Diego Rubio

Early career

Rubio began his football career with Universidad Catolica. However, when he was 14, he took the decision to move to his favorite team Colo-Colo. After one year in the bench with Colo-Colo, in the next season Diego was consecrated in the youth team. After many seasons in the youth ranks, he was promoted to the first professional team in January 2011.

Colo-Colo

Rubio made his professional debut for Colo-Colo in a pre-season friendly against Deportes La Serena as a starter. In other pre-season game, Diego scored his first unofficial goals for the club, in a 3–1 won against Union Espanola, in where he scored two goals for his team, being named the man of the match.

His Chilean Primera Division came on 14 February 2011 against Union San Felipe, as an 84th-minute substitution in a 2–0 away defeat. In a Copa Libertadores game played against Santos in Brazil, he scored his first professional goal, but the match finished in a 3–2 loss. On 19 April, Rubio scored his first two goals in the Primera Division against La Serena, at 30th and 62nd minute, being named the man of match, in a 4–1 home win. He finally was consecrated in the club in an international game for the Libertadores against Tachira, Rubio gave the 2–1 victory to the club, scoring the two goals of Colo-Colo, after an early goal of Edgar Perez Greco at 4th minute. After his club's performances, was rumored that Udinese are interested in Rubio.

He played his first derby game against his former youth club Universidad Catolica, participating in the equalizer goal of Colo-Colo giving an assistance to Ezequiel Miralles at 81st minute, putting the 1–1 draw. The coach Americo Gallego nominated to Rubio for play the major derby of the Chilean football against Universidad de Chile, however, he only playing 30 minutes in a 2–1 loss.

Sporting CP

On 5 July 2011, Rubio joined Portuguese club Sporting Clube de Portugal for €1.5 million, signing a five-year contract with a €30 million minimum fee release clause.

Pandurii

On 2 September 2013, Liga I club Pandurii Targu Jiu confirmed Rubio was signed on a loan from Sporting, with an option to buy. He debuted in Liga I in the match against Dinamo Bucharest, won by Pandurii 2-1.

Sandnes Ulf

On 3 February 2014, Rubio joined Tippeligaen side Sandnes Ulf on a season-long loan.

Valladolid

On 31 August 2015, aged 22, signed a four-year contract with Spanish club Real Valladolid.

International career

On 31 May 2011, Rubio was called up by Chilean national team manager Claudio Borghi to take part in the 28-man pre-list preparatory process for the upcoming 2011 Copa America. He officially debuted with Chile national team on 23 June 2011, in a match against Paraguay, the last match of Chile before the Copa America.

Personal life

Diego is the son of Hugo Rubio. Currently working at the Passball company as a football agent, Hugo was a successful football player, having spent most of his extensive career in his country with a short spell in European football, specifically in Italy and Switzerland. Hugo also was a member of the Chile squad at the Copa America of 1987 and 1991. Diego has two footballer brothers, Eduardo, and Matias, who plays for Union La Calera. Diego Rubio is also godchild of the Chilean football legend Ivan Zamorano.

On 15 May 2011, was reported that Rubio was on a list of most popular Chilean players on Twitter with 1,247 fans, in the 12th place of 14 players. The list was led by Jorge Valdivia, in the 1st place with more of 50,000 fans.

On 24 May 2013, Diego got married with Rocio Navarro in Seville and on 6 June 2014 his first son Thiago was born.

Career statistics