Alexis (footballer)

For the Chilean footballer also known mononymously as Alexis, see Alexis Sánchez.

Alexis

Personal information
Full name	Alexis Ruano Delgado
Date of birth	(1985-08-04) 4 August 1985
Place of birth	Málaga, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Getafe
Number	2
Youth career
	Málaga
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2005	Málaga B	65	(0)
2004–2006	Málaga	50	(3)
2006–2007	Getafe	24	(2)
2007–2010	Valencia	62	(2)
2010–2013	Sevilla	22	(1)
2012–2013	→ Getafe (loan)	38	(4)
2013–	Getafe	71	(2)
International career
2001–2003	Spain U17	18	(0)
2002–2004	Spain U19	11	(0)
2002–2005	Spain U20	8	(0)
2004–2006	Spain U21	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 December 2015

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

Alexis Ruano Delgado (born 4 August 1985), known simply as Alexis, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Getafe CF. Mainly a central defender, he can also operate as full back.

Football career

Málaga / Getafe

Born in Málaga, Alexis joined Getafe CF from Málaga CF for the 2006–07 season, for €2.5 million. He had played for the Andalusia club for three years, after having appeared in as many years with the B-team, two of those spent in the second division; he would first appear for the main squad on 15 February 2004, playing eight minutes in a 5–2 home win against RCD Espanyol.

Alexis scored the winning goal for Getafe against Real Madrid, in a 1–0 league home win on 14 October 2006, and was part of the league's best defence that season (only 33 goals in 38 games).

Valencia

Alexis' impressive performances for Getafe attracted some of the world's biggest clubs including A.C. Milan, Valencia CF, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Valencia won his services and signed him to a €6.5 million deal at the Mestalla Stadium that ran until 2013, beating off competition from Real Madrid.

After spending most of the 2007–08 campaign sidelined with a severe knee injury, Alexis helped Valencia win the 2008 Copa del Rey, netting the second goal in a 3–1 win over former club Getafe in the final, after Juan Mata had scored the opener.

On 14 September 2008 Alexis, who started the season as Raúl Albiol centre-back partner, netted in a 2–2 draw at UD Almería, but also spent two months in the sidelines due to a pubalgia ailment. He appeared in 24 games in the following campaign, helping the Che to a third-place in La Liga and former side Málaga avoid relegation, as he headed home in the last-minute of the home fixture against CD Tenerife, which dropped down a level instead with that 0–1 loss.

Sevilla

On 24 August 2010 Alexis joined Sevilla FC for €5 million, signing a six-year contract with the Rojiblancos as a replacement for Arsenal-bound Sébastien Squillaci. He appeared in 21 league games in his first year (26 overall) as the team finished fifth and qualified to the UEFA Europa League.

In just the second game of the 2011–12 season – his first – Alexis salvaged a point for Sevilla with an 86th-minute header away against Villarreal CF (2–2). He would only be fourth of fifth-choice stopper for new manager Marcelino García Toral, however; in late February 2012, even though the winter transfer window had already closed, he was allowed to join former club Getafe on loan until the end of the season, as the Madrid outskirts side was immerse in a deep injury crisis to its defensive sector. The move was extended for the entire 2012–13.

Honours

Club

Getafe

• Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2006–07

Valencia

• Copa del Rey: 2007–08

Country

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2004
• FIFA U-20 World Cup: Runner-up 2003

Individual

• La Liga Breakthrough Player: 2006–07

External links

• Alexis profile at BDFutbol
• Alexis profile at Futbolme (Spanish)
• Alexis – FIFA competition record
• Alexis at Soccerway