (0-0) | SEFutbol". 23 July 2019. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  36. ^ "CRÓNICA | España cae en las semifinales del campeonato de Europa ante Francia (3-1) | SEFutbol". 26 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  37. ^ UEFA.com (30 July 2019). "El Equipo del Torneo del #WU19EURO | Femenino sub-19". UEFA.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  38. ^ "CRÓNICA | Embaladas hacia el Mundial (4-0) | SEFutbol". 7 July 2022. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  39. ^ UEFA.com. "Islas Feroe-España | Mundial femenino 2023". UEFA.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  40. ^ "OFICIAL | Esta es la primera lista de convocadas por la Selección española femenina con vistas a la EURO 2022 | SEFutbol". 10 June 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  41. ^ "OFICIAL | Esta es la lista de convocadas por la Selección española femenina para la EURO 2022 | SEFutbol". 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  42. ^ Goldberg, Rob. "15 Players from Spain's Women's National Team Resign in Protest Against Jorge Vilda". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  43. ^ "Explained: Spain women's team 'mutiny' & why players have resigned from national team | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  44. ^ a b "Spain - L. Alexandri - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  45. ^ "Women's Nations League final: World Cup winners Spain beat France 2–0 in Seville". BBC Sport. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  46. ^ "PFA WSL Team of the Year". Professional Footballers' Association. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
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