Álvaro Rubio

Álvaro Rubio Robles (born 18 April 1979) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Rubio and the second or maternal family name is Robles.
Álvaro Rubio
Rubio with Valladolid in 2018
Personal information
Full name Álvaro Rubio Robles
Date of birth (1979-04-18) 18 April 1979
Place of birth Logroño, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1994–1998 Zaragoza
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2001 Zaragoza B 61 (2)
1999–2000 Zaragoza 0 (0)
2000 → Albacete (loan) 15 (0)
2000–2006 Albacete 163 (0)
2006–2016 Valladolid 294 (8)
2016 Bengaluru 0 (0)
Total 533 (10)
National team
1999 Spain U20 1 (0)
1999 Spain U21 1 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He spent most of his career with Valladolid, appearing in 310 games all competitions comprised.[1] In La Liga he also represented Albacete, for a total of 204 matches in that competition during eight seasons (four goals).

Club career

Early years

Born in Logroño, La Rioja, Rubio began his professional career with Real Zaragoza, but never made it past the B-team. In January 2000, he moved to Albacete Balompié – first on loan – where, after a slow start, he became a very important unit for the Castile-La Mancha side, in the second division.

After 25 matches in the 2002–03 season, as Albacete returned to La Liga after a seven-year absence, Rubio made his top flight debut on 26 October 2003 in a 2–3 away loss against Real Betis where he came on as a 27th-minute substitute.[2] He amassed a further 50 matches until June 2005, when the club was relegated back.

Valladolid

For the 2006–07 campaign, Rubio signed with Real Valladolid, being promoted to the top level in his first year[3] and rarely missing a game subsequently. Mainly a defensive-minded player, he scored his first goals as a professional in 2007–08, the first coming on 28 October 2007 in a 2–2 draw at CA Osasuna (three for the season).[4]

Due to injuries, Rubio could only appear in 16 league matches in 2009–10, and Valladolid dropped down to division two for the first time in three years. Although still afflicted by physical problems,[5] he helped to another promotion in 2012, contributing to the feat with 20 starts and going on to be a regular in the following two top flight campaigns; he continued to be heavily played as the club returned to the second tier.[6]

Abroad

On 8 August 2016, 37-year-old Rubio moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing for I-League champions Bengaluru FC on a four-month deal.[7] On 30 November, after five appearances in the AFC Cup to help his team reach the final, he left.[8]

International career

Rubio was part of the Spanish under-20 squad at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship that also included the likes of Iker Casillas and Xavi. He featured in the 3–1 group stage win against Honduras, as the tournament in Nigeria ended in conquest.[9]

Rubio found the net in his only appearance for the under-21 team, a 2–1 home success over Israel for the 2000 UEFA European Championship qualifiers.[10]

Honours

Club

Valladolid

International
Spain U20

References
  1. "Álvaro Rubio, historia del Real Valladolid" [Álvaro Rubio, Real Valladolid history] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  2. "Los destellos de Joaquín salvan al Betis ante el Albacete" [Joaquín's flashes save Betis against Albacete]. El País (in Spanish). 27 October 2003. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  3. "Los héroes del ascenso esperan su oportunidad" [Promotion heroes await their chance]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 26 April 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  4. "Angustioso empate en el Reyno" [Anxious draw at the Reyno]. Marca (in Spanish). 28 October 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  5. "El Real Valladolid se jugará el ascenso sin Álvaro Rubio" [Real Valladolid will fight for promotion without Álvaro Rubio]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 22 May 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  6. "Álvaro Rubio mantiene el tipo" [Álvaro Rubio holds his own]. Marca (in Spanish). 24 April 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  7. "Bengaluru FC add to armoury, sign Rubio, Gonzalez". Bengaluru FC. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  8. "Midfielder Alvaro Rubio leaves Bengaluru FC". Sony ESPN. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  9. "España bate a Honduras y se medirá a Estados unidos en octavos de final" [Spain beat Honduras and will face the United States in last-16]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 12 April 1999. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  10. "España 2–1 Israel" [Spain 2–1 Israel] (in Spanish). UEFA. 9 October 1999. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  11. "Qué fue de los campeones del mundo sub20" [What happened to the under-20 world champions]. Marca (in Spanish). 17 April 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
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