Rubén González Rocha

Rubén

Personal information
Full name	Rubén González Rocha
Date of birth	(1982-01-29) 29 January 1982
Place of birth	Compostela, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	Zaragoza
Number	5
Youth career
	Conxo
	Compostela
	Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2006	Real Madrid B	87	(4)
2002–2006	Real Madrid	4	(0)
2004	→ Borussia M'gladbach (loan)	3	(0)
2004–2005	→ Albacete (loan)	22	(0)
2006–2007	Racing Santander	34	(2)
2007–2009	Celta	70	(1)
2009–2011	Mallorca	31	(3)
2011–2013	Osasuna	26	(0)
2013–2014	Baku	23	(0)
2014–	Zaragoza	26	(1)
International career
1999	Spain U16	6	(0)
1999	Spain U17	3	(0)
2000–2001	Spain U18	10	(0)
2001	Spain U20	1	(0)
2002–2003	Spain U21	8	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 January 2016

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

Rubén González Rocha (born 29 January 1982), known simply as Rubén, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Zaragoza as a central defender.

He came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid, but appeared in only 11 official games in four years. He amassed La Liga totals of 118 games and five goals over the course of ten seasons, also representing in the competition Albacete, Racing de Santander, Mallorca and Osasuna.

Club career

Rubén was born in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. A youth product of La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid, who signed him from local SD Compostela, he would only amass four first-team league appearances in three seasons, his debut coming on 10 May 2002 in a 0–3 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruña. On 9 November 2003 he was taken out after just 25 minutes and an own goal, in an eventual 1–4 defeat at Sevilla FC; he finished the 2003–04 campaign on loan, to German club Borussia Mönchengladbach.

After a loan period with Albacete Balompié in 2004–05, with the Castile-La Mancha side finishing dead last in the top flight, Rubén returned to Real Madrid, spending the next season with the B-team in Segunda División. In the 2006–07 campaign he finally developed as a top level player, with Racing de Santander, helping the Cantabrians finish tenth while scoring his first goals in the category in consecutive 2–1 wins, at RCD Mallorca and with Villarreal CF; however, he returned the following year to division two, joining Celta de Vigo.

In late August 2009 Rubén signed with Mallorca, arriving for free in a 2+1 deal. In his first season he played mostly as a backup, to starters José Nunes and Iván Ramis, but still managed to net twice, which resulted in four points away from home (2–1 win against Real Valladolid, 1–1 draw against Real Zaragoza); he added his third on 19 April 2010 – all came through headers from corner kicks – in a 2–0 home triumph against CA Osasuna, as the Balearic Islands club finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

After one season with Baku FC in the Azerbaijan Premier League, Rubén signed a two-year contract with Zaragoza on 12 August 2014, arriving from the same team as countryman Mario.

Honours

Club

Real Madrid

• UEFA Champions League: 2001–02
• La Liga: 2002–03

Country

Spain U16

• UEFA European Under-16 Championship: 1999

External links

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