Marco Ruben

Marco Ruben

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Personal information
Full name	Marco Gastón Ruben Rodríguez
Date of birth	(1986-10-26) 26 October 1986
Place of birth	Capitán Bermúdez, Argentina
Height
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Dynamo Kyiv
Number	—
Youth career
	Rosario Central
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	Rosario Central	77	(20)
2007	River Plate	28	(7)
2008–2012	Villarreal	65	(14)
2008–2009	→ Recreativo (loan)	43	(7)
2009–2010	Villarreal B	31	(17)
2012–	Dynamo Kyiv	11	(1)
2013–2014	→ Evian (loan)	25	(1)
2014	→ Tigres (loan)	10	(0)
2015–2016	→ Rosario Central (loan)	30	(21)
International career‡
2011–	Argentina	1	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 December 2015 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 June 2011

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Ruben and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.

Marco Gastón Ruben Rodríguez (born 26 October 1986) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Ukrainian club FC Dynamo Kyiv as a striker.

Club career

Born in Capitán Bermúdez, Santa Fe, Ruben started his career with Rosario Central in 2004. In the 2006 Apertura tournament he scored seven goals in 17 games to be the club's top scorer, and this brought him to the attention of several major clubs in Argentina and Europe, with Club Atlético River Plate eventually winning the battle and paying US$7.5 million for his signature, alongside teammates Juan Ojeda and Cristian Villagra.

After a short spell, Manuel Pellegrini's Villarreal CF purchased Ruben for $7 million in January 2008, immediately loaning him to fellow La Liga side Recreativo de Huelva until 30 June. On the 27th he made his league debut in Spain, appearing as a substitute and being booked in the 1–3 home loss against Getafe CF.

For the 2008–09 season Ruben continued in Huelva, in the same predicament, netting just three goals as the Andalusians were relegated. The following campaign he returned to Villarreal, but spent the vast majority of the year with the reserves, which were having their first Segunda División experience.

In mid-January 2010 Villarreal agreed to sell Ruben to Wigan Athletic in the Premier League, after the player had helped the reserves to the fourth place, with nine league goals, good enough for joint-third. Although agreement between the English club and the player had been initially reached, on the 30th, both teams were unable to agree terms and the deal fell through.

On 7 February 2010, more than two years after his purchase, Ruben played his first league game with Villarreal's main squad, appearing six minutes at RCD Mallorca (0–1 loss). On 9 January of the following year, while starting in the place of injured Nilmar, he scored against Real Madrid to make it 2–1 for the Valencians (his first goal for Villarreal's first team), who were eventually defeated at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (2–4).

On 13 July 2012, Ruben signed a five-year contract with Ukrainian club FC Dynamo Kyiv. He scored his first goal for his new team on 3 November, netting the first in a 2–0 home win against SC Tavriya Simferopol.

On 18 June 2014 Ruben joined Liga MX side Tigres UANL, on a one-year loan. He made his official debut on 9 July, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1–4 loss against Monarcas Morelia for the Supercopa MX.

International career

Ruben made his debut for Argentina in an unofficial pre-Olympic preparation match against Guatemala in 2008, scoring once in a 5–0 win. His first official appearance took place on 5 June 2011 in a friendly with Poland, and he netted the 1–1 equalizer in an eventual 1–2 loss.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Final Score	Goal	Result	Competition
1.	5 June 2011	Polish Army Stadium, Warsaw, Poland	Poland	2–1	1–1	Loss	Friendly

References

External links

• Argentine League statistics (Spanish)
• Marco Ruben profile at BDFutbol
• Marco Ruben at National-Football-Teams.com
• Marco Ruben at Soccerway