24 Facts About Albert Riera

Albert Riera Ortega was born on 15 April 1982 and is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Slovenian PrvaLiga club Celje.

Albert Riera played as a left winger, and as a left-back.

Albert Riera made a name for himself at Espanyol and played professionally in France, England, Greece, Turkey, Italy and Slovenia, notably spending three years with Galatasaray.

Albert Riera began managing in 2022, leading Olimpija Ljubljana to the Slovenian PrvaLiga title and cup for a double in his first season.

Albert Riera totalled 17 games and three goals in his first two seasons.

Albert Riera made 66 competitive appearances for the Ligue 1 side over a two-year spell, netting nine times; this included five in a run to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in his first season before elimination by eventual winners Valencia.

Albert Riera returned to Spain in 2005, when he signed for Espanyol.

Albert Riera netted Liverpool's first goal of 2009, and scored in the third round in the FA Cup on 3 January, against Preston North End.

On 18 March 2010, Albert Riera was suspended after comments made to the Spanish press regarding his first team opportunities and the approach of manager Rafael Benitez.

On 23 July 2010, Albert Riera joined Olympiacos on a four-year contract.

On 24 March 2014, Albert Riera signed a pre-contract with Italian side Udinese, effective as of 1 July.

On 29 November 2014, Albert Riera was sacked by Udinese for attending a poker tournament rather than reporting to play against Chievo, taking to Twitter to insult the organisation.

Albert Riera terminated his contract on 22 January 2016, but remained in the country as he joined Koper until June 2018 shortly after.

Albert Riera joined the team as an assistant sporting director, and made one brief appearance against Primorje in the first game of the second half of the season; he was then suspended from training and his contract was cancelled unilaterally in July 2016.

Albert Riera officially announced his retirement from football on 24 January 2018, through a social media post portraying himself having literally hung up his boots on a tree.

Albert Riera obtained a UEFA Pro Licence in 2019, and in August of the following year he returned to Galatasaray to be an assistant coach to Fatih Terim.

On 4 July 2022, Albert Riera returned to the Slovenian top tier when he was appointed manager of Olimpija Ljubljana.

Albert Riera was forced out of his first press conference by Olimpija ultras, Green Dragons, unhappy with the dismissal of predecessor Robert Prosinecki.

Albert Riera completed the double after defeating Maribor in the Slovenian Cup with a 130th-minute penalty kick by Timi Max Elsnik.

On 20 July 2023, two days before the start of the new season, Albert Riera was officially unveiled as manager of Celje in the Slovenian top tier.

Albert Riera totalled 17 matches, notably knocking out Portugal's Vitoria de Guimaraes in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Albert Riera returned to Celje on 29 July 2024, on a two-year deal.

In 2009, Albert Riera married Julia Koroleva, fathering three children with his Russian bride.

Albert Riera moved to Omsk in Siberia, where he set up a football academy.