Ruben Gonzalez

Ruben Gonzalez Rocha (born 29 January 1982), sometimes known simply as Ruben, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

He came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid, but appeared in only 11 official matches in four years. He amassed La Liga totals of 118 games and five goals during ten seasons, also representing Albacete, Racing de Santander, Mallorca and Osasuna.

Club Career

Gonzalez was born in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. A youth product of La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid, who signed him from local SD Compostela, he would only amass four first-team league appearances in three seasons, his debut coming on 10 May 2002 in a 0–3 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruna. On 9 November 2003 he was taken out after just 25 minutes and an own goal, in an eventual 1–4 defeat at Sevilla FC; he finished 2003–04 on loan to German club Borussia Monchengladbach, appearing rarely due to a shoulder injury.

After a loan period with Albacete Balompie in 2004–05, with the Castile-La Mancha side finishing dead last in the top flight, Ruben returned to Real Madrid, spending the following campaign with the reserves in Segunda Division. In 2006–07 he finally developed as a top-level player with Racing de Santander, helping the Cantabrians finish tenth while scoring his first goals in the competition in consecutive 2–1 wins, against RCD Mallorca and Villarreal CF; however, he returned the next year to division two, joining RC Celta de Vigo.

In late August 2009, Gonzalez signed with Mallorca, arriving for free in a 2+1 deal. In his first season he played mostly as a backup to Jose Nunes and Ivan Ramis, but still managed to net twice, which resulted in four points away from home (2–1 win defeat of Real Valladolid, 1–1 draw to Real Zaragoza); he added his third on 19 April 2010 – all came through headers from corner kicks – in a 2–0 home victory over CA Osasuna, as the Balearic Islands team finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Рубен Гонсалес (russian)