Francisco Rufete
Spanish former footballer, and a manager (born 1976)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete (born 20 November 1976) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played predominantly as a right winger.
|
Rufete playing for Espanyol in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 November 1976[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Benejúzar, Spain[1] | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Atlético Benejúzar | |||
| 1992–1995 | Barcelona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995 | Barcelona C | 12 | (3) |
| 1995–1997 | Barcelona B | 45 | (0) |
| 1996 | Barcelona | 1 | (0) |
| 1997–1998 | Toledo | 38 | (5) |
| 1998–1999 | Mallorca | 0 | (0) |
| 1999 | → Málaga (loan) | 20 | (5) |
| 1999–2001 | Málaga | 65 | (9) |
| 2001–2006 | Valencia | 132 | (13) |
| 2006–2009 | Espanyol | 57 | (1) |
| 2009–2011 | Hércules | 46 | (0) |
| Total | 416 | (36) | |
| International career | |||
| 1992–1993 | Spain U16 | 19 | (0) |
| 1994–1995 | Spain U18 | 9 | (0) |
| 2000 | Spain | 3 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2018 | Ibiza | ||
| 2020 | Espanyol (interim) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He appeared for seven clubs during his career, including Barcelona (one game) and Valencia (two La Liga titles). Over 12 seasons, he amassed Spanish top-division totals of 269 matches and 23 goals.
Rufete was also an international for Spain. After retiring, he worked briefly as a manager.
Club career
Born in Benejúzar, Province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Rufete was a product of Barcelona's youth system.[2] He appeared once for the first team, in 1995–96's final round, a 2–2 away draw against Deportivo de La Coruña on 26 May 1996,[3] and his first full professional season came in 1997–98 with Segunda División club Toledo.[4]
Rufete signed for Málaga in January 1999, after having started the campaign with Mallorca (no appearances).[4] He was instrumental, alongside Catanha and José María Movilla, in the side's promotion to La Liga (they were in the Segunda División B the previous season).[5]
After two exceptional individual seasons, Rufete moved to Valencia.[6] Although almost never an undisputed starter, he contributed good overall performances and, on 14 March 2004, scored twice at Celta (2–0)[7] as the Che went on to win another domestic championship; he was already part of the title-winning squad of 2001–02.[8]
After Quique Sánchez Flores arrived at Valencia from Getafe, Rufete was released and joined Espanyol on a free transfer in July 2006.[9] He was constantly hampered by injuries in the 2007–08 campaign,[10] after having appeared in eleven UEFA Cup matches during the Catalans' run to the final in 2007.[11]
Rufete was released by Espanyol in mid-July 2009, moving close to home with Hércules on a two-year deal.[12] In his first season, aged 32/33, the veteran totalled nearly 2,000 minutes as the Alicante team returned to the top division after an absence of 13 years.[13]
International career
Rufete earned three caps for the Spain national team in 2000,[6] the first being in a 2–0 friendly win over Italy on 29 March in Barcelona. He came on as a substitute for Joseba Etxeberria at the hour-mark.[14]
Managerial career
Rufete was released by Hércules in late 2011 after the club decided not to renew his contract,[15] and retired from football shortly after. Two years later, he returned to Valencia after being appointed youth coordinator,[16] but switched to director of football after a few months.[17]
On 18 April 2018, Rufete was given his first managerial position at Ibiza of Tercera División.[18] His team missed out on promotion with a penalty shootout defeat to Atlético Levante in the play-off final on 24 June.[19]
Rufete returned to Espanyol as sporting director, and became their interim manager on 27 June 2020 when Abelardo Fernández was sacked from the last-placed club with six games to go.[20] The next day, in his first professional game in charge, his side lost by a single goal at home to Real Madrid;[21] he oversaw their first fall from the top flight since 1993.[22]
Personal life
Rufete's son, also named Franciso, was also a professional footballer. He also represented Valencia.[23]
