Marco Antonio Ruiz

Marco Antonio Ruíz (born 12 July 1969) is a retired Mexican football midfielder. He won 17 caps for the Mexico national team and was a member of the Mexico squad at the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup where he played in all three matches.

Nicknamed "Chima,"[1] Ruiz made his debut in 1986 with Tampico Madero "Jaiba Brava" where he received a fractured tibia and fibula from Fernando Quirarte in match between Tampico Madero Vs U.de.G. . He played for several years during the 1990s with Tigres, but his career did not really shine until he joined Guadalajara in 1998. He became a frequent starter with Chivas as a left-sided attacking midfielder, small in stature but an eager dribbler. He helped Guadalajara reach the final of the Apertura championship in 1998, which ended in a loss to Necaxa.[2] Although the club's fortunes soon entered a period of decline, Ruiz remained with Chivas for three more years until he rejoined Tigres in 2002. His final top-flight season came in the Apertura 2004 campaign.[3]

Ruiz also represented the Mexico national team in international play. A late bloomer on the world stage, Ruiz made his international debut at the age of 31 against Ecuador on 20 September 2000, in which he scored a goal.[4] His international career coincided entirely with the coaching tenure of Enrique Meza, who preferred him at the position of left wingback. Mexico's results dipped during the qualifying campaign for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, culminating in elimination from the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup[5] and a home defeat against Costa Rica.[6] Meza came under intense pressure and was eventually dismissed in June 2001, and Ruiz was never capped again by any subsequent Mexico coaches. Ruiz's last international appearance came in a 3-1 defeat against Honduras in a World Cup qualifying match on June 20, 2001.[7]

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