Born in
La Pobla Llarga,
Valencian Community, Albelda started his career as a
central defender with local
UD Alzira and, after having served two separate loans with
Villarreal CF, also in the region, returned for good to first professional club
Valencia CF in the
1999–2000 season, playing a major role in a squad that was crowned
La Liga champions in
2002 and
2004, adding to that the
2004 UEFA Cup; since summer 2001, with
Gaizka Mendieta's departure, he was also awarded
team captaincy. Albelda, along with teammates
Santiago Cañizares and
Miguel Ángel Angulo was axed from the squad on 20 December 2007 by recently arrived coach
Ronald Koeman; in the captain's case, he had ironically just renewed his link with the
Che until 2011. In response, on 2 January 2008, Albelda's lawyer claimed that Valencia had ignored his client's plea for an amicable end to the player's contract, with legal recourse the only possible avenue left. With news of this hitting the media, several teams, although he would not be able to join any Spanish team for the remainder of
the season, having played more than four league games, studied the possibility of signing him in the winter transfer window, with hopes of a
free transfer. In late April 2008, however, with Koeman's dismissal, all three were reinstated by new manager
Voro in a squad seriously threatened with relegation, with five remaining rounds. He returned to action in the second half of the 6–0 away loss against
FC Barcelona on 4 May, and received his first post-reinstatement start in a 5–1 victory in the derby away at
Levante UD the following week, as the side mathematically retained top-flight status. For
2008–09, Albelda remained a regular fixture alongside longtime central midfield teammate
Rubén Baraja. On 10 January 2009 he delivered an outstanding performance at
right-back, replacing suspended
Miguel in a 3–3 home
derby against Villarreal. in 2012 Albelda was played intermittently by Valencia from 2010 to 2013, also suffering several injury problems. On 10 June 2013, it was announced that the 35-year-old would not renew his contract with the club, leaving as a free agent; he announced his retirement two months later. ==International career==