Rubén Suárez Estrada (Spanish pronunciation: [ruˈβen ˈswaɾeθ]; born 19 February 1979) is a Spanish former footballer. Mainly an attacking midfielder, he could also play as a second striker.
 Suárez in action for Levante in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rubén Suárez Estrada | ||
| Date of birth | 19 February 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Gijón, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sporting Gijón | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–2002 | Sporting Gijón B | 77 | (25) |
| 1998–2004 | Sporting Gijón | 104 | (11) |
| 2004–2008 | Elche | 93 | (13) |
| 2008–2012 | Levante | 127 | (37) |
| 2012–2013 | Guizhou Renhe | 13 | (1) |
| 2013 | Almería | 19 | (1) |
| 2013–2014 | Skoda Xanthi | 14 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Castellón | 38 | (16) |
| 2015–2016 | Torrevieja | 25 | (5) |
| 2016–2017 | Torre Levante | 35 | (9) |
| 2017–2019 | Acero | 26 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | Soneja | 20 | (1) |
| Total | 591 | (120) | |
| International career | |||
| 1997–1998 | Spain U18 | 5 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | Spain U20 | 12 | (1) |
| 1999 | Spain U21 | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He appeared in 283 Segunda División matches over 13 seasons, totalling 49 goals for Sporting de Gijón, Elche, Levante and Almería. He added 61 games and 13 goals in La Liga with the two last clubs, and also competed professionally in China and Greece.
Club career edit
Born in Gijón, and a product of local Sporting de Gijón's famed youth academy, Mareo, Suárez played six seasons with the Asturians' first team in the Segunda División. He stayed in that league afterwards, with four additional years at Elche CF.[1][2]
Suárez joined Levante UD in the same division on 31 July 2008, on a two-year contract.[3] In his first year he finished as the side's top scorer at 12, mainly due to the serious fibula injury to Alexandre Geijo.[4]
In the 2009–10 season, Suárez repeated the feat (again netting in double digits), as the Valencians returned to La Liga after a two-year absence.[5] On 28 August 2010, at the age of 31 years, six months and nine days, he made his debut in the top division, opening the score at home against Sevilla FC through a penalty kick, in an eventual 4–1 defeat.[6]
In late June 2012, aged 33, Suárez had his first adventure abroad, signing with Chinese Super League club Guizhou Renhe F.C. and reuniting with former Levante teammates Rafa Jordà and Nano, after contributing eight goals in less than 1,000 minutes of play to Levante's first-ever qualification for the UEFA Europa League after a sixth-place finish in the league.[7][8]
Suárez returned to his country on 3 January 2013, signing with second-tier UD Almería for 18 months.[9]
International career edit
Suárez played all the matches for Spain at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship held in Nigeria, scoring in a 3–1 group stage win against Honduras – the only game where he did not appear from the bench – as the national team won the tournament.[10] Later that year, he earned one cap for the under-21s.[11]
Personal life edit
Suárez's father, Secundino, was also a footballer. A defender, he too played for Sporting Gijón.[12][5]
Honours edit
Spain U20
References edit
- ^ "El gijonés Rubén espera volver a jugar con el Elche en un mes" [Gijón's own Rubén hopes to play with Elche again in one month]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). 29 March 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ Gallardo, Carlos (31 May 2020). "Rubén Suárez: "Me he quedado con ganas de más fútbol"" [Rubén Suárez: "I was left wanting more football"] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "Rubén Suárez firma por dos años con el Levante" [Rubén Suárez signs with Levante for two years]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 1 August 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "La inversión más rentable del Levante" [Levante's most profittable investment]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 11 May 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Rubén, el hijo de Cundi, es la estrella" [Rubén, the son of Cundi, is the star]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 25 September 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Sevilla see off new boys". ESPN Soccernet. 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- ^ Ros, Cayetano (13 April 2012). ""Xavi ya era igual hace 13 años"" ["Xavi was the same he is now 13 years ago"]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Cima, J. E. (22 June 2012). "Rubén Suárez se va al fútbol chino" [Rubén Suárez goes to Chinese football]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ^ "Rubén Suárez ficha por el Almería, centro campista de mucha experiencia" [Rubén Suárez signs for Almería, much-experienced midfielder.] (in Spanish). Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional. 3 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "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 30 November 2017.
- ^ "España 2–1 Israel" [Spain 2–1 Israel] (in Spanish). UEFA. 9 October 1999. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Ruben Suárez, un debut tardío" [Ruben Suárez, a late debut] (in Spanish). Notas de Fútbol. 8 September 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ^ García, Miguel Ángel (17 April 2009). "Qué fue de los campeones del mundo sub20" [What happened to the under-20 world champions]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 May 2017.
External links edit
- Rubén Suárez at BDFutbol
- Rubén Suárez at Futbolme (in Spanish)
- Rubén Suárez at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
- Rubén Suárez – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Rubén Suárez at Soccerway