Born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Álvaro began his career with local CD Aurrerá de Vitoria, promoting to the Tercera División in his first season as a senior.
In the summer of 1993 he signed with Basque giants Athletic Bilbao, playing his only two years at the professional level with the reserve side in Segunda División, being second choice.
Álvaro returned to his first club in 1995, going on to represent in the following 14 years Burgos CF, SD Lemona, UB Conquense, Benidorm CF, CD San Isidro, Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa and CP Villarrobledo, in both the Segunda División B and the fourth tier.
He retired at the end of the 2009–10 campaign, after one year with amateurs AD San José Obrero (fifth division).
After his retirement, he worked as a manager in youth teams.