Víctor Ruiz
Encyclopedia
Víctor Ruiz Torre (ˈbiktor ˈrwiθ ˈtore; born 25 January 1989 in Esplugues de Llobregat
, Barcelona, Catalonia
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Valencia CF
as a central defender.
's youth system in 2006 at the age of 17, from Catalonia
neighbours FC Barcelona
. In 2008–09 he made his senior debuts, helping the reserve side
win its Tercera División
group, and subsequently promote in the playoffs.
On 6 December 2009, Ruiz made his debut with Espanyol's first team, starting and being booked in a 0–4 home loss against Racing de Santander
. Coach Mauricio Pochettino
, however, fielded him in a further 21 La Liga
games that season
, with the team finally ranking in 11th position; he added two goals, against Málaga CF
(1–2 away defeat) and Atlético Madrid (3–0, home).
In 2010–11
, Ruiz played all the minutes for Espanyol in the first 15 rounds. On 31 January 2011, he was sold to S.S.C. Napoli
for €
6 million in a four 1/2-year contract, with the Italians
also ceding the sporting rights to Jesús Dátolo
, who was playing with the Spaniards
on loan.
On 30 August 2011, Ruiz returned to his country, penning a five-year deal with Valencia CF
. He made his official debut on 10 September, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Atlético Madrid.
by manager Luis Milla
. On 8 February 2011, in the last minutes of a 2–1 friendly win with Denmark
, he was sent off
for punching Nicki Bille
, who celebrated his goal in front of Ruiz's face.
Esplugues de Llobregat
Esplugues de Llobregat is a municipality of the Barcelona metropolitan area. It belongs to the comarca of Baix Llobregat, Barcelona province, Catalonia, Spain. It has some schools, such as the German School of Barcelona and American School of Barcelona, which attract rich families, thus increasing...
, Barcelona, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
as a central defender.
Club career
Ruiz arrived in RCD EspanyolRCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
's youth system in 2006 at the age of 17, from Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
neighbours FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. In 2008–09 he made his senior debuts, helping the reserve side
RCD Espanyol B
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona B, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Barcelona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1981, it is the reserve team of RCD Espanyol and plays in Tercera División, holding home matches at Ciutat Esportiva de Sant Adrià, with a...
win its Tercera División
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
group, and subsequently promote in the playoffs.
On 6 December 2009, Ruiz made his debut with Espanyol's first team, starting and being booked in a 0–4 home loss against Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
. Coach Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a central defender, and the current coach of RCD Espanyol.-Club career:...
, however, fielded him in a further 21 La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
games that season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, with the team finally ranking in 11th position; he added two goals, against Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
(1–2 away defeat) and Atlético Madrid (3–0, home).
In 2010–11
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
, Ruiz played all the minutes for Espanyol in the first 15 rounds. On 31 January 2011, he was sold to S.S.C. Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
for €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
6 million in a four 1/2-year contract, with the Italians
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
also ceding the sporting rights to Jesús Dátolo
Jesús Dátolo
Jesús Alberto Dátolo is an Argentine football midfielder who currently plays for La Liga club RCD Espanyol.-Club career:Dátolo started his career in 2000 at Cañuelas in Primera C Metropolitana, Argentina's fourth division. In 2002 he signed for Primera División club, Banfield and broke into the...
, who was playing with the Spaniards
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
on loan.
On 30 August 2011, Ruiz returned to his country, penning a five-year deal with Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
. He made his official debut on 10 September, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Atlético Madrid.
International career
Shortly after making his professional debuts with Espanyol, Ruiz was called to the Spanish under-21 teamSpain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
by manager Luis Milla
Luis Milla
Luis Milla Aspas is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a current coach....
. On 8 February 2011, in the last minutes of a 2–1 friendly win with Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
, he was sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
for punching Nicki Bille
Nicki Bille Nielsen
Nicki Bille Nielsen is a Danish footballer who plays as a forward for Elche in the Spanish second division, on loan from Villarreal CF. He has played 26 games for various Danish national youth teams, including 21 games and 15 goals for the Denmark national under-21 football team...
, who celebrated his goal in front of Ruiz's face.
Country
Spain U21- UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
: 20112011 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipUEFA U-21 Championship 2011 was the 18th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Denmark between 11 and 25 June 2011....