Place of birth Benejuzar, Spain 1992–1995 Barcelona Name Francisco Rufete Height 1.77 m Career start 1995 | Playing position Years Team Role Footballer Weight 74 kg | |
 | ||
Full name Francisco Joaquin Perez Rufete Date of birth (1976-11-20) 20 November 1976 (age 39) | ||
Francisco Joaquin Perez 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.
Contents
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 Benejuzar, 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 Coruna on 26 May 1996, and his first full professional season came in 1997–98, with Segunda Division club CD Toledo.
After having started the 1998–99 campaign with RCD Mallorca (no appearances), he moved in January 1999 to Malaga CF, being instrumental, alongside Catanha and Jose Maria Movilla, in the side's promotion to La Liga (Malaga was in Segunda Division 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 Flores arrived at Valencia from Getafe CF Rufete was released, joining 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 Hercules 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 Hercules 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.