Biography
Who is Rubén?
Early life and youth career
Rubén: Born in Móstoles within the Community of Madrid, he joined the Real Madrid youth setup at age fourteen. He faced a temporary departure to CD Móstoles after the club questioned his potential, but he returned to the academy soon after. He spent several years developing his skills within the famous La Fábrica system.
During his time in the youth ranks, he worked with coach Quique Sánchez Flores. When Flores moved to Getafe, he attempted to recruit the young talent, but the request was denied by the parent club, keeping the player in Madrid.
Professional debut and rise
He made his first-team debut on November 10, 2004, during a Copa del Rey match against CD Tenerife, which ended in a victory. His first appearance in La Liga occurred in September 2005. During the 2006–07 season, he was promoted to the main squad by manager Fabio Capello. He played alongside teammates like Miguel Ángel Nieto and Miguel Torres, helping the team secure a league title.
In November 2006, he scored his first goal for the main squad against Écija Balompié in a domestic cup match. By July 2007, he had signed a contract extension keeping him with the club until 2011.
Success at Getafe
In August 2007, he moved to Getafe on a transfer. Real Madrid retained an option to re-buy him for two years. At Getafe, he became a key playmaker alongside his teammate Esteban Granero. Due to injuries in the squad, he occasionally played as a centre-back.
This included a well-known UEFA Cup quarter-final appearance against Bayern Munich. In that continental competition, he scored three goals across eleven matches, including a strike against Tottenham Hotspur.
Retirement and health challenges
In May 2008, club president Ramón Calderón announced his return to the Santiago Bernabéu. He scored against Valencia in the Supercopa de España and found the net in a league match against Racing de Santander. However, in October 2008, he fainted during a Spanish Cup game against Real Unión. He spent the rest of the season sidelined. Reports later suggested the heart condition might be permanent.
By 2010, there were disputes regarding his medical status and contract terms. He announced his permanent retirement in November 2010 at age twenty-five. He transitioned into coaching, staying with the organization under José Mourinho.
International and coaching career
He earned caps for Spain at the under-19 and under-21 levels. In 2008, he joined the senior squad for the UEFA European Championship. He scored his only international goal in a match against Greece.
Following his playing career, he moved into management. He led Getafe's reserve team starting in 2015. He later worked in youth setups in China and Dubai before joining the Racing City Group. In 2025, he became the head coach of the club Racing Madrid FC.
Birthday and age
Rubén was born on June 5, 1985, which makes Rubén 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Rubén shares the date with 43 other famous people.
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