Alberto Cifuentes Martínez (born 29 May 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, currently manager of Gibraltar Football League club St Joseph's.
Playing career Born in Albacete, Castilla–La Mancha, Cifuentes started playing as a senior with local Albacete Balompié's reserves. On 15 November 1998, after starter Julio Iglesias was sent off early into a home game against CP Mérida, he made his debut in the Segunda División with the first team, going on to concede twice in a 0–2 home loss.
Cifuentes spent several years of his career in the Segunda División B, representing in the second tier, other than Albacete, Ciudad de Murcia, UD Salamanca, Real Murcia CF and Cádiz CF for a total of 293 appearances. In the 2004–05 season he was part of RCD Mallorca's La Liga roster, being only third choice behind Miguel Ángel Moyá and Sander Westerveld.
Cifuentes moved abroad for the first time in summer 2014 at the age of 35, joining a host of compatriots – including manager Ángel Pérez García – at Polish club Piast Gliwice. He made his debut in top-flight football on 20 July of that year, starting in a 4–0 Ekstraklasa defeat at Lech Poznań. He totalled 21 games during his spell, including five for the B side.
In July 2015, Cifuentes returned to Spain after signing a contract with Cádiz CF. He played 42 matches in his debut campaign, which ended in promotion from division three.
Cifuentes rarely missed a game for the Andalusians the following seasons, notably winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the category in 2017–18. He was again instrumental as they returned to the top flight in 2020 after 14 years, still under coach Álvaro Cervera.
On 20 September 2020, aged 41, Cifuentes made his Spanish top-tier debut by starting in a 2–0 away win against SD Huesca, becoming the oldest player to do so in the process. On 5 October, after 209 competitive games for Cádiz, he retired.
Coaching career On 14 February 2021, after a spell as Cádiz sporting director, Cifuentes replaced Juan Manuel Pavón at the helm of their reserves. He left in July 2024 but continued to work in the Segunda Federación as head coach, with CF Villanovense and UD Melilla.
On 2 December 2025, Cifuentes was appointed manager of Gibraltar Football League club St Joseph's.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAlbacete1998–99Segunda División20———20Dos Hermanas1999–2000Segunda División B240———240Mallorca B2000–01Segunda División B360———3602001–02Segunda División340———3402002–03Segunda División130———130Total830———830Mallorca2000–01La Liga000000—002001–02La Liga00000000002002–03La Liga0000——002003–04La Liga00000000002004–05La Liga0000——00Total00000000340Ciudad Murcia (loan)2003–04Segunda División180———180Rayo Vallecano2005–06Segunda División B36010——3702006–07Segunda División B34010—40390Total70020—40760Salamanca2007–08Segunda División22000——2202008–09Segunda División33000——330Total55000——550Murcia2009–10Segunda División B18030——3102010–11Segunda División B37020—404302011–12Segunda División33000——3302012–13Segunda División2010——30Total90060—401000La Hoya Lorca2013–14Segunda División B37000—40410Piast Gliwice2014–15Ekstraklasa15010——160Cádiz2015–16Segunda División B36000—604202016–17Segunda División41000—204302017–18Segunda División42000——4102018–19Segunda División41000——4102019–20Segunda División39000——3902020–21La Liga20———20Total201000—802090Career total595090002006240
Managerial statistics
+ Managerial record by team and tenure TeamNatFromToRecord Cádiz B14 February 20215 July 2024Villanovense15 October 202423 May 2025Melilla16 June 202527 October 2025St Joseph's2 December 2025PresentTotal—
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