Rafael Márquez

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Rafael Márquez
Personal information
Full name	Rafael Márquez Álvarez
Date of birth	February 13, 1979 (1979-02-13) (age 29)
Place of birth	Zamora, Mexico
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position	Centre Back, Right Back, Defensive Midfielder
Club information
Current club	FC Barcelona
Number	4
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1996–1999 1999–2003 2003–	CF Atlas AS Monaco FC Barcelona	77 (6) 89 (5) 126 (7)
National team2
1999 1997–	Mexico U-20 Mexico	4 (2)[2] 83 (9)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 26, 2007. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of July 12, 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Rafael Márquez Álvarez (born February 13, 1979 in Zamora, Michoacán) is a Mexican football centre back and defensive midfielder, who is currently playing for FC Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga and the Mexico national team where he serves as captain.

[edit] Career

[edit] Club Career

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. In 1999, French club AS Monaco FC purchased him 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, he would remain with the Monegasque club until 2003, when FC Barcelona signed him for €5 million to revitalize their back line. ^[3]

In his first season with FC 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 natural position as a center back to a defensive midfield role, due to injuries to players Thiago Motta, Edmilson and Gerard López. 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 AC Milan in the first leg of the 2006 UEFA Champions League Semifinal. Barcelona, playing away at the San Siro, won 1-0. Márquez was present in the UEFA Champions Leaguefinal on May 17, 2006 for FC Barcelona, in which they won the tournament over Arsenal FC. This achievement made him the first ever Mexican football player ever to ever win a European club competition, something the legendary Hugo Sanchez was not able to do during his time in La Liga with Real Madrid. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Rafael Marquez renovated his contract to 38.5 million dollars for the following 4 years at Barcelona which will see his contract end in June 2010. Despite sustaining injuries, he was rumored to be up for sale at the end of the 2006-07 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.

[edit] International career

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. 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, where he was given the Captain's Armband by then coach Javier Aguirre despite his young age of 23. Despite a strong performance during the group stage of the tournament, he received a red card during Mexico's second round 2-0 loss to the United States for a deliberate midair head butt on Cobi Jones in the final minutes of the match. Márquez was an integral part of Mexico's subsequent World Cup qualification campaign and was selected by Argentine coach Ricardo Lavolpe for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Márquez played in all of four of Mexico's opening round matches, and scored the lone Mexican goal in a 2-1 loss to Argentina in the second round off a Pavel Pardo free kick which was headed to the far post by Mario Mendez allowing an unmarked Márquez to strike the ball into the back of the net. 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.

Former 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.

[edit] Playing Style

One of Márquez's strengths is his versatility which allows him to play in many positions like Right back, centre back or defensive midfield. However, it is clear that his best position is in the center of defense. Although he isn't among the quickest of players, Rafa relies on his ability to read the game and vision. This gives the impression that he's always a step ahead of the forwards. He is also known for his distinct ability at playing the long cross field pass. This is a very useful asset for all his team as it allows him to switch the attack from one side of the field to another as well as changing the focal point of the attack.

[edit] Trivia

• 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.

[edit] Honours

International:

Mexico

• FIFA Confederations Cup: (1999)
• CONCACAF Gold Cup: (2003)

Club:

AS Monaco FC

• Ligue 1 (2000)
• Super Cup (2000)
• Coupe de la Ligue (2003)

FC Barcelona

• Sub-Campeon FIFA World Club Championship in 2006
• La Liga (2005, 2006)
• Super Cup (2005, 2006)
• UEFA Champions League (2006)

Individual:

• Best defender in the French league in the 1999-2000 season.
• Best North American soccer player in 2005.
• 3rd Most Popular Player in the World in 2006 (IFFHS).
• nominated for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year, in a list of thirty players.

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Career Stats

As of January 26, 2007^[4]

[edit] National Team Stats

As of February 08, 2008^[7]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Rafael Márquez Official Site (In Spanish)
• FCBarcelona.cat - Official website (Catalan) / (Spanish) / (English) / (Japanese) / (Chinese)
• Rafael Márquez Article (In Spanish)
• Football Database profile and stats
• ESPN Soccernet profile and stats
• Tribute to Rafael Marquez (Spanish)

v • d • e Mexico squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Pérez • 2 de Anda • 3 García • 4 Márquez • 5 Vidrio • 6 Torrado • 7 Morales • 8 García Aspe • 9 Borgetti • 10 Blanco • 11 Luna • 12 Sánchez • 13 Mercado • 14 Villa • 15 Hernández • 16 Carmona • 17 Palencia • 18 J. Rodríguez • 19 Caballero • 20 Brown • 21 Arellano • 22 A. Rodríguez • 23 Campos • Coach: Aguirre

v • d • e Mexico squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Sánchez • 2 Suárez • 3 Salcido • 4 Márquez • 5 Osorio • 6 Torrado • 7 Zinha • 8 Pardo • 9 Borgetti • 10 Franco • 11 Morales • 12 Corona • 13 Ochoa • 14 Pineda • 15 Castro • 16 Méndez • 17 Fonseca • 18 Guardado • 19 Bravo • 20 García • 21 Arellano • 22 Rodríguez • 23 Pérez • Coach: Lavolpe