A playmaker, Álvarez was born in Caracas and moved to Spain aged four to reunite with his parents, settling in Sada, Galicia. He showed early promise while playing for Spain at youth level, winning the 1999 Meridian Cup with the under-17 team and also appearing at the 1998 UEFA European Under-16 Championship. Subsequently, he joined Real Madrid to finish his formation but, despite very good performances overall for the B and C-sides, could never break into the main squad. Álvarez was loaned by the Merengues to Racing de Santander in 2000–01. However, he was mostly injured, and could not help the Cantabria team escape La Liga relegation at the season's end. The following campaign, with 31 matches and one goal, he helped the former quickly return to the top flight. In July 2002, Álvarez was sent on loan again, to first division's Rayo Vallecano where he scored eight times and was one of the team's best players, but again his team failed to retain their status, ranking last.
Murcia
Several teams made offers, and Álvarez was finally signed by Real Murcia. Before playing any games for his new club he got injured, and struggled throughout the vast majority of the season, finishing with 12 just appearances as the side went on to rank 20th; fully recovered, he went on to be a very important team player, showing impressive skills and netting some deciders, despite a poor year collectively in 2005–06, that almost ended in relegation – he also established himself as a free kick specialist.
Numancia / Almería
Álvarez was transfer listed in summer 2006 and, on 9 August, he joined CD Numancia on a two-year deal. Playing as an attacking or holding midfielder, he again showed enough quality to earn a regular starting eleven berth under manager Andoni Goikoetxea and, following the departure of some important players, became a key player in team's push for promotion, scoring more winning goals; the Sorians won the 2007–08 championship, five points clear of Málaga CF. Álvarez's contract expired by the end of the season and UD Almería signed him on a free transfer on 3 July 2008, where he got the opportunity to work again with Gonzalo Arconada, his former boss at Numancia. He replaced ACF Fiorentina-bound Felipe Melo.
On 11 August 2011, Álvarez returned to Numancia after terminating his contract with Tenerife. During the 2014–15 campaign, he scored a career-best 12 goals under Juan Antonio Anquela. On 2 March 2017, Álvarez signed a new three-year deal with the club. In April, he suffered an ankle injury which kept him out for 13 months. On 13 July 2018, 37-year-old Álvarez announced his retirement from professional football. One year later, he was named Bolo's assistant at SD Ponferradina, recently returned to the second tier.
International career
Álvarez won 28 caps for Spain, all youth levels combined. On 14 October 2011, after switching allegiance to his country of birth, the 30-year-old made his debut for Venezuela in a 1–0 home win against Argentina for the 2014 FIFA World Cupqualifiers.
Personal life
Álvarez's older brother, Javier, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He spent his entire career in Spanish amateur football; in addition, he represented Spain in three FIFA Beach SoccerWorld Cups.
