Marco Ruben

Marco Gastón Ruben Rodríguez (born 26 October 1986) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a striker for Rosario Central.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Ruben and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.

Marco Ruben
Ruben in 2012
Personal information
Full name Marco Gastón Ruben Rodríguez
Date of birth (1986-10-26) 26 October 1986
Place of birth Capitán Bermúdez, Argentina
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Rosario Central
Number 9
Youth career
Rosario Central
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Rosario Central 77 (20)
2007 River Plate 28 (7)
2008–2012 Villarreal 65 (14)
2008–2009 → Recreativo (loan) 43 (7)
2009–2010 Villarreal B 31 (18)
2012–2015 Dynamo Kyiv 11 (1)
2013–2015 → Évian (loan) 25 (1)
2014 → Tigres (loan) 10 (0)
2015 → Rosario Central (loan) 41 (28)
2016– Rosario Central 54 (13)
2019 → Athletico Paranaense (loan) 23 (4)
National team‡
2011– Argentina 1 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 December 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 June 2011

Club career

Born in Capitán Bermúdez, Santa Fe Province, Ruben started his career with Rosario Central in 2004. In the 2006 Apertura tournament he scored seven goals in 17 matches to be the team's top scorer, and this brought him to the attention of several major clubs in Argentina and Europe, with Club Atlético River Plate eventually winning the battle and paying US$7.5 million for his signature, alongside teammates Juan Ojeda and Cristian Villagra.[1]

After a short spell, Manuel Pellegrini's Villarreal CF purchased Ruben for $7 million in January 2008, immediately loaning him to fellow La Liga side Recreativo de Huelva until 30 June.[2] He made his league debut in Spain on the 27th, appearing as a substitute and being booked in the 1–3 home loss against Getafe CF.[3]

The loan was renewed for the 2008–09 season,[4] but Ruben scored just three times as the Andalusians were relegated.[5] After returning to Villarreal, he spent the vast majority of the year with the reserves, which were having their first experience in the Segunda División.[6]

In mid-January 2010, Villarreal agreed to sell Ruben to Wigan Athletic of the Premier League after the player had helped the reserves to the fourth place with nine league goals, good enough for joint-third.[7] Although the player agreed personal terms with Wigan, the clubs could not reach an agreement and the deal fell through.[8]

On 7 February 2010, more than two years after his purchase, Ruben played his first league game with Villarreal's main squad, appearing six minutes at RCD Mallorca (0–1 loss).[9][10] On 9 January of the following year, while starting in the place of injured Nilmar, he scored against Real Madrid to make it 2–1 for the Valencians (his first goal for the first team), who were eventually defeated at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (2–4).[11]

On 13 July 2012, Ruben signed a five-year contract with Ukrainian club FC Dynamo Kyiv for a €14 million fee.[12][13] He scored his first goal for his new team on 3 November, netting the first in a 2–0 home win against SC Tavriya Simferopol.

After a spell in the French Ligue 1 with Thonon Évian F.C.[14] where he failed to meet expectations as that particular type of football did not suit his style,[15] Ruben joined Liga MX side Tigres UANL on 18 June 2014 on a one-year loan from Dynamo.[16] He made his competitive debut on 9 July, playing the whole of a 1–4 loss to Monarcas Morelia in the Supercopa MX.[17]

Ruben returned to Rosario Central on 24 December 2014, initially on a temporary deal.[18] He scored a career-best 21 goals in his first year (24 across all competitions) and was named team captain.[19]

On 11 January 2019, Ruben joined Brazilian club Club Athletico Paranaense on a year-long loan.[20]

International career

Ruben made his debut for Argentina in an unofficial pre-Olympic preparation match against Guatemala in February 2008, scoring once in a 5–0 win.[21] His first official appearance took place on 5 June 2011 in a friendly with Poland, and he netted the 1–1 equaliser in an eventual 1–2 loss.[22][23]

Career statistics

Club
As of 4 December 2019.[24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rosario Central 2005–06 Argentine Primera División 29110000002911
2006–07 Argentine Primera División 167000000167
Total 45180000004518
River Plate 2006–07 Argentine Primera División 8300000083
2007–08 Argentine Primera División 204000000204
Total 287000000287
Villarreal 2007–08 La Liga 0000000000
2008–09 La Liga 0000000000
2009–10 La Liga 40001[lower-alpha 1]10051
2010–11 La Liga 3054213[lower-alpha 1]4004711
2011–12 La Liga 319105[lower-alpha 2]000379
Total 651452195008921
Recreativo (loan) 2007–08 La Liga 144000000144
2008–09 La Liga 293000000293
Total 437000000437
Villarreal B 2009–10 Segunda División 31180000003118
Dynamo Kyiv 2012–13 Ukrainian Premier League 111004[lower-alpha 3]000151
2013–14 Ukrainian Premier League 0000000000
Total 111004000151
Évian (loan) 2013–14 Ligue 1 251400000291
Tigres (loan) 2014–15 Liga MX 10021002[lower-alpha 4]0141
Rosario Central (loan) 2015 Argentine Primera División 30215300003524
2016 Argentine Primera División 117548[lower-alpha 5]8002419
Total 412810788005943
Rosario Central 2016–17 Argentine Primera División 216000000216
2017–18 Argentine Primera División 173402[lower-alpha 6]01[lower-alpha 7]1244
2018–19 Argentine Primera División 90410000131
Total 4798120115811
Athletico Paranaense (loan) 2019 Série A 234828[lower-alpha 8]63[lower-alpha 9]14213
Career total 3691073713411962452141
  1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. Three Appearances in UEFA Champions League, One appearance in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearances in Supercopa MX
  5. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  6. Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
  7. Appearance in Torneos de Verano
  8. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  9. Two appearances, one goal in Recopa Sudamericana, One appearance in J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship

International
As of 5 June 2011.[23]
Argentina
YearAppsGoals
201111
Total11

International goals

Honours

Rosario Central

Athletico Paranaense

References
  1. "River cerró los pases de Marco Ruben, Villagra y Ojeda" [River closed deals for Marco Ruben, Villagra and Ojeda]. Clarín (in Spanish). 27 December 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  2. "Ruben moves to Villarreal". Sky Sports. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  3. "Recreativo Huelva 1–3 Getafe". ESPN Soccernet. 27 January 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  4. "Fútbol.– Marco Ruben vuelve al 'Recre' dispuesto a cubrir el hueco de Sinama: "Tengo mis armas para jugar arriba"" [Football.– Marco Ruben returns to 'Recre' willing to cover for Sinama: "I have my strengths to play up front"] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  5. "El Recreativo consumó el descenso" [Recreativo confirmed relegation]. ABC (in Spanish). 23 May 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  6. "Marco Ruben rescata un punto para el Villarreal B" [Marco Ruben rescues point for Villarreal B]. Marca (in Spanish). 26 September 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  7. "Wigan to buy Argentine Marco Ruben from Villarreal". BBC Sport. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  8. "El Villarreal paraliza el traspaso de Marco Ruben al Wigan" [Villarreal freeze Marco Ruben's transfer to Wigan]. Marca (in Spanish). 26 January 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  9. Menéndez, Manu (8 February 2010). "El Mallorca suma diez de diez en casa" [Mallorca go ten for ten at home]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  10. "Ruben: "Ojalá pueda seguir jugando en el primer equipo"" [Ruben: "Hopefully I'll continue to play in the first team"]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). 8 February 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  11. "Ronaldo treble revives Real". ESPN Soccernet. 9 January 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  12. "Marco Ruben ficha por el Dínamo" [Marco Ruben signs for Dynamo] (in Spanish). UEFA. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  13. ""Cachavacha", sin récord en Villarreal" ["Cachavacha", no record at Villarreal] (in Spanish). Ovación. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  14. "ETG: L'Argentin Marco Ruben prêté à Evian" [ETG: Argentine Marco Ruben loaned to Evian] (in French). Eurosport. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  15. Poupat, Bastien (14 February 2016). "Marco Ruben: "Le football français ne correspondait pas à mes caractéristiques"" [Marco Ruben: «French football did not suit my style»] (in French). Lucarne Opposée. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  16. "Se define el futuro de Ruben: hoy se sabrá si Tigres prescinde del delantero" [Ruben's future in the making: today Tigres will announce if they release the forward]. La Capital (in Spanish). 23 December 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  17. Tijerina, José Isaac (9 July 2014). "Resultado SuperCopa MX 2014: Morelia – Tigres (4–1)" [2014 MX SuperCup score: Morelia – Tigres (4–1)] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  18. "Regalo de cumpleaños" [Birthday present]. Olé (in Spanish). 24 December 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  19. León, Daniel (16 February 2016). "Marco Ruben, de Villarreal a capitán de Rosario" [Marco Ruben, from Villarreal to Rosario captain]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  20. "Argentino Marco Ruben é o novo atacante do Furacão" [Argentine Marco Ruben is the Hurricane's new striker] (in Portuguese). Athletico Paranaense. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  21. "La Argentina "olímpica" se lució ante Guatemala" ["Olympic" Argentina had a ball against Guatemala]. La Nación (in Spanish). 7 February 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  22. "Musacchio y Ruben, convocados a la selección argentina" [Musacchio y Ruben, called to Argentine national team] (in Spanish). River Plate. 20 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  23. "Second-string Argentina humbled again". ESPN Soccernet. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  24. Marco Ruben at Soccerway
  25. "Argentina vuelve a perder un amistoso" [Argentina lose another friendly]. La Nación (in Spanish). 6 June 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
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