Gonzalo Rodríguez (footballer, born 1984) explained

Gonzalo Rodríguez
Fullname:Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez Prado
Birth Date:10 April 1984[1]
Birth Place:Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height:1.82 m
Position:Centre-back
Years1:2002–2004
Caps1:57
Goals1:4
Years2:2004–2012
Caps2:184
Goals2:6
Years3:2012–2017
Caps3:159
Goals3:22
Years4:2017–2020
Caps4:33
Goals4:2
Totalcaps:433
Totalgoals:34
Nationalyears1:2003–2015
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:1

Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez Prado (pronounced as /es-419/; born 10 April 1984) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

After starting out at San Lorenzo, he spent most of his career with Villarreal, appearing in 253 competitive matches over the course of eight La Liga seasons (nine goals). He also played five years in the Italian Serie A with Fiorentina.[2]

Club career

San Lorenzo

Born in Buenos Aires, Gonzalo started playing with San Lorenzo de Almagro. He made his Primera División debut on 26 July 2002 at the age of 18, against Rosario Central.[3]

At age 20, Rodríguez had already represented Argentina, previously having appeared at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship with the under-20 team.[3]

Villarreal

In July 2004, Rodríguez signed for Spain's Villarreal CF, being an undisputed starter in his first two seasons and renewing his contract for a further five years.[4] However, after the surprise elimination from the UEFA Intertoto Cup at the hands of NK Maribor, in which he was sent off,[5] and a month into the league campaign, he suffered a serious injury, tearing the cruciate ligament in his right knee; after returning to activity in April 2007, he suffered the same injury two months later.[6]

Rodríguez returned to good form in 2008–09, often partnering Uruguayan Diego Godín[7] [8] [9] and totalling 48 La Liga games over two seasons, with his side always qualifying for the UEFA Europa League, finishing fifth and seventh respectively. On 7 April 2011, in the Europa League quarter-final tie against FC Twente, he broke his fibula following a tough challenge by Marc Janko, being rushed to hospital in an ambulance and lost for the remainder of the season.[10] [11]

Fiorentina

In early August 2012, following Villarreal's relegation, Gonzalo joined ACF Fiorentina alongside his teammate Borja Valero.[12] He scored six Serie A goals from 35 appearances in his first year, helping to a final fourth place and the subsequent Europa League qualification.[13]

In the 2015–16 season, Rodríguez was named new team captain by new manager Paulo Sousa.[14] He made his 200th competitive appearance for the Italian club on 9 April 2017, and marked the occasion with his 25th goal in a 2–2 away draw against UC Sampdoria.[15]

Return to San Lorenzo

Rodríguez returned to San Lorenzo in July 2017, on a free transfer.[16] On 23 June 2020, the 36-year-old announced his retirement.[17]

Career statistics

Club

[18]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupInternationalTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
San Lorenzo2002–032730071344
2003–043010051352
Total57400122696
Villarreal2004–0534200152494
2005–0629010110410
2006–0760002080
2007–081800020200
2008–092720080352
2009–102102070300
2010–1123160101392
2011–122610050311
Total1846906032539
Fiorentina2012–133560000356
2013–1433430102466
2014–1530750101458
2015–163543050434
2016–172611070341
Total1592212032320325
San Lorenzo2017–181402030190
2018–191016041202
2019–20911000101
Total3329071493
Career Total43334300111957443

International

Argentina
YearAppsGoals
200321
200410
200520
200810
201510
Total71

Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first.[19]

Honours

San Lorenzo

2002[3]

Villarreal

2004[20]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gonzalo Rodriguez. Eurosport. 5 April 2020.
  2. News: Gonzalo Rodríguez, uno de los históricos del, se retira. Gonzalo Rodríguez, one of Villarreal's legends, retires. Diario AS. Javier. Mata. es. 25 June 2020. 21 February 2024.
  3. News: Gonzalo Rodríguez se retira en medio de la pandemia. Gonzalo Rodríguez retires amidst the pandemic. Página 12. es. 24 June 2020. 21 February 2024.
  4. Web site: Villarreal refresh Rodríguez contract. UEFA. 27 January 2006. 3 May 2010.
  5. Web site: Maribor soar as Villarreal crash out. UEFA. Martin. Pavcnik. 22 July 2006. 21 February 2024.
  6. Web site: Grim news for Gonzalo at Villarreal. UEFA. 14 June 2007. 26 July 2018.
  7. News: La pareja de moda. Hip duo. El Periódico Mediterráneo. Rafael. Fabián. es. 5 March 2008. 10 January 2018.
  8. News: Old Trafford doctora a la pareja Gonzalo-Godín. Gonzalo-Godín duo get PhD at Old Trafford. Diario AS. A.. Andrés. es. 19 September 2008. 10 January 2018.
  9. News: Godín vuelve a tiempo. Godín returns on time. El País. Damián. Ruiz Fájula. es. 6 July 2010. 10 January 2018.
  10. Web site: EL: Villarreal punishes FC Twente; Benfica beats PSV. Sports Illustrated. 7 April 2011. 18 April 2011.
  11. Web site: El defensa del Villarreal Gonzalo Rodríguez se pierde la temporada por lesión. Villarreal defender Gonzalo Rodríguez misses season due to injury. Europa Press. es. 8 April 2011. 21 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Borja Valero, Gonzalo Rodriguez and Aquilani to Fiorentina. ACF Fiorentina. 4 July 2012. 4 August 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161229110621/http://en.violachannel.tv/breaking-news-detail/items/borja-valero-gonzalo-rodriguez-and-aquilani-to-fiorentina.html. 29 December 2016.
  13. News: Fantacalcio 14–15: Gonzalo Rodriguez in crisi, è tra i peggiori della Fiorentina. Fantacalcio 14–15: Gonzalo Rodriguez in crisis, among Fiorentina's worst. La Gazzetta dello Sport. Roberto. Pinna. it. 7 November 2014. 21 February 2024.
  14. Web site: Fiorentina, Rodriguez ci crede: "Il sogno di vincere lo Scudetto adesso è concreto". Fiorentina, Rodriguez a believer: "The dream of winning the Scudetto is now real. Goal. it. 1 January 2016. 25 January 2016.
  15. Web site: Serie A Week 31: Did You Know?. Football Italia. Susan. Campanale. 10 April 2017. 20 April 2017.
  16. News: Gonzalo Rodríguez vuelve a San Lorenzo: "Fue una decisión del corazón". Gonzalo Rodríguez returns to San Lorenzo: "My decision was from the heart". La Nación. es. 10 July 2017. 27 September 2020.
  17. News: Gonzalo Rodríguez se retira del fútbol profesional. Gonzalo Rodríguez retires from professional football. Diario AS. Fede. González. es. 23 June 2020. 29 July 2020.
  18. Web site: G. Rodríguez. Soccerway. 15 May 2016.
  19. News: Rodriguez's goal enough for Argentina to edge Mexico. The Star. 6 February 2003. 5 April 2020.
  20. News: El Villarreal vuelve a la UEFA tras ganar la Intertoto. Villarreal return to UEFA after winning the Intertoto. El Mundo. es. 23 August 2004. 21 February 2024.
  21. Web site: Festa al Franchi, presenti e assenti. No eccellenti da Rui Costa, Baggio e Batistuta. Party at the Franchi, present and absentees. Excellent players, from Rui Costa, to Baggio and Batistuta, decline. Fiorentina.it. Matteo. Magrini. it. 23 August 2016. 24 August 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160824134506/http://www.fiorentina.it/it/news/articolo.37.51489/festa-al-franchi-presenti-e-assenti-no-eccellenti-da-rui-costa-baggio-e-batistuta.html. 24 August 2016.