José Salomón Rondón

Salomón Rondón

Rondón with Zenit in 2014
Personal information
Full nameJosé Salomón Rondón Giménez
Date of birth16 September 1989
Place of birthCaracas, Venezuela
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Zenit St. Petersburg
Number23
Youth career
1996–2004San José de Calasanz
2004–2005Deportivo Gulima
2005–2006Aragua
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006–2008Aragua49(15)
2008–2010Las Palmas46(12)
2010–2012Málaga67(25)
2012–2014Rubin Kazan36(13)
2014–Zenit St. Petersburg32(18)
National team‡
2009Venezuela U2011(7)
2008–Venezuela36(12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 September 2014
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Rondón and the second or maternal family name is Giménez.

José Salomón Rondón Giménez (born 16 September 1989) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays for Russian club FC Zenit Saint Petersburg as a striker.

Club career

Early years / Las Palmas

Born in Caracas, Rondón made his debut in the Venezuelan first division at the age of 17, appearing for Aragua FC against Carabobo FC on 8 October 2006. On 8 April of the following year he scored his first goal(s) for the club, in a 2–2 draw against Caracas FC.

In the summer of 2008 Rondón was signed by UD Las Palmas in Spain, and made his official debut on 5 October in a 1–2 away loss against Deportivo Alavés for the second division championship.[2] Almost one year after his arrival, on 2 September 2009, he netted his first goal, in a Copa del Rey match against Cádiz CF – becoming the youngest foreign player to ever score for the club, at the age of 19 years, 11 months and 17 days –[3] and finished the 2009–10 season with ten goals in 36 games, as the Canary Islands side barely avoided relegation.

Málaga

On 19 July 2010, Málaga CF signed Rondón for a record transfer fee of €3.5 million.[4] He scored his first goal for the Andalusians exactly two months later, in a 1–2 home defeat against Sevilla FC in La Liga.[5] Four days later, he opened the score in a 2–0 win at Getafe CF,[6] adding a third the following week in a 2–3 home loss to Villarreal CF.[7]

On 1 May 2011, Rondón contributed with one goal as Málaga came from behind at home to defeat Hércules CF 3–1.[8] That was his 13th goal of the campaign, with which he surpassed the record of goals from a Venezuelan footballer in the Spanish top flight previously held by Juan Arango;[9] the team finally escaped relegation, with the player finishing as its top scorer.

Rondón started 2011–12 on the substitutes bench. He eventually beat competition from ageing Ruud van Nistelrooy,[10] again finishing as Málaga's best scorer – this included goals in narrow home wins against RCD Espanyol (2–1)[11] and Levante UD (1–0),[12] and a brace against Rayo Vallecano (4–2 success, also at La Rosaleda Stadium).[13]

Rubin Kazan

Rondón before a Europa League match against Chelsea

In August 2012 Rondón signed for Russian Premier League team FC Rubin Kazan, for a reported fee of €10 million[14] which made him the most expensive Venezuelan player in history.[15] He made his league debut on the 12th in a 2–0 home win over FC Dynamo Moscow, and he scored his first goal against FC Terek Grozny on 1 September, albeit in a 1–2 home defeat.[16]

Rondón made his first appearance in the UEFA Europa League against Inter Milan, and he scored once in a 2–2 group stage away draw, also playing the entire match.[17] In the second game between the two sides he netted a brace in the final three minutes, helping his team to a 3–0 win.[18]

On 10 March 2013, following the winter break in the Russian Premier League, Rondón scored the only goal of the game as Rubin claimed a home victory over reigning champions FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.[19] In continental competition, he opened up the scoring in the 100th minute of the round-of-16 clash against Levante UD, latching on to a cross from Bibras Natkho as the hosts won it 2–0 in that game and on aggregate.[20]

On 19 April Rondón opened the scoring for Rubin, who could only manage a 1–1 draw at relegation-threatened FC Amkar Perm.[21] In the club's next league match, against PFC CSKA Moscow, he netted the first goal in a 2–0 victory over the league leaders and eventual champions.[22]

On 1 September 2013, Rondón scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 win against recently promoted FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast.[23]

Zenit

On 31 January 2014, Rondón joined fellow league club Zenit Saint Petersburg for a fee believed to be around the area of £15.8 million.[24] He played his first game for his new team on 25 February, scoring in an eventual 2–1 away win against Borussia Dortmund for the UEFA Champions League's round-of-16 second-leg (4–5 aggregate defeat).[25]

On 6 April 2014, again as a second-half substitute, Rondón helped to a 6–2 home demolition of former team Rubin, scoring three goals.[26] On 20 September he added another three, in a 5–0 win at FC Rostov.[27]

International career

Rondón appeared for the Venezuelan under-20s in the 2009 FIFA World Cup in Egypt. He scored four times during the competition – as teammate Yonathan del Valle, with both netting hat-tricks in the 8–0 group stage routing of Tahiti – as the South Americans managed to qualify to the round-of-16.[28]

Previously, on 3 February 2008, 18-year-old Rondón made his debut for the senior team in a friendly with Haiti, scoring his first international goal on 23 March against El Salvador (another exhibition match, another 1–0 win).

International goals

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1. 23 March 2008 José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela  El Salvador 1–0 1–0 Friendly
2. 11 February 2009 Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela  Guatemala 2–1 2–1 Friendly
3. 9 February 2011 José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela  Costa Rica 1–1 2–2 Friendly
4. 9 February 2011 José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela  Costa Rica 2–2 2–2 Friendly
5. 13 July 2011 Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta, Argentina  Paraguay 1–0 3–3 2011 Copa América
6. 23 May 2012 Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela  Moldova 2–0 4–0 Friendly
7. 23 May 2012 Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela  Moldova 4–0 4–0 Friendly
8. 2 June 2012 Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay  Uruguay 1–1 1–1 2014 World Cup qualification
9. 11 September 2012 Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay  Paraguay 0–1 0–2 2014 World Cup qualification
10. 11 September 2012 Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay  Paraguay 0–2 0–2 2014 World Cup qualification
11. 26 March 2013 Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela  Colombia 1–0 1–0 2014 World Cup qualification
12. 10 September 2013 José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela  Peru 1–1 3–2 2014 World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

Aragua

Statistics

Club

As of 23 April 2015[29]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aragua 2006–07 21700––217
2007–08 28893––3711
Total 491593––5818
Las Palmas 2008–09 10000—100
2009–10 361212—3714
Total 461212—4714
Málaga 2010–11 301422—3216
2011–12 371130—4011
Total 672552—7227
Rubin Kazan 2012–13 257001263713
2013–14 11600861912
Total 36130020125625
Zenit 2013–14 1070021128
2014–15 2111211463718
Total 3118211674926
Career total 229831783619282110

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International

As of 9 September 2014
Venezuela
YearAppsGoals
200831
200931
201030
2011113
201285
201362
201420
Total3612

References

  1. ↑ "Salomón Rondón". Zenit's official website. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "El Alavés remontó con toda justicia en Mendizorroza" [Alavés came back from behind in Mendizorroza justly] (in Spanish). Marca. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  3. ↑ El gol extranjero más joven (Youngest foreign goal); La Provincia, 4 September 2009 (Spanish)
  4. ↑ Transfer record for Malaga Football Club; List Andalucia, 20 July 2010
  5. ↑ Report: Malaga vs Sevilla; Goal.com, 20 September 2010
  6. ↑ Primera Liga round-up: Sevilla held at home, Malaga stun Getafe, Villarreal edge past Deportivo La Coruna; Goal.com, 23 September 2010
  7. ↑ First-half thriller; ESPN Soccernet, 27 September 2010
  8. ↑ The Beast boosts Malaga hopes; ESPN Soccernet, 1 May 2011
  9. ↑ Salomón Rondón anotó e hizo historia (Salomón Rondón scored and made history); El Tiempo, 2 May 2011 (Spanish)
  10. ↑ "Rondón, "orgulloso y encantado" de haber aprendido de Van Nistelrooy" [Rondón, "proud and delighted" for having learned from Van Nistelrooy] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  11. ↑ Malaga end losing run; ESPN Soccernet, 30 October 2011
  12. ↑ Rondon boosts Boquerones; ESPN Soccernet, 10 March 2012
  13. ↑ Rondon doubles up in Malaga win; ESPN Soccernet, 22 March 2012
  14. ↑ Rubin lure Rondón from Málaga; UEFA.com, 5 August 2012
  15. ↑ Salomón Rondón es el futbolista venezolano más caro de la historia (Salomón Rondón is Venezuela's most expensive footballer in history); La Nación, 6 August 2012 (Spanish)
  16. ↑ FK Rubin Kazan 1–2 Terek Grozny; ESPN Soccernet, 1 September 2012
  17. ↑ Nagatomo salvages Inter draw against Rubin; UEFA.com, 20 September 2012
  18. ↑ "FK Rubin Kazan 3–0 Internazionale". ESPN FC. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "FK Rubin Kazan 1–0 Zenit St. Petersburg". ESPN FC. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  20. ↑ "Rubin edge out Levante in extra time". UEFA.com. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  21. ↑ "Amkar Perm 1–1 Rubin Kazan". Soccerway. 19 April 2013.
  22. ↑ "Rubin Kazan 2–0 CSKA Moskva". Soccerway. 28 April 2013.
  23. ↑ "Ural 0–3 FK Rubin Kazan". ESPN FC. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  24. ↑ "Zenit signs Salomón Rondón". Zenit's official website. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "Borussia Dortmund 1–2 Zenit St Petersburg". BBC Sport. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  26. ↑ "Rondon hat-trick rocks Rubin". Zenit's official website. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  27. ↑ "Rostov 0–5 Zenit St Petersburg". ESPN FC. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  28. ↑ Salomón Rondón – FIFA competition record
  29. ↑ "S. Rondón". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 April 2014.

External links