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,[3] finishing the campaign as starter after beginning as understudy to Germán Burgos.

[6] After two solid seasons with the Andalusians (two sixth league places, as first choice) he signed for RC Celta de Vigo,[7] backing up José Manuel Pinto in the Segunda División side until the latter moved to FC Barcelona in January 2008.

[10] In the 2009–10 campaign, Esteban's league output consisted of 30 minutes – the last round notwithstanding[11]– after Alves was sent off in a 0–3 home defeat against Valencia CF.

[14] 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.

[20] 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.