Francisco Rufete

For the Portuguese/Spanish wine grape, see Rufete (grape).

Francisco Rufete

200px Rufete playing for Espanyol in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete
Date of birth	(1976-11-20) 20 November 1976
Place of birth	Benejúzar, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
	Atlético Benejúzar
1992–1995	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995	Barcelona C	12	(3)
1995–1997	Barcelona B	45	(0)
1996	Barcelona	1	(0)
1997–1998	Toledo	38	(5)
1998–1999	Mallorca	0	(0)
1999	→ Málaga (loan)	20	(5)
1999–2001	Málaga	65	(9)
2001–2006	Valencia	132	(13)
2006–2009	Espanyol	57	(1)
2009–2012	Hércules	46	(0)
Total		416	(36)
International career
1992–1993	Spain U16	19	(0)
1994–1995	Spain U18	9	(0)
2000	Spain	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Pérez and the second or maternal family name is Rufete.

Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete (born 20 November 1976) is a Spanish retired footballer. He played predominantly as a right winger with good dribbling ability, also being a player with a good workrate.

During his professional career he played with seven different clubs, including Barcelona (one game) and Valencia (two La Liga titles).

Over the course of 12 seasons, Rufete amassed Spanish top division totals of 269 games and 23 goals.

Club career

Born in Benejúzar, Alicante, Valencian Community, Rufete was a product of FC Barcelona's youth system. He appeared once for the first team, in 1995–96's final round, a 2–2 away draw against Deportivo de La Coruña on 26 May 1996, and his first full professional season came in 1997–98, with Segunda División club CD Toledo.

After having started the 1998–99 campaign with RCD Mallorca (no appearances), he moved in January 1999 to Málaga CF, being instrumental, alongside Catanha and José María Movilla, in the side's promotion to La Liga (Málaga was in Segunda División B in the previous season).

After two exceptional individual seasons, Rufete moved to Valencia CF. Although not an undisputed starter after his first year, he contributed with good overall performances and, on 14 March 2004, he scored twice at Celta de Vigo (2–0) as the Che went on to win another domestic title.

After Quique Sánchez Flores arrived at Valencia from Getafe CF, Rufete was released and joined RCD Espanyol on a free transfer in July 2006. He was constantly hampered by injuries during the 2007–08 campaign, after having appeared in 11 UEFA Cup matches during the Catalans' run to the final in 2007.

In mid-July 2009, Rufete was released by Espanyol, moving close to home with Hércules CF in a two-year deal. In his first season, aged 32/33, the veteran contributed with nearly 2,000 minutes as the Alicante team returned to the top division after an absence of 13 years.

Rufete was released by Hércules in late 2011 after the club decided not to renew his contract, and retired from football shortly after. Two years later he returned to Valencia after being appointed youth coordinator, but switched to director of football after a few months.

International career

Rufete received three caps with the Spanish national team in 2000, the first being in a 2–0 friendly win over Italy on 29 March in Barcelona. He came on as a substitute for Joseba Etxeberria at the hour-mark.

Honours

Club

Mallorca

• Supercopa de España: 1998

Valencia

• UEFA Cup: 2003–04
• UEFA Super Cup: 2004
• La Liga: 2001–02, 2003–04

Espanyol

• UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2006–07

Country

Spain U18

• UEFA European Under-18 Championship: 1995

External links

• Francisco Rufete profile at BDFutbol
• National team data
• Francisco Rufete at National-Football-Teams.com
• Francisco Rufete – FIFA competition record

• Rufete ready for Espanyol adventure; UEFA.com, 19 July 2006