Carlos Ruiz (footballer, born 1983)
Spanish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carlos Ruiz Aranega (born 20 July 1983) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Ruiz Aranega[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 July 1983[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Baza, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Baza | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2004 | Baza | ||
| 2004–2005 | Imperio Albolote | ||
| 2005–2006 | Arenas Armilla | 34 | (4) |
| 2006–2007 | Baza | 36 | (6) |
| 2007–2009 | Granada | 44 | (4) |
| 2009–2011 | Melilla | 71 | (6) |
| 2011–2013 | Ponferradina | 67 | (3) |
| 2013–2023 | Tenerife | 274 | (13) |
| Total | 526 | (36) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He totalled 307 Segunda División games in 11 seasons, scoring 14 goals for Ponferradina and Tenerife.
Club career
Born in Baza, Granada, Andalusia,[3] Ruiz spent ten professional seasons with CD Tenerife, having signed in June 2013 from SD Ponferradina.[4] He scored his first goal in the Segunda División on 19 August 2012 while at the service of the latter club, but in a 4–2 away loss against Elche CF.[5]
During his tenure at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, Ruiz made 286 competitive appearances, scored 17 goals and was sent off eight times, never being relegated[6] and also taking part in the 2022 La Liga play-offs, netting in the 3–1 home defeat to Girona FC in the final.[7] He retired on 10 August 2023, shortly after turning 40.[8][9]
Ruiz was named Tenerife's youth system coordinator on 11 June 2025.[10]