Rubén Baraja

Date of birth11 July 1975
Place of birthValladolid
NationalitySpanish
Weight77 kg
Height1.80 m
PositionMidfielder

A teammate of David Abelda at Valencia, Ruben has had an eventful career.

He began at his local club Real Valladolid for whom he signed in 1993.

He flitted between the first and second teams before really establishing himself.

He moved to Atletico Madrid in 1996.

He spent three seasons in the second team before forcing his way into the first team where his performances won him a transfer to Valencia for £8 million in the summer of 2000.

He made his international debut in November 2000 against Holland.

His performances at Valencia have been a revelation.

He is the pivot in the centre of midfield, directing play with his excellent passing and breaking up opposition attacks with well-timed tackles.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Valladolid 01 Jul 1993 30 Jun 1996
Atletico Madrid 01 Jul 1996 30 Jun 1999
Valencia 01 Jul 1999

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
2000-01 Valencia Primera Liga 34
1
4
16
2000-01 Valencia UEFA Champions League 15
2
5
2001-02 Valencia Primera Liga 15
2
7
7
2001-02 Valencia UEFA Cup
1
2002-03 Valencia Primera Liga 29
5
5
12
1
2002-03 Valencia UEFA Champions League 12
4
4
2003-04 Valencia Primera Liga 29
6
8
9
2003-04 Valencia UEFA Cup 10
1
2
2
2004-05 Valencia Primera Liga 24
1
7
6
1
2007-08 Valencia UEFA Champions League
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
23 Aug 2000 Valencia v FC Tirol Milch Innsbruck W 4-1
Agg: 4-1
UEFA Champions League 3rd round 2nd leg
09 Sep 2000 Real Madrid v Valencia L 2-1 Primera Liga 1
12 Sep 2000 Valencia v Olympiakos W 2-1 UEFA Champions League Group C
16 Sep 2000 Valencia v Real Mallorca W 4-0 Primera Liga 2
20 Sep 2000 Heerenveen v Valencia W 0-1 UEFA Champions League Group C
24 Sep 2000 Numancia v Valencia W 0-3 Primera Liga 3
27 Sep 2000 Valencia v Olympique Lyonnais W 1-0 UEFA Champions League Group C
01 Oct 2000 Valencia v Las Palmas W 5-1 Primera Liga 4
14 Oct 2000 Villarreal v Valencia D 1-1 Primera Liga 5
17 Oct 2000 Olympique Lyonnais v Valencia W 1-2 UEFA Champions League Group C
21 Oct 2000 Valencia v Real Zaragoza W 1-0 Primera Liga 6
29 Oct 2000 Osasuna v Valencia W 1-2 Primera Liga 7
01 Nov 2000 Valencia v Celta Vigo W 1-0 Primera Liga 8
04 Nov 2000 Español v Valencia L 1-0 Primera Liga 9
07 Nov 2000 Valencia v Heerenveen D 1-1 UEFA Champions League Group C
18 Nov 2000 Alavés v Valencia D 1-1 Primera Liga 11
21 Nov 2000 Valencia v Sturm Graz W 2-0 UEFA Champions League Group A
26 Nov 2000 Valencia v Oviedo W 2-0 Primera Liga 12
03 Dec 2000 Valladolid v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 13
06 Dec 2000 Panathinaikos v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Group A
09 Dec 2000 Valencia v Real Sociedad W 2-0 Primera Liga 14
17 Dec 2000 Valencia v Malaga W 2-0 Primera Liga 15
20 Dec 2000 Athletic Bilbao v Valencia D 1-1 Primera Liga 16
07 Jan 2001 Valencia v Racing Santander W 1-0 Primera Liga 17
13 Jan 2001 Deportivo La Coruña v Valencia L 2-0 Primera Liga 18
20 Jan 2001 Valencia v Barcelona L 0-1 Primera Liga 19
28 Jan 2001 Valencia v Real Madrid L 0-1 Primera Liga 20
04 Feb 2001 Real Mallorca v Valencia D 2-2 Primera Liga 21
10 Feb 2001 Valencia v Numancia W 3-0 Primera Liga 22
14 Feb 2001 Valencia v Manchester United D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Group A
17 Feb 2001 Las Palmas v Valencia W 0-2 Primera Liga 23
20 Feb 2001 Manchester United v Valencia D 1-1 UEFA Champions League Group A
25 Feb 2001 Valencia v Villarreal W 3-1 Primera Liga 24
03 Mar 2001 Real Zaragoza v Valencia D 1-1 Primera Liga 25
13 Mar 2001 Valencia v Panathinaikos W 2-1 UEFA Champions League Group A
18 Mar 2001 Celta Vigo v Valencia L 3-2 Primera Liga 25
31 Mar 2001 Valencia v Español L 0-1 Primera Liga 28
04 Apr 2001 Arsenal v Valencia L 2-1 UEFA Champions League Quarter-final 1st leg
07 Apr 2001 Rayo Vallecano v Valencia W 1-4 Primera Liga 29
14 Apr 2001 Valencia v Alavés L 1-2 Primera Liga 30
17 Apr 2001 Valencia v Arsenal W 1-0
Agg: 2-2
UEFA Champions League Quarter-final 2nd leg
22 Apr 2001 Oviedo v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 31
28 Apr 2001 Valencia v Valladolid W 1-0 Primera Liga 32
02 May 2001 Leeds United v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Semi-final 1st leg
05 May 2001 Real Sociedad v Valencia W 1-2 Primera Liga 33
13 May 2001 Malaga v Valencia L 3-0 Primera Liga 34
23 May 2001 Bayern München v Valencia D 1-1 UEFA Champions League Final
27 May 2001 Racing Santander v Valencia D 1-1 Primera Liga 36
10 Jun 2001 Valencia v Deportivo La Coruña L 0-1 Primera Liga 37
17 Jun 2001 Barcelona v Valencia L 3-2 Primera Liga 38
15 Dec 2001 Español v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 17
22 Dec 2001 Valencia v Malaga D 0-0 Primera Liga 18
06 Jan 2002 Real Betis v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 19
13 Jan 2002 Real Madrid v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 20
20 Jan 2002 Valencia v Valladolid D 0-0 Primera Liga 21
26 Jan 2002 Las Palmas v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 22
03 Feb 2002 Valencia v Athletic Bilbao D 0-0 Primera Liga 23
09 Feb 2002 Valencia v Celta Vigo D 0-0 Primera Liga 25
16 Feb 2002 Villarreal v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 26
21 Mar 2002 Valencia v Inter Milano L 0-1
Agg: 1-2
UEFA Cup Quarter-final 2nd leg
24 Mar 2002 Valencia v Osasuna D 0-0 Primera Liga 31
30 Mar 2002 Tenerife v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 32
07 Apr 2002 Valencia v Real Sociedad D 0-0 Primera Liga 33
13 Apr 2002 Real Mallorca v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 34
21 Apr 2002 Valencia v Deportivo La Coruña D 0-0 Primera Liga 35
27 Apr 2002 Valencia v Español D 0-0 Primera Liga 36
05 May 2002 Malaga v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 37
11 May 2002 Valencia v Real Betis D 0-0 Primera Liga 38
01 Sep 2002 Real Mallorca v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 1
14 Sep 2002 Valencia v Recreativo de Huelva D 0-0 Primera Liga 2
17 Sep 2002 Valencia v Liverpool W 2-0 UEFA Champions League Group B
22 Sep 2002 Malaga v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 3
25 Sep 2002 Spartak Moskva v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Group B
29 Sep 2002 Valencia v Rayo Vallecano D 0-0 Primera Liga 4
02 Oct 2002 Valencia v FC Basel D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Group B
06 Oct 2002 Valencia v Celta Vigo D 0-0 Primera Liga 5
19 Oct 2002 Atlético Madrid v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 6
22 Oct 2002 FC Basel v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Group B
26 Oct 2002 Valencia v Athletic Bilbao D 0-0 Primera Liga 7
30 Oct 2002 Liverpool v Valencia W 0-1 UEFA Champions League Group B
03 Nov 2002 Español v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 8
09 Nov 2002 Valencia v Real Betis D 0-0 Primera Liga 9
17 Nov 2002 Osasuna v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 10
24 Nov 2002 Valencia v Valladolid D 0-0 Primera Liga 11
27 Nov 2002 Valencia v Ajax D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Phase 2 group B
01 Dec 2002 Alavés v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 12
07 Dec 2002 Valencia v Racing Santander D 0-0 Primera Liga 13
10 Dec 2002 Arsenal v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Phase 2 group B
22 Dec 2002 Valencia v Deportivo La Coruña D 0-0 Primera Liga 15
11 Jan 2003 Valencia v Real Sociedad D 0-0 Primera Liga 17
15 Jan 2003 Real Madrid v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 16
18 Jan 2003 Barcelona v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 18
26 Jan 2003 Valencia v Sevilla D 0-0 Primera Liga 19
02 Feb 2003 Valencia v Real Mallorca D 0-0 Primera Liga 20
09 Feb 2003 Recreativo de Huelva v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 21
15 Feb 2003 Valencia v Malaga D 0-0 Primera Liga 22
18 Feb 2003 AS Roma v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Phase 2 group B
23 Feb 2003 Rayo Vallecano v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 23
26 Feb 2003 Valencia v AS Roma D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Phase 2 group B
02 Mar 2003 Celta Vigo v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 24
08 Mar 2003 Valencia v Atlético Madrid D 0-0 Primera Liga 25
11 Mar 2003 Ajax v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Phase 2 group B
16 Mar 2003 Athletic Bilbao v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 26
23 Mar 2003 Valencia v Español D 0-0 Primera Liga 27
05 Apr 2003 Real Betis v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 28
09 Apr 2003 Inter Milano v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Quarter-final 1st leg
22 Apr 2003 Valencia v Inter Milano D 0-0
Agg: 0-0
UEFA Champions League Quarter-final 2nd leg
27 Apr 2003 Valencia v Alavés D 0-0 Primera Liga 31
04 May 2003 Racing Santander v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 32
11 May 2003 Valencia v Villarreal D 0-0 Primera Liga 33
17 May 2003 Deportivo La Coruña v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 34
24 May 2003 Valencia v Real Madrid D 0-0 Primera Liga 35
01 Jun 2003 Real Sociedad v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 36
15 Jun 2003 Valencia v Barcelona D 0-0 Primera Liga 37
30 Aug 2003 Valencia v Valladolid D 0-0 Primera Liga 1
02 Sep 2003 Osasuna v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 2
14 Sep 2003 Valencia v Malaga D 0-0 Primera Liga 3
20 Sep 2003 Atlético Madrid v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 4
24 Sep 2003 AIK Solna v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Cup 1st round 1st leg
27 Sep 2003 Valencia v Real Madrid D 0-0 Primera Liga 5
05 Oct 2003 Barcelona v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 6
19 Oct 2003 Valencia v Español D 0-0 Primera Liga 7
25 Oct 2003 Deportivo La Coruña v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 8
29 Oct 2003 Valencia v Celta Vigo D 0-0 Primera Liga 9
02 Nov 2003 Real Mallorca v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 10
06 Nov 2003 Valencia v Maccabi Haifa D 0-0 UEFA Cup 2nd round 1st leg
09 Nov 2003 Valencia v Racing Santander D 0-0 Primera Liga 11
23 Nov 2003 Murcia v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 12
29 Nov 2003 Valencia v Real Zaragoza D 0-0 Primera Liga 13
02 Dec 2003 Real Sociedad v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 14
07 Dec 2003 Valencia v Athletic Bilbao D 0-0 Primera Liga 15
11 Dec 2003 Maccabi Haifa v Valencia D 0-0
Agg: 0-0
UEFA Cup 2nd round 2nd leg
14 Dec 2003 Real Betis v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 16
20 Dec 2003 Valencia v Sevilla D 0-0 Primera Liga 17
04 Jan 2004 Valencia v Villarreal D 0-0 Primera Liga 18
10 Jan 2004 Albacete Balompié v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 19
17 Jan 2004 Valladolid v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 20
30 Jan 2004 Malaga v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 22
07 Feb 2004 Valencia v Atlético Madrid D 0-0 Primera Liga 23
15 Feb 2004 Real Madrid v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 24
21 Feb 2004 Valencia v Barcelona D 0-0 Primera Liga 25
26 Feb 2004 Valencia v Besiktas D 0-0 UEFA Cup 3rd round 1st leg
29 Feb 2004 Español v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 26
03 Mar 2004 Besiktas v Valencia D 0-0
Agg: 0-0
UEFA Cup 3rd round 2nd leg
06 Mar 2004 Valencia v Deportivo La Coruña D 0-0 Primera Liga 27
14 Mar 2004 Celta Vigo v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 28
21 Mar 2004 Valencia v Real Mallorca D 0-0 Primera Liga 29
25 Mar 2004 Valencia v Gençlerbirligi D 0-0
Agg: 0-0
UEFA Cup 4th round 2nd leg
28 Mar 2004 Racing Santander v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 30
04 Apr 2004 Valencia v Murcia D 0-0 Primera Liga 31
08 Apr 2004 Bordeaux v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Cup Quarter-final 1st leg
11 Apr 2004 Real Zaragoza v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 32
14 Apr 2004 Valencia v Bordeaux D 0-0
Agg: 0-0
UEFA Cup Quarter-final 2nd leg
18 Apr 2004 Valencia v Real Sociedad D 0-0 Primera Liga 33
22 Apr 2004 Villarreal v Valencia D 0-0 UEFA Cup Semi-final 1st leg
25 Apr 2004 Athletic Bilbao v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 34
02 May 2004 Valencia v Real Betis D 0-0 Primera Liga 35
06 May 2004 Valencia v Villarreal D 0-0
Agg: 0-0
UEFA Cup Semi-final 2nd leg
09 May 2004 Sevilla v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 36
19 May 2004 Olympique Marseille v Valencia W 0-2 UEFA Cup Final
27 Aug 2004 FC Porto v Valencia W 1-2 UEFA Super Cup Final
30 Aug 2004 Valencia v Villarreal W 2-1 Primera Liga 1
18 Sep 2004 Valencia v Real Sociedad W 3-1 Primera Liga 3
22 Sep 2004 Deportivo La Coruña v Valencia W 1-5 Primera Liga 4
02 Oct 2004 Real Betis v Valencia D 1-1 Primera Liga 6
17 Oct 2004 Valencia v Sevilla L 1-2 Primera Liga 7
23 Oct 2004 Real Madrid v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 8
30 Oct 2004 Valencia v Atlético Madrid D 0-0 Primera Liga 9
07 Nov 2004 Getafe v Valencia L 3-1 Primera Liga 10
13 Nov 2004 Valencia v Real Zaragoza D 0-0 Primera Liga 11
28 Nov 2004 Valencia v Real Mallorca W 2-0 Primera Liga 13
04 Dec 2004 Albacete Balompié v Valencia W 0-1 Primera Liga 14
12 Dec 2004 Valencia v Numancia W 1-0 Primera Liga 15
18 Dec 2004 Barcelona v Valencia D 1-1 Primera Liga 16
22 Dec 2004 Valencia v Español W 3-0 Primera Liga 17
08 Jan 2005 Valencia v Levante W 2-1 Primera Liga 18
16 Jan 2005 Osasuna v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 19
30 Jan 2005 Valencia v Athletic Bilbao D 2-2 Primera Liga 21
05 Feb 2005 Real Sociedad v Valencia D 3-3 Primera Liga 23
12 Feb 2005 Valencia v Deportivo La Coruña L 1-2 Primera Liga 23
27 Feb 2005 Valencia v Real Betis W 2-1 Primera Liga 25
05 Mar 2005 Valencia v Real Madrid D 1-1 Primera Liga 27
24 Apr 2005 Valencia v Albacete Balompié W 2-0 Primera Liga 33
30 Apr 2005 Numancia v Valencia D 1-1 Primera Liga 34
15 May 2005 Español v Valencia D 2-2 Primera Liga 36
22 May 2005 Levante v Valencia D 0-0 Primera Liga 37
03 Oct 2007 Valencia v Chelsea L 1-2 UEFA Champions League Group B


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
2000-01 Spain FIFA World Cup 2
2
1
2
2000-01 Spain International Friendly 1
3
1
2001-02 Spain FIFA World Cup 4
2
2001-02 Spain International Friendly 2
1
2001-02 Spain Under-21 1
2002-03 Spain International Friendly 4
2002-03 Spain UEFA European Championship 3
2
2
2
2003-04 Spain International Friendly 3
2
2
2003-04 Spain UEFA European Championship 5
2
1
2004-05 Spain FIFA World Cup 2
1
2004-05 Spain International Friendly 3
2005-06 Spain FIFA World Cup 1
2


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
07 Oct 2000 Spain v Israel W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 7
11 Oct 2000 Austria v Spain D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 7
15 Nov 2000 Spain v Netherlands L 1-2 International Friendly
28 Feb 2001 England v Spain L 3-0 International Friendly
24 Mar 2001 Spain v Liechtenstein W 5-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 7
28 Mar 2001 Spain v France W 2-1 International Friendly
25 Apr 2001 Spain v Japan W 1-0 International Friendly
06 Jun 2001 Israel v Spain D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 7
13 Feb 2002 Spain v Portugal D 1-1 International Friendly
24 Mar 2002 Netherlands v Spain W 0-3 Under-21
17 Apr 2002 Northern Ireland v Spain W 0-5 International Friendly
02 Jun 2002 Spain v Slovenia W 3-1 FIFA World Cup Finals Group B
07 Jun 2002 Spain v Paraguay W 3-1 FIFA World Cup Finals Group B
16 Jun 2002 Spain v Republic of Ireland W 1-1 (3-2) FIFA World Cup Finals 2nd round
22 Jun 2002 Korea Republic v Spain L 0-0 (3-5) FIFA World Cup Finals quarter-final
07 Sep 2002 Greece v Spain W 0-2 UEFA European Championship Group 6
12 Oct 2002 Spain v Northern Ireland W 3-0 UEFA European Championship Group 6
16 Oct 2002 Spain v Paraguay D 0-0 International Friendly
20 Nov 2002 Spain v Bulgaria W 1-0 International Friendly
12 Feb 2003 Spain v Germany W 3-1 International Friendly
29 Mar 2003 Ukraine v Spain D 2-2 UEFA European Championship Group 6
02 Apr 2003 Spain v Armenia W 3-0 UEFA European Championship Group 6
30 Apr 2003 Spain v Ecuador W 4-0 International Friendly
11 Jun 2003 Northern Ireland v Spain D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group 6
06 Sep 2003 Portugal v Spain W 0-1 International Friendly
10 Sep 2003 Spain v Ukraine W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Group 6
11 Oct 2003 Armenia v Spain W 0-4 UEFA European Championship Group 6
15 Nov 2003 Spain v Norway W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Play-off 1st leg
19 Nov 2003 Norway v Spain W 0-3 UEFA European Championship Play-off 2nd leg
18 Feb 2004 Spain v Peru W 2-1 International Friendly
31 Mar 2004 Spain v Denmark W 2-0 International Friendly
28 Apr 2004 Italy v Spain D 1-1 International Friendly
05 Jun 2004 Spain v Andorra W 4-0 International Friendly
12 Jun 2004 Spain v Russia W 1-0 UEFA European Championship Finals Group A
16 Jun 2004 Greece v Spain D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Finals Group A
20 Jun 2004 Portugal v Spain L 1-0 UEFA European Championship Finals Group A
18 Aug 2004 Spain v Venezuela W 3-2 International Friendly
03 Sep 2004 Spain v Scotland D 1-1 International Friendly
03 Sep 2004 Spain v Scotland D 1-1 International Friendly
08 Sep 2004 Bosnia and Herzegovina v Spain D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 7
09 Oct 2004 Spain v Belgium W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 7
13 Oct 2004 Lithuania v Spain D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 7
08 Oct 2005 Belgium v Spain W 0-2 FIFA World Cup Europe group 7
12 Oct 2005 San Marino v Spain W 0-6 FIFA World Cup Europe group 7
16 Nov 2005 Slovakia v Spain D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Play-off 2nd leg


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.