Rubio (footballer, born 1976) explained

Rubio
Fullname:Óscar Montalbán Ramos
Birth Date:17 May 1976
Birth Place:Madrid, Spain
Position:Centre-back
Years1:1994–1997
Years2:1997–1998
Caps2:20
Goals2:0
Years3:1998–1999
Caps3:27
Goals3:0
Years4:1999
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:1999
Clubs5:Mérida (loan)
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2000
Caps6:20
Goals6:0
Years7:2000–2001
Caps7:12
Goals7:0
Years8:2001–2005
Caps8:123
Goals8:6
Years9:2005–2006
Caps9:19
Goals9:2
Years10:2006–2009
Totalcaps:221
Totalgoals:8
Manageryears1:2012–2014
Managerclubs1:Carabanchel
Manageryears2:2016
Managerclubs2:Complutense

Óscar Montalbán Ramos (born 17 May 1976), known as Rubio, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a central defender, and is a manager.

Club career

Spain

After playing several years in the lower leagues, Rubio signed with Real Madrid in 1998, spending the vast majority of his spell in the Segunda División B with the reserves. He made his only appearance for the first team in the 1998–99 edition of the Copa del Rey, against Valencia CF: after a 6–0 away loss, he featured in the second leg, an insufficient 2–1 win.[1]

Rubio was loaned to CP Mérida for 1999–2000, failing to appear in a single match. In January 2000, he was released by Madrid and joined CD Toledo also of Segunda División[2] – both clubs would be relegated at the end of the season, the former due to financial irregularities.

Livingston

Rubio spent his first year in top-flight football with Portugal's S.C. Farense, playing less than half of the Primeira Liga games as his team finished in 13th position. He signed for Scottish Premier League side Livingston in July 2001,[3] going on to make a total of 148 official appearances for them over the next four years and score eight goals.[4]

In the 2001–02 campaign, Rubio appeared in 33 matches as the Livi Lions finished in a best-ever third place, with the subsequent qualification for the UEFA Cup.[5] He then made history by becoming the first ever Livingston player to score in a European competition, when he netted a header in the club's first game, a 1–1 draw at FC Vaduz (eventual away goals rule qualification).[6] He contributed to the team's victorious run in the Scottish League Cup in 2003–04, including starting and finishing the final against Hibernian.[7]

Later years

Rubio left Livingston in July 2005[8] and moved back to his country, spending one season in the third tier with Rayo Vallecano. He retired in 2009 at the age of 33 after three years with amateurs Galáctico Pegaso, also in his native Madrid.

Notes and References

  1. News: El Madrid sólo se anota dos 'juegos'. Madrid can only get two 'games'. Mundo Deportivo. Eduardo. Palacios. es. 17 June 1999. 1 March 2021.
  2. News: El Córdoba, líder en refuerzos. Córdoba, leaders in signings. Mundo Deportivo. Eduard. Muntané. es. 12 January 2000. 1 March 2021.
  3. Web site: Livingston make 17 signings. BBC Sport. 4 July 2001. 5 September 2009.
  4. Web site: LIVINGSTON : 1974/75 – 2007/08. Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. 5 September 2009.
  5. Web site: Livingston clinch third place. BBC Sport. 12 May 2002. 1 March 2021.
  6. Web site: Livi off to good start. BBC Sport. 13 August 2002. 20 October 2011.
  7. Web site: Hibernian 0 Livingston 2. Sporting Life. 14 March 2004. 12 October 2012.
  8. Web site: Rubio bids fond farewell to Livi. BBC Sport. 8 July 2005. 5 September 2009.