Rafael Márquez

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This is a Mexican footballer. For the Mexican Boxer see Rafael Márquez (boxer)

Rafael Márquez
File:MARQUEZ R 20051122 GH R.jpg
Personal information
Full name Rafael Márquez Álvarez
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Centre Back,
Defensive Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 FC Barcelona
Number 4
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of July 12, 2007

Rafael Márquez Álvarez, better known as Rafa Márquez (born on February 13, 1979 in Zamora, Michoacán) is an international Mexican football player, specializing as both a centre back and defensive midfielder, who is currently playing for FC Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga and for the Mexican national team as their team captain.

Career

Rafael Márquez began his career at Mexican club Atlas de Guadalajara, for whom he debuted in 1996 at only 17 years old. Márquez rose to prominence while with Atlas, making 77 appearances for the team and being runner-up in the league losing the final against Club Toluca in penalties. He debuted for the Mexican national team, before moving on in 1999. In that year, French club Monaco purchased Márquez for €6 million. Márquez was an immediate success with Monaco, helping lead the team to the French title in his first season with the club. Despite pressures from larger clubs, Márquez would remain with the club until 2003, when Barcelona purchased him for €25 million.

In his first season with Barcelona, Márquez appeared 21 times, helping the team to a second place finish in La Liga. During his second season he was moved from his typical position as a central defender to the defensive mid-field, due to injuries to players Motta, Edmilson and Gerard. He completed a great season, being one of the main players that helped Barcelona win its 17th Spanish League on May 14 2005 after a 1-1 tie with Levante. After an injury in his left knee, he returned after a month to play against Milan in the first leg of the 2006 UEFA Champions League Semifinal. Barcelona, the away team, won 1-0. On May 17 2006, he won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, making him the first ever Mexican football player to do so. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Rafael Marquez renovated his contract to 38.5 million dollars for 4 years in FC Barcelona, ending his contract in June 2010. Despite having many injuries, Rafa was rumored to be up for sale at the end of the 2006\2007 season. His future at Barcelona was up in the air until the 2007 Copa America, where Rafa regained his best form and was one of the best players of the competition, helping Mexico to an acceptable 3rd place. After the 2007 Copa America, Marquez was taken off the market and went back to training with his teammates.

International career

File:Rafa marquez mexico.jpg
Marquez celebrating his goal against Argentina

Since making his international debut on February 5, 1997 against Ecuador, Márquez has been one of the Mexican national football team's most important players and captain. Marquez has played various tournament's with the Mexican team, winning the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Márquez started all four of Mexico's games during the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, but received a red card during Mexico's 2-0 loss to the United States for a deliberate head butt on Cobi Jones. Márquez was an integral part of Mexico's subsequent World Cup qualification campaign and was selected by Argentinian coach Ricardo Lavolpe for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

During the World Cup Germany tournament, Márquez played in all of the four matches, and scored the lone Mexican goal in a 2-1 loss to Argentina in the round of 16. Since Mexico's second round exit, he has spoken out about the need to encourage future Mexican football players to play in Europe to increase the competitiveness of the team.

Current Mexican coach Hugo Sanchez asked Marquez to participate in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2007 Copa America. Rafa joined up with the team Mexico for the Gold Cup's championship game against the United States after the conclusion of La Liga 2006-07; Rafa started the match, a game that Mexico lost 2-1.

Italian Team Offers

Around February, 2007 rumours from Spanish and Italian press had Rafael Marquez leaving to Milan after the 2006/2007 Liga , although he currently has a 38.5 million dollar contract with Barcelona until 2010. Recently, Juventus also wants his services

Trivia

  • FIFA nominated him for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year, in a list of thirty players
  • At The 2004 Athens Olimpic Games, He Scored The First goal of the 3 in the Only victory of the Tournament the game ended Argentina, 2 - 3 México
  • At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in the round of 16, against Argentina, he scored, and as his celebration he put his thumb in his mouth, dedicating his goal to his son.
  • Marquez made his 100th appearance with Barcelona, playing the Classic derby, against archrival Real Madrid.
  • At the early age of 22 he married Mexican Actress Adriana Lavat, who was 27 years old; But after 5 years of marriage and two children, Rafa filed for divorce in early February 2007; this was Rafa's first marriage/divorce and Adriana's second.
  • He has two children: Santiago and Rafaela, who he had with Adriana Lavat.
  • Brazilian Ronaldinho once stated that Marquez was one if not his best friend at FC Barcelona.

Honours

International:

Mexico Mexico

Club:

France AS Monaco FC

Spain FC Barcelona

Individual:

Career Stats

As of December 17, 2007[2]

All-Time Club Performance
Club Season League Cup World Cup Europe[3] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlas 1996-97 24 2 - - 24 2
1997-98 20 1 - - 20 1
1998-99 33 3 - - 33 3
Total 77 6 - - 77 6
Monaco 1999-00 23 3 23 3
2000-01 15 1 15 1
2001-02 19 0 19 0
2002-03 30 1 30 1
Total 87 5 87 5
Barcelona 2003-04 23 1 3 0 26 1
2004-05 34 3 6 0 40 3
2005-06 25 0 8 0 33 0
2006-07 21 1 5 0 2 1 6 0 34 2
2007-08 12 2 1 0 4 0 14 2
Total 115 6 6 0 2 1 27 0 147 7
Career totals 280 18 5 0 2 1 27 0 310 18

References

  1. ^ Fifa.com
  2. ^ Soccernet player statistics
  3. ^ Includes UEFA Supercup

External links

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