Raúl Rodríguez (footballer)

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Raúl Rodríguez
Rodríguez playing for Catalonia in 2013
Personal information
Full name Raúl Rodríguez Navarro
Date of birth (1987-09-22) 22 September 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
1999–2006 Josep Gené
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Vilassar Mar
2007–2010 Gramenet 83 (3)
2010–2011 Espanyol B 14 (0)
2010–2015 Espanyol 80 (0)
2015–2016 Houston Dynamo 52 (3)
2017 Shanghai Shenxin 28 (3)
2018 Meizhou Meixian Techand 3 (0)
2019 Al-Arabi 3 (0)
Total 263 (9)
International career
2011 Catalonia 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Raúl Rodríguez Navarro (Spanish pronunciation: [raˈul roˈðɾiɣeθ]; born 22 September 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

He played 92 matches for Espanyol, and subsequently competed in the United States, China and Kuwait.

Club career

Espanyol

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Rodríguez made his professional debut with UDA Gramenet, going on to play three full Segunda División B seasons with the team. In summer 2010 he signed for neighbouring RCD Espanyol, being initially assigned to their reserves.[1]

After Víctor Ruiz was sold in the 2011 January transfer window, and Juan Forlín suffered a serious injury, Rodríguez was propelled to the first team by manager Mauricio Pochettino.[2] On 27 November 2010 he made his La Liga debut, coming on as a substitute for Dani Osvaldo in the last minute of a 3–2 away win against Atlético Madrid,[3] and finished his first professional season with ten appearances, including eight starts.[4]

Rodríguez was definitely promoted to the main squad on 1 August 2011.[5] He renewed his contract with the club in June 2012, running until 2015.[6]

On 8 January 2015, having been completely ostracised by new coach Sergio, Rodríguez cut ties with the Pericos as his link was due to expire on 30 June.[7]

Abroad

On 9 January 2015, Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer announced they had signed Rodríguez.[8] He made his debut for his new team on 8 March, being replaced in injury time of a 1–0 home win over the Columbus Crew.[9] His first goal came on 26 April, in a 4–4 draw against Sporting Kansas City.[10]

After leaving the United States, Rodríguez played for China League One pair Shanghai Shenxin F.C. and Meizhou Meixian Techand F.C. before signing for Al-Arabi SC of the Kuwaiti Premier League in 2019. He was signed for all three clubs by compatriot manager Juan Ignacio Martínez.[11]

International career

Rodríguez was never capped by Spain at any level. He played one match for the Catalonia representative side on 30 December 2011, a goalless draw with Tunisia at his club ground the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, as a half-time substitute for Gerard Piqué.[12]

Career statistics

As of match played on 31 March 2018
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Gramenet 2007–08[13] Segunda División B 28 0 0 0 28 0
2008–09[13] Segunda División B 23 1 0 0 23 1
2009–10[13] Segunda División B 32 2 1 0 33 2
Total 83 3 1 0 84 3
Espanyol 2010–11[13] La Liga 10 0 0 0 10 0
2011–12[13] La Liga 28 0 4 0 32 0
2012–13[13] La Liga 22 0 1 0 23 0
2013–14[13] La Liga 19 0 5 0 24 0
2014–15[13] La Liga 1 0 2 0 3 0
Total 80 0 12 0 92 0
Houston Dynamo 2015[14] Major League Soccer 27 2 1 0 28 2
2016[14] Major League Soccer 25 1 2 1 27 2
Total 52 3 3 1 55 4
Shanghai Shenxin 2017[15] China League One 28 3 6 0 34 3
Meizhou Meixian Techand 2018[15] China League One 3 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 246 9 22 0 0 0 268 9

References

  1. ^ "L'Espanyol puja Raúl Rodríguez al primer equip" [Espanyol promote Raúl Rodríguez to first team]. Ara (in Catalan). 1 August 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Las pruebas médicas a Amat descartan complicaciones en el menisco" [Medical tests on Amat rule meniscus complications out]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 April 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Atlético Madrid 2–3 Espanyol". ESPN Soccernet. 27 November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  4. ^ "El Espanyol plantea renovar a Raúl Rodríguez" [Espanyol contemplate renewing Raúl Rodríguez]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Raúl Rodríguez, al primer equip" [Raúl Rodríguez, to the first team] (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Raúl Rodríguez, fins al 2015" [Raúl Rodríguez, until 2015] (PDF) (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 19 June 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  7. ^ Cordovilla, Anna (8 January 2015). "Raúl Rodríguez rescinde su contrato con el Espanyol" [Raúl Rodríguez rescinds his contract with Espanyol]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Houston Dynamo expect signing of La Liga center back Raul Rodriguez to address backline weaknesses". Major League Soccer. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  9. ^ Lovell, Darrell (8 March 2015). "Match recap: Houston Dynamo 1, Columbus Crew SC 0". Houston Dynamo. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  10. ^ Lovell, Darrell (26 April 2015). "Match recap: Houston Dynamo 4, Sporting KC 4". Houston Dynamo. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  11. ^ Manchón, Martín (14 August 2019). "Raúl Rodríguez, el hombre de confianza de JIM" [Raúl Rodríguez, JIM's sidekick] (in Spanish). Migrantes del Balón. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  12. ^ Ruiz, David (30 December 2011). "Catalunya empata con Túnez en el tradicional amistoso navideño" [Catalonia draw with Tunisia in traditional Christmas-time friendly]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h "Raúl Rodríguez: Raúl Rodríguez Navarro". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Raúl Rodríguez". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Raúl Rodríguez". Soda Soccer. Retrieved 23 May 2018.