Francisco Rufete
Francisco Rufete in May 2009
Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete, short Rufete ( born November 20, 1976 in Benejúzar, Alicante ), is a former Spanish footballer, who played at right midfield.
Career
Francisco Rufete started his footballing career at FC Barcelona. There he came up with 19 years in the 2-2 draw against Deportivo La Coruña on 26 May 1996 on his first ( and only for Barça ) use in the Primera División. In the 1996/97 season he played 38 games in Toledo in the Segunda División, scoring 5 goals.
After a insertless interim period at Real Mallorca, joined Rufete 1999 to Malaga. In his first season in 1998/99 at Málaga CF, he played 20 games in the Segunda División, scoring five goals and managed his team to promotion to the Primera División. At FC Málaga grown to Fixgröße, he played in the next two seasons, 65 games in which he was able to achieve nine goals.
In 2001 Rufete to Valencia and immediately became a regular player of Valencia CF. In his first season he scored 5 goals in 32 games. This was followed by yet another three successful seasons ( 80 games / 8 gates up to 2005). His greatest successes came with the Master title in 2003 / 04 and the victory in the UEFA Cup in 2004. Was striking his hat-trick in the UEFA Intertoto Cup semi-final first leg against Roda Kerkrade in 2005, with whom he paved the way his team into the final.
In the summer of 2006 Rufete moved to Espanyol. In his first season he reached with Espanyol UEFA Cup final, which they lost on penalties against FC Sevilla. The two following years came Rufete only a few uses, also due to injuries. In 2009 he moved to Hércules Alicante, where he was active until 2011.
National team
In the Spanish national team Rufete could never take off properly and can be reported only three missions in 2000. His first international game he played on March 29 in a 2-0 victory over Italy when he came on in the 60th minute for Joseba Etxeberria.
Achievements
- U-18 European Championship: 1995
- Spanish Cup: 2002, 2004
- Spanish Cup: 1999, 2008
- European Super Cup: 2004
- UEFA Cup: 2004