Rubi (footballer)

Born in Vilassar de Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Rubi never competed in higher than the Segunda División B during a ten-year senior career. He started out at local club Vilassar de Mar in 1989.^[2]

Rubi appeared in the promotion playoffs to Segunda División with both Manlleu and Terrassa, falling short on both occasions. Whilst with the former, he scored in a 3–3 away draw against Extremadura on 29 May 1994,^[3] but the team eventually finished in second position in their group.

Summarize Timeline Fact Check

Rubi began working as a coach with Vilassar de Mar, and subsequently was in charge of several Tercera División sides in his native region. With L'Hospitalet, he lost the 2004 promotion play-off final on penalties to Atlético Levante.^[4] His first experience in the third division was at Sabadell, being dismissed on 2 March 2005 while two points inside the relegation zone;^[5] he was promoted to that level with Espanyol B, a year later.

After a short stint with Ibiza-Eivissa, Rubi was appointed at Benidorm.^[6] He left the club in the end of the campaign, after achieving a sixth-place finish in the third tier.

On 8 June 2012, Rubi signed with Girona after having been part of the staff in previous years.^[7] He took the team to the best season of their history, leading them to the fourth position in division two and being eventually knocked out in the play-offs.^[8]

Rubi left Girona and joined Barcelona on 28 June 2013, being added to Tito Vilanova's staff.^[9] On 3 June of the following year, he replaced dismissed Juan Ignacio Martínez at the helm of Real Valladolid.^[10]

After failing to win promotion to La Liga in the 2015 Segunda División play-offs, Rubi was replaced by Gaizka Garitano on 6 July 2015.^[11] On 28 October, he was appointed as manager of Levante, taking over from the sacked Lucas Alcaraz.^[12] On his debut three days later, the team lost 3–0 at city rivals Valencia.^[13] He only managed to collect seven wins until the end of the season, the side returned to the second tier after a six-year stay and he was relieved of his duties on 26 May 2016.^[14]

Rubi took over at Sporting de Gijón on 18 January 2017, in the place of Abelardo.^[15] In June, following their relegation, he was hired at Huesca.^[16]

On 25 May 2018, after leading the Aragonese side to their first-ever promotion to the first division, Rubi announced he would leave at the end of the campaign.^[17] He returned to Espanyol on 3 June, being appointed manager of the first team also in the top flight.^[18]

On 6 June 2019, Rubi left Espanyol after paying his release clause,^[19] and was appointed Real Betis manager just hours later.^[20] He was dismissed on 21 June of the following year, with the club eight points above the relegation zone with as many games left to play.^[21]

Rubi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Almería on 28 April 2021, replacing José Gomes even though the team was placed third with six matches to go.^[22] He won the league in his first full season, thus returning to the top tier after seven years.^[23]

Almería survived on the final day of the 2022–23 campaign with a 3–3 draw at already relegated Espanyol, putting another of Rubi's former sides, Valladolid, into the second division at their expense.^[24] He subsequently left at the end of his contract.^[25]

On 3 June 2024, Rubi returned to the Power Horse Stadium on a three-year deal, following relegation the previous season.^[26]

As of match updated 9 May 2026^[27]

Almería

• Segunda División: 2021–22^[23]

Individual

• Miguel Muñoz Trophy (Segunda División): 2017–18^[43]