Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez

For other people named Gonzalo Rodríguez, see Gonzalo Rodríguez (disambiguation).

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

Gonzalo Rodríguez

130px Rodríguez before a game for Villarreal
Personal information
Full name	Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez Prado
Date of birth	(1984-04-10) 10 April 1984
Place of birth	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	Fiorentina
Number	2
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2004	San Lorenzo	57	(4)
2004–2012	Villarreal	184	(6)
2012–	Fiorentina	133	(21)
International career‡
2003–	Argentina	7	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:00, 16 May 2016 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 September 2015

Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez Prado (American Spanish: [ɡonˈsalo roˈðɾiɣes]; born 10 April 1984), sometimes known as simply Gonzalo, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Italian club ACF Fiorentina as a central defender.

After starting out at San Lorenzo, he spent most of his career with Villarreal, appearing in 253 official games over the course of eight La Liga seasons (nine goals).

Club career

Early years

Born in Buenos Aires, Gonzalo started playing with San Lorenzo de Almagro. He made his Primera División debut on 26 July 2002 at the age of only 18, against Rosario Central.

At age 20, Rodríguez had already represented Argentina, previously having appeared at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship with the under-20 team.

Villarreal

In July 2004, Rodríguez joined Spain's Villarreal CF, being an undisputed starter in his first two seasons and renewing his link for a further five years. However, after the surprise elimination from the UEFA Intertoto Cup at the hands of NK Maribor, in which he was sent off, and a mere month into the league season, he suffered a serious injury, tearing the cruciate ligament in his right knee; after returning to activity in April 2007, he suffered the same injury two months later.

Rodríguez returned to good form in the 2008–09 campaign, often partnering Uruguayan Diego Godín and appearing in 48 La Liga games in two seasons combined, with Villarreal always qualifying to the UEFA Europa League, finishing fifth and seventh respectively. On 7 April 2011, in the Europa League's quarter-finals against FC Twente, he broke his fibula after a tough challenge by Marc Janko, being rushed to hospital in an ambulance and lost for the remainder of the season.

Fiorentina

In early August 2012, following Villarreal's relegation, Gonzalo joined Italian club ACF Fiorentina, along with teammate Borja Valero. He scored six Serie A goals from 35 appearances in his first year, helping to a final fourth place and the subsequent qualification to the Europa League.

In 2015–16, Rodríguez was named new team captain by new manager Paulo Sousa.

External links

• Fiorentina official profile
• Argentine League statistics (Spanish)
• Gonzalo Rodríguez profile at BDFutbol
• Rodríguez.html Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez at National-Football-Teams.com
• Gonzalo Rodríguez – FIFA competition record
• Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez at Soccerway