Víctor Ruiz (footballer, born 1989)

Víctor Ruiz Torre (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbiktoɾ ˈrwiθ ˈtore]; born 25 January 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Turkish club Beşiktaş J.K. as a central defender.

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

Víctor Ruiz
Ruiz being presented by Napoli in 2011
Personal information
Full name Víctor Ruiz Torre
Date of birth (1989-01-25) 25 January 1989
Place of birth Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Beşiktaş
Number 4
Youth career
1998–2002 Barcelona
2002–2006 Cornellà
2006–2008 Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Espanyol B 44 (0)
2009–2011 Espanyol 37 (2)
2011 Napoli 6 (0)
2011–2015 Valencia 59 (1)
2014–2015 → Villarreal (loan) 25 (0)
2015–2019 Villarreal 112 (3)
2019– Beşiktaş 20 (0)
National team‡
2006 Spain U17 1 (0)
2007–2008 Spain U19 3 (0)
2010–2011 Spain U21 5 (0)
2012 Spain U23 1 (0)
2010– Catalonia 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 June 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 February 2012

Club career

Espanyol

Born in Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Ruiz arrived in RCD Espanyol's youth system in 2006 at the age of 17, from neighbouring UE Cornellà. In the 2008–09 season he made his senior debut, helping the reserve side win their Tercera División group and subsequently promote in the playoffs.

On 6 December 2009, Ruiz made his debut with Espanyol's first team, starting and being booked in a 0–4 home loss against Racing de Santander.[1] Coach Mauricio Pochettino fielded him in a further 21 La Liga games that campaign, with the team finally ranking in 11th position; he added two goals, against Málaga CF (1–2 away defeat)[2] and Atlético Madrid (3–0, home).[3]

Napoli / Valencia

In 2010–11, Ruiz played all the minutes for Espanyol in the first 15 rounds.[4] On 31 January 2011, he was sold to S.S.C. Napoli for €6 million cash in a four-and-a-half-year contract, with the Italians also ceding the sporting rights to Jesús Dátolo who was playing with the Spaniards on loan.[5][6]

On 30 August 2011, Ruiz returned to his country after penning a five-year deal with Valencia CF for €8 million.[7][8] He made his official debut on 10 September, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Atlético Madrid.[9]

On 12 December 2013, Ruiz was sent off in a 1–1 home draw against FC Kuban Krasnodar in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, for a professional foul on Djibril Cissé.[10]

Villarreal

On 1 July 2015, following a one-year loan there, Ruiz transferred to Villarreal CF also in the Valencian Community for an initial €2.7 million, potentially rising to €3 million.[11] He played his first competitive match for them in his second spell on 23 August, when he started and finished the 1–1 draw at Real Betis.[12]

Ruiz scored his first league goal for Villarreal on 7 April 2017, in a 3–1 home defeat of Athletic Bilbao where he also received his marching orders after a straight red card with 15 minutes left.[13]

Beşiktaş

On 7 August 2019, Ruiz joined Beşiktaş J.K. on a three-year contract.[14]

International career

Shortly after making his debut with Espanyol, Ruiz was called to the Spanish under-21 team by manager Luis Milla. On 8 February 2011, in the last minutes of a 2–1 friendly win with Denmark, he was sent off for punching Nicki Bille, who celebrated his goal in front of Ruiz's face.[15][16]

Career statistics
As of 27 June 2020[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Espanyol 2009–10 La Liga 22200–222
2010–11 15030–180
Total 3723000402
Napoli 2010–11 Serie A 60001070
Total 60001070
Valencia 2011–12 La Liga 2207181372
2012–13 2605020330
2013–14 1111070191
Total 591131171893
Villarreal 2014–15 La Liga 2503080360
2015–16 35020140510
2016–17 2812060361
2017–18 2722050342
2018–19 22010100330
Total 13731004301903
Beşiktaş 2019–20 Süper Lig 2002010230
Total 2002010230
Career total 25962816213498

Honours

Club

Espanyol B

International

Spain U21

Individual
  • UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2015–16[19]

References
  1. Quixano, Jordi (6 December 2009). "El Espanyol es un juguete roto" [Espanyol are a broken toy]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  2. Espanyol continue away day blues; ESPN Soccernet, 21 February 2010
  3. Espanyol boost survival hopes; ESPN Soccernet, 11 April 2010
  4. Beldarrain, Andoni (28 January 2011). "Mercado de invierno: El Sevilla se refuerza y el Espanyol se debilita" [Winter market: Sevilla strengthen and Espanyol weaken] (in Spanish). EITB. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  5. Napoli sign Ruiz from Espanyol; UEFA, 31 January 2011
  6. SSC Napoli SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2011, PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA (in Italian)
  7. Valencia complete deal for Ruiz; ESPN Soccernet, 30 August 2011
  8. SSC Napoli SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2012, PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA (in Italian)
  9. Egea, Pablo (11 September 2011). "Soldado arma al Valencia" [Soldier ("Soldado" in English) arms Valencia]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  10. "Europa League: Kuban Krasnodar crash out despite 1–1 draw at Valencia". Sky Sports. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  11. "Villarreal finalise transfer for Victor Ruiz". Inside Spanish Football. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  12. Melero, Delfín (24 August 2015). "Rubén Castro llega justo a tiempo" [Rubén Castro arrives just in time]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  13. "El Villarreal frena las aspiraciones del Athletic" [Villarreal halt Athletic's aspirations]. Deia (in Spanish). 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  14. "El Villarreal traspasa a Víctor Ruiz al Besiktas" [Villarreal transfer Víctor Ruiz to Besiktas]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  15. Ten-man Spain defeat hosts Denmark; UEFA, 8 February 2011
  16. International Matches – Under 21; Soccer Spain, 8 February 2011
  17. "Víctor Ruiz". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  18. Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (26 June 2011). "España tiene futuro" [Spain have a future]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  19. Casal, Rafa (16 May 2016). "Atletico dominate UEFA's La Liga team of the season". Marca. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
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