Full name Víctor Ruiz Torre Number 6 Height 1.84 m Career start 2008 | Playing position 1998–2002 Barcelona Weight 80 kg | |
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Date of birth (1989-01-25) 25 January 1989 (age 28) Place of birth Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain Current team Villarreal CF (#6 / Defender) Similar Jaume Costa, Manu Trigueros, Samu Castillejo, Mario Gaspar Pérez, Sergio Asenjo Profiles | ||
Víctor Ruiz Torre ([ˈbiktor ˈrwiθ ˈtore]; born 25 January 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Villarreal CF as a central defender.
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Espanyol
Born in Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Ruiz arrived in RCD Espanyol's youth system in 2006 at the age of 17, from neighbouring UE Cornellà. In the 2008–09 season he made his senior debuts, helping the reserve side win its Tercera División group and subsequently promote in the playoffs.
On 6 December 2009, Ruiz made his debut with Espanyol's first team, starting and being booked in a 0–4 home loss against Racing de Santander. Coach Mauricio Pochettino, however, fielded him in a further 21 La Liga games that campaign, with the team finally ranking in 11th position; he added two goals, against Málaga CF (1–2 away defeat) and Atlético Madrid (3–0, home).
Napoli / Valencia
In 2010–11, Ruiz played all the minutes for Espanyol in the first 15 rounds. On 31 January 2011, he was sold to S.S.C. Napoli for €6 million cash in a four-and-a-half-year contract, with the Italians also ceding the sporting rights to Jesús Dátolo who was playing with the Spaniards on loan.
On 30 August 2011, Ruiz returned to his country after penning a five-year deal with Valencia CF for €8 million. He made his official debut on 10 September, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Atlético Madrid.
On 12 December 2013, Ruiz was sent off in a 1–1 home draw against FC Kuban Krasnodar for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, for a professional foul on Djibril Cissé.
Villarreal
On 1 July 2015, Ruiz transferred to Villarreal CF also in the Valencian Community for an initial €2.7 million, potentially rising to €3 million.
International career
Shortly after making his professional debuts with Espanyol, Ruiz was called to the Spanish under-21 team by manager Luis Milla. On 8 February 2011, in the last minutes of a 2–1 friendly win with Denmark, he was sent off for punching Nicki Bille, who celebrated his goal in front of Ruiz's face.