Rafael Márquez

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For the Mexican Boxer see Rafael Márquez (boxer)

Rafael Márquez
Image:Rafa Márquez.JPG
Personal information
Full name Rafael Márquez Álvarez
Date of birth February 13, 1979 (age 28)
Place of birth    Flag of Mexico Zamora, Mexico
Height 5 ft 11 in
Nickname Rafa
El Kaiser de Michoacán
Principe de Cataluña
Playing position Centre Back
Defensive Midfielder
Wing Back, Sweeper
Club information
Current club FC Barcelona
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1996-1999
1999-2003
2003-		 CF Atlas
AS Monaco FC
FC Barcelona		 77 (6)
89 (5)
100 (6)   
National team2
1997-
1999		 Flag of Mexico Mexico
Flag of Mexico Mexico U-20		 76 (8)
4 (2)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of March 26, 2007.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of March 29, 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

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

Contents

[edit] Biography

Rafael Márquez began his career with Carlos Mauricio, his brother, 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 debuting for the Mexican national team, before moving on in 1999. In that year, French club Monaco purchased Márquez 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, Márquez would remain with the club until 2003, when Barcelona purchased him for €5 million.

In his first season with 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 typical position as a central defender to the defensive mid-field, due to injuries to players Motta, Edmilson and Gerard. He completed a great season, being one of the main players that helped Barcelona win its 17th Spanish League on May 14th, 2005 after a 1-1 tie with Levante.

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 and captain. As a captain of his country, he started all four of the team's games in the 2002 FIFA World Cup (though he was ejected during his country's 2-0 loss to the United States for a deliberate headbutt on Cobi Jones), and has been an integral part of two World Cup Qualifying campaigns. After an injury in his left knee, he returned after a month to play against Milan in the first leg of the 2006 UEFA Champions League Semifinal. Barcelona, the away team, won 1-0. On May 17, 2006, he won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, making him the first ever Mexican football player to do so. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Rafael Marquez renovated his contract for 4 years in FC Barcelona, ending his contract in June 2010.

Márquez was selected by coach Ricardo Lavolpe in the 23 Mexican squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. During the World Cup tournament, Márquez played in all four matches, and scored the lone Mexican goal in a 2-1 loss to Argentina in the Round of 16. 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. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Rafael Marquez renovated his contract for 4 years in FC Barcelona, ending his contract in June 2010. Márquez scored his tenth goal for El Tri on March 28, 2007 in an international friendly against Ecuador. He scored in the 73rd minute on a powerful low-crossed free kick, his goal helped tie the game and later aided on a Mexican victory over Ecuador. with a score of 4-2.

[edit] Team Offers

As of February, 2007 romours from Spanish and Italian press have linked Rafael Marquez leaving to Milan after the 2006/2007 Liga finishes, although he has a contract with Barcelona until 2010.

[edit] Trivia

  • He kisses a bracelet that his wife gave him every time he scores.
  • At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in the round of 16, against Argentina, he scored the first goal for Mexico, and at his celebration he put his finger 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

Flag of Mexico Mexico

Flag of France AS Monaco FC

Flag of Spain FC Barcelona

[edit] Individual

[edit] Career Stats

*As of March 26, 2007

Year Club Country League Appearances Goals
1996/97 Atlas Flag of Mexico Primera División de México 24 2
1997/98 Atlas Flag of Mexico Primera División de México 20 1
1998/99 Atlas Flag of Mexico Primera División de México 33 3
1999/00 Monaco Flag of France Ligue 1 23 3
2000/01 Monaco Flag of France Ligue 1 15 1
2001/02 Monaco Flag of France Ligue 1 21 0
2002/03 Monaco Flag of France Ligue 1 30 1
2003/04 Barcelona Flag of Spain La Liga 22 1
2004/05 Barcelona Flag of Spain La Liga 34 3
2005/06 Barcelona Flag of Spain La Liga 25 0
2006/07 Barcelona Flag of Spain La Liga 19 1
Total 266 17

[edit] External links


Flag of Mexico Mexico squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup Flag of Mexico

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
Flag of Mexico Mexico squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup Flag of Mexico

1 Sánchez | 2 Suárez | 3 Salcido | 4 Márquez | 5 Osorio | 6 Torrado | 7 Naelson | 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
FC Barcelona - Current Squad

1 Valdés | 2 Belletti | 3 Motta | 4 Márquez | 5 Puyol | 6 Xavi | 7 Guðjohnsen | 8 Giuly | 9 Eto'o | 10 Ronaldinho | 11 Zambrotta | 12 van Bronckhorst | 15 Edmílson | 16 Sylvinho | 18 Ezquerro | 19 Messi | 20 Deco | 21 Thuram | 22 Saviola | 23 Oleguer | 24 Iniesta | 25 Jorquera | 26 Jesús | 31 dos Santos | Coach: Rijkaard
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