Spanish former footballer, and a manager (born 1976)
In this
Spanish name , the first or paternal
surname is
Pérez and the second or maternal family name is
Rufete .
Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete (born 20 November 1976) is a Spanish former footballer , and a manager . He played predominantly as a right winger with good dribbling ability, also being a player with a good workrate.
He played with seven clubs during his professional 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 .
Playing career
Club
Born in Benejúzar , Province of Alicante , Valencian Community , Rufete was a product of Barcelona 's youth system. 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,[ 2] 1997–98 with Segunda División club Toledo .[ 3]
Rufete signed for Málaga in January 1999, after having started the campaign with Mallorca (no appearances).[ 3] Catanha and José María Movilla , in the side's promotion to La Liga (they were in the Segunda División B the previous season ).[ 4]
After two exceptional individual seasons, Rufete moved to Valencia . Although almost never an undisputed starter, he contributed good overall performances and, on 14 March 2004, scored twice at Celta (2–0)[ 5] Che went on to win another domestic championship ; he was already part of the title-winning squad of 2001–02 .[ 6]
After Quique Sánchez Flores arrived at Valencia from Getafe , Rufete was released and joined Espanyol on a free transfer in July 2006.[ 7] 2007–08 campaign ,[ 8] UEFA Cup matches during the Catalans ' run to the final in 2007 .[ 9]
Rufete was released by Espanyol in mid-July 2009, moving close to home with Hércules on a two-year deal.[ 10] 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.[ 11]
International
Rufete earned three caps for the Spain national team in 2000, 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.[ 12]
Managerial career
Rufete was released by Hércules in late 2011 after the club decided not to renew his contract,[ 13] [ 14] director of football after a few months.[ 15]
On 18 April 2018, Rufete was given his first managerial position at Ibiza of Tercera División .[ 16] penalty shootout defeat to Atlético Levante in the play-off final on 24 June.[ 17]
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.[ 18] Real Madrid ;[ 19] their first fall from the top flight since 1993 .[ 20]
Personal life
Rufete's son, also named Franciso , is also a professional footballer.[ 21]
Managerial statistics
As of 19 July 2020
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team
Nat
From
To
Record
Ref
Ibiza
18 April 2018
6 July 2018
10
7
2
1
11
4
+7
0 70.00
[ 22]
Espanyol (interim)
27 June 2020
20 July 2020
7
0
1
6
1
8
−7
00 0.00
[ 23]
Total
17
7
3
7
12
12
+0
0 41.18
—
Honours
Málaga
Valencia
Espanyol
Spain U18
References
^ a b c d "Francisco Javier Pérez RUFETE" . El Mundo . Retrieved 28 June 2020 .^ Sanchis, Alberto (27 May 1996). "Fiesta Bebeto, golazo de Pep" [Bebeto party, Pep wonder goal]. Mundo Deportivo . Retrieved 14 February 2014 . ^ a b Rodríguez, Moisés (2 December 2013). "El reto del hijo del zapatero" [The challenge of the cobbler's son]. Las Provincias . Retrieved 4 April 2023 . ^ a b Gallardo, Antonio (30 June 2012). "El nuevo Málaga cumple los 20 años en Champions " [New Málaga celebrate 20 years in Champions]. Diario AS . Retrieved 4 May 2016 . ^ Hernández, Marcos B. (14 March 2004). "El Valencia estrecha su cerco a la Liga" [Valencia edge closer to the League]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 May 2016 . ^ a b "Rafa Benítez: 'Si el Valencia me llama dentro de muchos años, escucharía con mucha atención' [Rafa Benítez: 'If Valencia call me many years from now, I would listen very carefully']. El Mundo (in Spanish). 22 September 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2023 .^ "Rufete ready for Espanyol adventure" . UEFA. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2010 .^ "Valverde no duda de los servicios médicos del club" [Valverde does not doubt the club's medical staff]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 12 September 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2020 .^ a b Henderson, Charlie (16 May 2007). "Espanyol 2–2 Sevilla" . BBC Sport . Retrieved 4 April 2023 . ^ "Rufete ficha por el Hércules "con la intención de llevar a una provincia entera a Primera" [Rufete signs for Hércules "with the intention of taking an entire province to Primera "]. Marca . Retrieved 14 February 2014 .^ "Rufete, un campeón arrastrado a un ERE" [Rufete, a champion reduced to a ERE]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 20 October 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2014 .^ Astruells, Andrés (30 March 2000). "La selección saca nota" [National team get grade]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 February 2014 . ^ "El Hércules se ahorra un millón con el despido de Rufete, Del Olmo y Cristian" [Hércules save one million with sacking of Rufete, Del Olmo and Cristian]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 20 October 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2014 .^ "Rufete vuelve al Valencia como mánager general deportivo de su cantera" [Rufete vuelve al Valencia como mánager general deportivo de su cantera]. Marca (in Spanish). 17 June 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014 .^ "Rufete será presentado mañana como líder de la estructura deportiva" [Rufete will be presented tomorrow as leader of sporting structure]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 24 November 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2020 .^ "Rufete, nuevo entrenador de la UD Ibiza" [Rufete, new manager of UD Ibiza]. ABC . Retrieved 30 June 2020 .^ Sánchez Venzalá, Tomás (24 June 2018). "El Ibiza se queda sin el ascenso" [Ibiza left without promotion]. Periódico de Ibiza (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2020 . ^ Gillingham, Geoff (27 June 2020). "Abelardo sacked by Espanyol" . Marca . Retrieved 30 June 2020 . ^ Dunne, Robbie (28 June 2020). "Real Madrid beat Espanyol to go two points clear at top of LaLiga" . Diario AS . Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020 . ^ "Rufete: "Teníamos que acabar con la cabeza alta y de pie" [Rufete: "We had to finish with our heads held high and standing up"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020 .^ Álvarez, Fernando; Clancy, Conor (6 September 2020). "Rufete's legacy continues at Valencia with Fran Perez's debut" . Marca . Retrieved 30 August 2022 . ^ "UD Ibiza" (in Spanish). Resultados Fútbol. Retrieved 27 June 2020 .^ "Rufete: Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete" . BDFutbol. Retrieved 29 June 2020 .^ "Valencia 2–0 Marseille" . BBC Sport. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 26 June 2016 .^ "El Valencia vence al Oporto y conquista su segunda Supercopa de Europa" [Valencia beat Porto and conquer their second European Supercup]. El País . Retrieved 4 April 2023 .^ Miguélez, José (24 July 1995). "La pandilla de Carlitos" [Carlitos' gang]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 April 2023 .
External links
