Rodri (footballer, born 2000)

For more people with the same nickname, see Rodri.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.
Rodri
Personal information
Full name Rodrigo Sánchez Rodríguez
Date of birth (2000-05-16) 16 May 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Talayuela, Spain
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Al-Arabi
Number 10
Youth career
Talayuela
Navalmoral
2011–2012 Real Madrid
2011–2012 → Canillas (loan)
2012–2013 Atlético Madrid
2013–2014 Espanyol
2014–2015 Barcelona
2015–2016 Deportivo La Coruña
2016–2018 Betis
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Betis B 71 (9)
2020–2024 Betis 98 (3)
2024– Al-Arabi 0 (0)
International career‡
2021–2023 Spain U21 18 (3)
Medal record
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up 2023 Georgia–Romania
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:45, 1 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 July 2023

Rodrigo Sánchez Rodríguez (born 16 May 2000), commonly known as Rodri ([ˈroðɾi]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Qatar Stars League club Al-Arabi. Mainly an attacking midfielder, he can also play as a winger.

Club career

Born in Talayuela, Cáceres, Extremadura, Rodri started his career with CP Talayuela, and subsequently represented EF Navalmoral before joining Real Madrid's La Fábrica in 2011. After spending the pre-season with the side, he was loaned to CD Canillas for a year before joining Atlético Madrid in 2012.[1]

In June 2014, after a one-year spell at RCD Espanyol, Rodri joined FC Barcelona's La Masia.[2] After leaving Barça in 2015, he then spent a year at Deportivo de La Coruña before joining Real Betis' youth setup in 2016.

Rodri made his senior debut with the reserves on 26 August 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 Tercera División home win against Conil CF.[3] He scored his first senior goal on 7 October, netting the third in a 8–0 home routing of CD Gerena,[4] and renewed his contract until 2022 the following 27 March.[5]

Rodri made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 7 November 2020, replacing Sergio Canales late into a 5–2 away loss against his former club Barcelona.[6]

On 8 September 2024, Rodri joined Qatar Stars League club Al-Arabi.[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 1 September 2024[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Betis B 2018–19 Tercera División 35 3 — — — 35 3
2019–20 Tercera División 27 5 — — 2[a] 1 29 6
2020–21 Segunda División B 9 1 — — — 9 1
Total 71 9 — — 2 1 73 10
Betis 2020–21 La Liga 15 0 4 1 0 0 — 19 1
2021–22 La Liga 21 1 4 0 3[b] 0 — 28 1
2022–23 La Liga 30 2 2 0 6[b] 0 1[c] 0 39 2
2023–24 La Liga 29 0 2 3 5[d] 0 — 36 3
2024–25 La Liga 3 0 — 1[e] 0 — 4 0
Total 98 3 12 4 15 0 1 0 126 7
Career total 169 12 12 4 15 0 3 1 199 17
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Tercera División promotion play-offs
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearance in Supercopa de España
  4. ^ Three appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  5. ^ Appearance in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Betis

Individual

  • UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2023[10]

References

  1. ^ "El zurdo de oro de Talayuela" [The golden left foot of Talayuela] (in Spanish). El Periódico Extremadura. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Rodrigo, un trotamundos de 14 años" [Rodrigo, a 14-year-old journeyman] (in Spanish). Hoy. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Betis Deportivo 3–0 Conil: Rober lidera la goleada bética" [Betis Deportivo 3–0 Conil: Rober leads the routing bética] (in Spanish). Estadio Deportivo. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Betis Deportivo 8–0 Gerena: Vuelve a la senda del triunfo con una goleada" [Betis Deportivo 8–0 Gerena: Back to the winning ways with a routing] (in Spanish). Estadio Deportivo. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  5. ^ "El Betis renueva a Rodri, una de las joyas de su cantera" [Betis renew Rodri, one of their youth pearls] (in Spanish). Marca. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Todo es más fácil con Messi" [Everything is easier with Messi] (in Spanish). Marca. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Rodri Arabi for three seasons". Al-Arabi SC (in Arabic). 8 September 2024.
  8. ^ Rodri at Soccerway
  9. ^ "Real Betis 1–1 Valencia (5–4 on pens): Real Betis win Copa del Rey final on penalties". BBC Sport. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  10. ^ "2023 Under-21 EURO Team of the Tournament". UEFA. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.