Francisco Rufete

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

For the Portuguese/Spanish wine grape, see Rufete (grape).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal family name is Rufete.

Francisco Rufete
Rufete playing for Espanyol in 2009
Personal information
Full name Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete[1]
Date of birth (1976-11-20) 20 November 1976[1]
Place of birth Benejúzar, Spain[1]
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) 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)
2009–2011 Hércules 46 (0)
Total 416 (36)
International career
1992–1993 Spain U16 19 (0)
1994–1995 Spain U18 9 (0)
2000 Spain 3 (0)
Managerial career
2018 Ibiza
2020 Espanyol (interim)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He played with seven clubs during his professional career, including Barcelona (one game) and Valencia (two La Liga titles). Over 12 seasons, he amassed Spanish top-division totals of 269 matches and 23 goals.

Rufete was also an international for Spain.

Playing career

Club

Born in Benejúzar, Province of 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,[2] and his first full professional season came in 1997–98 with Segunda División club CD Toledo.[3]

Rufete signed for Málaga CF in January 1999, after having started the campaign with RCD Mallorca (no appearances).[3] He was instrumental, alongside Catanha and José María Movilla, in the side's promotion to La Liga (they were in the Segunda División B the previous season).[4]

After two exceptional individual seasons, Rufete moved to Valencia CF. Although almost never an undisputed starter, he contributed good overall performances and, on 14 March 2004, scored twice at RC Celta de Vigo (2–0)[5] as the Che went on to win another domestic championship; he was already part of the title-winning squad of 2001–02.[6]

After Quique Sánchez Flores arrived at Valencia from Getafe CF, Rufete was released and joined RCD Espanyol on a free transfer in July 2006.[7] He was constantly hampered by injuries in the 2007–08 campaign,[8] after having appeared in 11 UEFA Cup matches during the Catalans' run to the final in 2007.[9]

Rufete was released by Espanyol in mid-July 2009, moving close to home with Hércules CF on a two-year deal.[10] In his first season, aged 32/33, the veteran totalled nearly 2,000 minutes as the Alicante team returned to the top division after an absence of 13 years.[11]

International

Rufete earned three caps for the Spain 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.[12]

Managerial career

Rufete was released by Hércules in late 2011 after the club decided not to renew his contract,[13] and retired from football shortly after. Two years later, he returned to Valencia after being appointed youth coordinator,[14] but switched to director of football after a few months.[15]

On 18 April 2018, Rufete was given his first managerial position at UD Ibiza of Tercera División.[16] His team missed out on promotion with a penalty shootout defeat to Atlético Levante UD in the play-off final on 24 June.[17]

Rufete returned to Espanyol as sporting director, and became their interim manager on 27 June 2020 when Abelardo Fernández was sacked from the last-placed club with six games to go.[18] The next day, in his first professional game in charge, his side lost by a single goal at home to Real Madrid;[19] he oversaw their first fall from the top flight since 1993.[20]

Personal life

Rufete's son, also named Franciso, was also a professional footballer.[21]

Managerial statistics
As of 19 July 2020
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Ibiza Spain 18 April 2018 6 July 2018 10 7 2 1 11 4 +7 070.00 [22]
Espanyol (interim) Spain 27 June 2020 20 July 2020 7 0 1 6 1 8 −7 000.00 [23]
Total 17 7 3 7 12 12 +0 041.18 —

Honours

Málaga

Valencia

Espanyol

Spain U18

References
  1. "Francisco Javier Pérez RUFETE". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  2. Sanchis, Alberto (27 May 1996). "Fiesta Bebeto, golazo de Pep" [Bebeto party, Pep wonder goal]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  3. Rodríguez, Moisés (2 December 2013). "El reto del hijo del zapatero" [The challenge of the cobbler's son]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  4. Gallardo, Antonio (30 June 2012). "El nuevo Málaga cumple los 20 años en Champions" [New Málaga celebrate 20 years in Champions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  5. Hernández, Marcos B. (14 March 2004). "El Valencia estrecha su cerco a la Liga" [Valencia edge closer to the League]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  6. "Rafa Benítez: 'Si el Valencia me llama dentro de muchos años, escucharía con mucha atención'" [Rafa Benítez: 'If Valencia call me many years from now, I would listen very carefully']. El Mundo (in Spanish). 22 September 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  7. "Rufete ready for Espanyol adventure". UEFA. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  8. "Valverde no duda de los servicios médicos del club" [Valverde does not doubt the club's medical staff]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 12 September 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  9. Henderson, Charlie (16 May 2007). "Espanyol 2–2 Sevilla". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  10. "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"]. Marca (in Spanish). 19 July 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  11. "Rufete, un campeón arrastrado a un ERE" [Rufete, a champion reduced to a ERE]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 20 October 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  12. Astruells, Andrés (30 March 2000). "La selección saca nota" [National team get grade]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  13. "El Hércules se ahorra un millón con el despido de Rufete, Del Olmo y Cristian" [Hércules save one million with sacking of Rufete, Del Olmo and Cristian]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 20 October 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  14. "Rufete vuelve al Valencia como mánager general deportivo de su cantera" [Rufete vuelve al Valencia como mánager general deportivo de su cantera]. Marca (in Spanish). 17 June 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  15. "Rufete será presentado mañana como líder de la estructura deportiva" [Rufete will be presented tomorrow as leader of sporting structure]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 24 November 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  16. "Rufete, nuevo entrenador de la UD Ibiza" [Rufete, new manager of UD Ibiza]. ABC (in Spanish). 18 April 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  17. Sánchez Venzalá, Tomás (24 June 2018). "El Ibiza se queda sin el ascenso" [Ibiza left without promotion]. Periódico de Ibiza (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  18. Gillingham, Geoff (27 June 2020). "Abelardo sacked by Espanyol". Marca. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  19. Dunne, Robbie (28 June 2020). "Real Madrid beat Espanyol to go two points clear at top of LaLiga". Diario AS. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  20. "Rufete: "Teníamos que acabar con la cabeza alta y de pie"" [Rufete: "We had to finish with our heads held high and standing up"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  21. Álvarez, Fernando; Clancy, Conor (6 September 2020). "Rufete's legacy continues at Valencia with Fran Perez's debut". Marca. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  22. "UD Ibiza" (in Spanish). Resultados Fútbol. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  23. "Rufete: Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete". BDFutbol. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  24. "Valencia 2–0 Marseille". BBC Sport. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  25. "El Valencia vence al Oporto y conquista su segunda Supercopa de Europa" [Valencia beat Porto and conquer their second European Supercup]. El País (in Spanish). 27 August 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  26. Miguélez, José (24 July 1995). "La pandilla de Carlitos" [Carlitos' gang]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
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