Francisco Rufete

For the Portuguese/Spanish wine grape, see Rufete (grape).
Francisco Rufete

Rufete playing for Espanyol in 2009
Personal information
Full name Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete
Date of birth (1976-11-20) 20 November 1976
Place of birth Benejúzar, Spain
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Winger
Youth career
Atlético Benejúzar
1992–1995 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995 Barcelona C 12 (3)
1995–1997 Barcelona B 45 (0)
1996 Barcelona 1 (0)
1997–1998 Toledo 38 (5)
1998–1999 Mallorca 0 (0)
1999 → Málaga (loan) 20 (5)
1999–2001 Málaga 65 (9)
2001–2006 Valencia 132 (13)
2006–2009 Espanyol 57 (1)
2009–2012 Hércules 46 (0)
Total 416 (36)
National team
1992–1993 Spain U16 19 (0)
1994–1995 Spain U18 9 (0)
2000 Spain 3 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


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

Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete (born 20 November 1976) is a Spanish retired footballer. He played predominantly as a right winger with good dribbling ability, also being a player with a good workrate.

During his professional career he played with seven different clubs, including Barcelona (one game) and Valencia (two La Liga titles).

Over the course of 12 seasons, Rufete amassed Spanish top division totals of 269 games and 23 goals.

Club career

Born in Benejúzar, Alicante, Valencian Community, Rufete was a product of FC 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,[1] and his first full professional season came in 1997–98, with Segunda División club CD Toledo.

After having started the 1998–99 campaign with RCD Mallorca (no appearances), he moved in January 1999 to Málaga CF, being instrumental, alongside Catanha and José María Movilla, in the side's promotion to La Liga (Málaga was in Segunda División B in the previous season).[2]

After two exceptional individual seasons, Rufete moved to Valencia CF. Although not an undisputed starter after his first year, he contributed with good overall performances and, on 14 March 2004, he scored twice at Celta de Vigo (2–0)[3] as the Che went on to win another domestic title.

After Quique Sánchez Flores arrived at Valencia from Getafe CF, Rufete was released and joined RCD Espanyol on a free transfer in July 2006.[4] He was constantly hampered by injuries during the 2007–08 campaign, after having appeared in 11 UEFA Cup matches during the Catalans' run to the final in 2007.

In mid-July 2009, Rufete was released by Espanyol, moving close to home with Hércules CF in a two-year deal.[5] In his first season, aged 32/33, the veteran contributed with nearly 2,000 minutes as the Alicante team returned to the top division after an absence of 13 years.[6]

Rufete was released by Hércules in late 2011 after the club decided not to renew his contract,[7] and retired from football shortly after. Two years later he returned to Valencia after being appointed youth coordinator,[8] but switched to director of football after a few months.[9]

International career

Rufete received three caps with the Spanish 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.[10]

Honours

Club

Mallorca
Valencia
Espanyol

Country

Spain U18

References

  1. ↑ "Fiesta Bebeto" [Bebeto party] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 27 May 1996. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "El nuevo Málaga cumple los 20 años en Champions" [New Málaga celebrates 20 years in Champions] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "El Valencia estrecha su cerco a la Liga" [Valencia edges closer to the League] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 15 March 2004. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  4. ↑ Rufete ready for Espanyol adventure; UEFA.com, 19 July 2006
  5. ↑ "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"] (in Spanish). Marca. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Rufete, un campeón arrastrado a un ERE" [Rufete, a champion reduced to a ERE] (in Spanish). Las Provincias. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "El Hércules se ahorra un millón con el despido de Rufete, Del Olmo y Cristian" [Hércules saves one million with sacking of Rufete, Del Olmo and Cristian] (in Spanish). Las Provincias. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Rufete vuelve al Valencia como mánager general deportivo de su cantera" [Rufete vuelve al Valencia como mánager general deportivo de su cantera] (in Spanish). Marca. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Rufete será presentado mañana como líder de la estructura deportiva" [Rufete will be presented tomorrow as leader of sporting structure] (in Spanish). Las Provincias. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "La selección saca nota" [National team gets grade] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 30 March 2000. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  11. ↑ "Valencia 2–0 Marseille". BBC Sport. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
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