Álvaro Rubio

Álvaro Rubio
	Rubio with Valladolid in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Álvaro Rubio Robles
Date of birth	18 April 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Logroño, Spain
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Valladolid B (manager)
Youth career
1994–1998	Zaragoza
Senior career*
Years	Team
1998–2001	Zaragoza B
1999–2000	Zaragoza
2000	→ Albacete (loan)
2000–2006	Albacete
2006–2016	Valladolid
2016	Bengaluru
Total
International career
1999	Spain U20
1999	Spain U21
Managerial career
2023–	Valladolid B
Medal record
Representing Spain
Men's football
FIFA World Youth Championship
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Álvaro Rubio Robles (born 18 April 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and the current manager of Real Valladolid Promesas.

He spent most of his career with Valladolid, appearing in 310 games in all competitions.^[1] In La Liga he also represented Albacete, for a total of 204 matches in that competition over eight seasons (four goals).

Club career

Early years

Born in Logroño, La Rioja, Rubio began his professional career with Real Zaragoza, but never made it past the reserves. In January 2000, he moved to Albacete Balompié – first on loan – where, after a slow start, he became a very important unit for the Castile-La Mancha side in the Segunda División.^[2]

After 25 matches in the 2002–03 season, as Albacete returned to La Liga after a seven-year absence,^[2] Rubio made his top-division debut on 26 October 2003 in a 3–2 away loss against Real Betis where he came on as a 27th-minute substitute.^[3] He made a further 50 appearances until June 2005, when the team were relegated.^[2]

Valladolid

For the 2006–07 campaign, Rubio signed with Real Valladolid, being promoted to the top flight in his first year^[4] and rarely missing a game subsequently. Mainly a defensive-minded player, he scored his first goals as a professional in 2007–08, the first coming on 28 October 2007 in a 2–2 draw at CA Osasuna (three for the season).^[5]

Rubio could only appear in 16 league games in 2009–10 due to injuries, and Valladolid dropped down to division two for the first time in three years. Although still afflicted by physical problems,^[6] he helped to another promotion in 2012, contributing 20 starts to the feat and going on to be a regular in the following two top-tier campaigns; he continued to be heavily played as the club returned to the second division.^[7]

Bengaluru

On 8 August 2016, the 37-year-old Rubio moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing for I-League champions Bengaluru FC on a four-month deal.^[8] On 30 November, after five appearances in the AFC Cup to help his team reach the final, he left.^[9]

International career

Rubio was part of the Spain under-20 squad at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship that also included the likes of Iker Casillas and Xavi. He featured in the 3–1 group stage win against Honduras, as the tournament in Nigeria ended in conquest.^[10]

Rubio found the net in his only appearance for the under-21 team, a 2–1 home victory over Israel for the 2000 UEFA European Championship qualifiers.^[11]

Honours

Valladolid

Segunda División: 2006–07^[4]

Bengaluru

AFC Cup runner-up: 2016^[12]

Spain U20

FIFA World Youth Championship: 1999^[13]

References

^ Rojí, José Luis (2 August 2016). "Álvaro Rubio, historia del Real Valladolid" [Álvaro Rubio, Real Valladolid history] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c Royo, José Luis (23 October 2014). "El Valladolid llegará al Carlos Belmonte con dos viejos conocidos" [Valladolid will arrive at Carlos Belmonte with two old acquaintances]. La Tribuna de Albacete (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2022.
^ Fernández Fuertes, Santiago (27 October 2003). "Los destellos de Joaquín salvan al Betis ante el Albacete" [Joaquín's flashes save Betis against Albacete]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Los héroes del ascenso esperan su oportunidad" [Promotion heroes await their chance]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 26 April 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
^ Menayo, David (28 October 2007). "Angustioso empate en el Reyno" [Anxious draw at the Reyno]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 November 2017.
^ "El Real Valladolid se jugará el ascenso sin Álvaro Rubio" [Real Valladolid will fight for promotion without Álvaro Rubio]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 22 May 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
^ Rodríguez, Héctor (24 April 2015). "Álvaro Rubio mantiene el tipo" [Álvaro Rubio holds his own]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2016.
^ "Bengaluru FC add to armoury, sign Rubio, Gonzalez". Bengaluru FC. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
^ "Midfielder Alvaro Rubio leaves Bengaluru FC". Sony ESPN. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "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 10 August 2016.
^ "España 2–1 Israel" [Spain 2–1 Israel] (in Spanish). UEFA. 9 October 1999. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
^ "AFC Cup: Bengaluru FC win AFC's Fairplay award". Goal. 6 November 2016. Archived from the original on 14 September 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
^ 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.