Esteban (footballer)

Esteban Andrés Suárez (born 27 June 1975), known simply as Esteban, is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He started and finished his extensive senior career, which spanned more than two decades, at Real Oviedo. He appeared in 280 matches in La Liga over 13 seasons, also representing in the competition Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, Celta and Almería.

Early years
Born in Avilés, Asturias, Esteban began his career with hometown's SD Navarro CF in 1993, but soon moved to local giants Real Oviedo after a stint at Real Avilés Industrial. In five seasons with the first team, four of those spent in La Liga, he only missed a total of 12 league games, and moved to Atlético Madrid in summer 2002 as the Colchoneros had just returned to the top flight after a two-year absence, finishing the campaign as starter after beginning as understudy to Germán Burgos.

Esteban joined fellow top-division club Sevilla FC in August 2003. After two solid seasons with the Andalusians (two sixth league places, as first choice) he signed for RC Celta de Vigo, backing up José Manuel Pinto in the Segunda División side until the latter moved to FC Barcelona in January 2008.

Almería
In the 2008 off-season, Esteban joined UD Almería in the top tier, where he was second choice to Diego Alves in his first year. However, profiting from injury to the starter in late March 2009, he was put between the posts and remained there until the end of the season even when the Brazilian recovered.

In the 2009–10 campaign, Esteban's league output consisted of 30 minutes – the last round notwithstanding – after Alves was sent off in a 0–3 home defeat against Valencia CF. At the season's end, however, the 35-year-old renewed his contract for another year.

Esteban continued as Alves' backup in 2010–11. He was the starter, however, in Almería's Copa del Rey run, which saw the club reach the competition's semi-finals for the first time ever. In the final stretch of the campaign, as they were already relegated and Alves announced his departure to Valencia, he appeared in four matches and conceded 11 goals, including eight in a 8–1 loss at Real Madrid.

Subsequently, at 36, Esteban became Almería's first choice. He played all 42 league games during the second-division season, conceding 43 goals as the team finished seventh.

Esteban did not miss one single match in the 2013–14 campaign, as the Rojiblancos were again in the Spanish top flight and managed to stay afloat.

Return to Oviedo
On 13 May 2014, Esteban announced he was returning to Oviedo twelve years after leaving. An undisputed starter in his first two seasons, he was overtaken by new signing Juan Carlos in 2016–17.

On 29 June 2017, despite Esteban's willingness to play a further season, he retired and was immediately included in the club's backroom staff.

Honours
Oviedo
 * Segunda División B: 2014–15

Spain U21
 * UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1998