Rubi (footballer) explained

Rubi
Full Name:Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia[1]
Birth Date:1 January 1970
Birth Place:Vilassar de Mar, Spain
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Almería (manager)
Youthclubs1:Vilassar Mar
Years1:1989–1992
Years2:1992–1994
Caps2:76
Goals2:9
Years3:1994–1995
Caps3:34
Goals3:14
Years4:1995–1996
Caps4:38
Goals4:9
Years5:1996–1997
Caps5:30
Goals5:1
Years6:1997–1998
Caps6:36
Goals6:4
Years7:1998–1999
Caps7:33
Goals7:15
Totalcaps:214
Totalgoals:37
Manageryears1:2001–2003
Managerclubs1:Vilassar Mar
Manageryears2:2003–2004
Managerclubs2:Hospitalet
Manageryears3:2004–2005
Managerclubs3:Sabadell
Manageryears4:2005–2008
Managerclubs4:Espanyol B
Manageryears5:2008
Managerclubs5:Ibiza-Eivissa
Manageryears6:2009–2010
Managerclubs6:Benidorm
Manageryears7:2012–2013
Managerclubs7:Girona
Manageryears8:2014–2015
Managerclubs8:Valladolid
Manageryears9:2015–2016
Managerclubs9:Levante
Manageryears10:2017
Managerclubs10:Sporting Gijón
Manageryears11:2017–2018
Managerclubs11:Huesca
Manageryears12:2018–2019
Managerclubs12:Espanyol
Manageryears13:2019–2020
Managerclubs13:Betis
Manageryears14:2021–2023
Managerclubs14:Almería
Manageryears15:2024–
Managerclubs15:Almería

Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia (born 1 January 1970), commonly known as Rubi, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a winger, currently manager of UD Almería.

After a playing career spent no higher than Segunda División B, he embarked on a managerial career of over two decades, leading Levante, Sporting de Gijón, Espanyol, Betis and Almería in La Liga.

Playing career

Born in Vilassar de Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Rubi never competed in higher than Segunda División B during a ten-year senior career. He started out at local club UE Vilassar de Mar, in 1989.[2]

Rubi appeared in the promotion playoffs to Segunda División with both AEC Manlleu and Terrassa FC, falling short on both occasions. Whilst with the former, he scored in a 3–3 away draw against Extremadura CF on 29 May 1994,[3] but the team eventually finished in second position in their group.

Coaching career

Rubi began working as a coach with Vilassar de Mar, and subsequently was in charge of several Tercera División sides in his native region. With CE L'Hospitalet, he lost the 2004 promotion play-off final on penalties to Atlético Levante UD.[4] His first experience in the third division was at CE Sabadell FC, being dismissed on 2 March 2005 while two points inside the relegation zone;[5] he was promoted to that level with RCD Espanyol B, a year later.

After a short stint with UD Ibiza-Eivissa, Rubi was appointed at Benidorm CF.[6] He left the club in the end of the campaign, after achieving a sixth-place finish in the third tier.

On 8 June 2012, Rubi signed with Girona FC after having been part of the staff in previous years.[7] He took the team to the best season of their history, leading them to the fourth position in division two and being eventually knocked out in the play-offs.[8]

Rubi left Girona and joined FC Barcelona on 28 June 2013, being added to Tito Vilanova's staff.[9] On 3 June of the following year, he replaced dismissed Juan Ignacio Martínez at the helm of Real Valladolid.[10]

After failing to win promotion to La Liga in 2015 Segunda División play-offs Rubi was replaced by Gaizka Garitano on 6 July 2015.[11] On 28 October, he was appointed manager of Levante UD, taking over from the sacked Lucas Alcaraz.[12] On his debut three days later, the team lost 3–0 at city rivals Valencia CF.[13] He only managed to collect seven wins until the end of the season, the side returned to the second tier after a six-year stay and he was relieved of his duties on 26 May 2016.[14]

Rubi took over at Sporting de Gijón on 18 January 2017, in the place of Abelardo.[15] In June, following their relegation, he was hired at SD Huesca.[16]

On 25 May 2018, after leading the Aragonese side to their first-ever promotion to the first division, Rubi announced he would leave at the end of the campaign.[17] He returned to Espanyol on 3 June, being appointed manager of the first team also in the top flight.[18]

On 6 June 2019, Rubi left Espanyol after paying his release clause,[19] and was appointed Real Betis manager just hours later.[20] He was dismissed on 21 June of the following year, with the club eight points above the relegation zone with as many games left to play.[21]

Rubi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with UD Almería on 28 April 2021, replacing José Gomes even though the team was placed third with six matches to go.[22] He won the league in his first full season, thus returning to the top tier after seven years.[23]

Almería survived on the final day of the 2022–23 campaign with a 3–3 draw at already relegated Espanyol, putting another of Rubi's former sides, Valladolid, into the second division at their expense.[24] He subsequently left at the end of his contract.[25]

On 3 June 2024, Rubi returned to the Power Horse Stadium on a three-year deal, following relegation the previous season.[26]

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecord
8 June 200130 June 2003 [27]
Hospitalet30 June 20031 July 2004 [28]
Sabadell1 July 200428 February 2005
Espanyol B1 July 200510 March 2008 [29]
Ibiza-Eivissa1 July 20083 November 2008
Benidorm11 June 20091 July 2010
Girona8 June 201228 June 2013
Valladolid3 June 20146 July 2015
Levante28 October 201526 May 2016
Sporting Gijón17 January 201710 June 2017
Huesca23 June 20173 June 2018
Espanyol3 June 20186 June 2019
6 June 2019 21 June 2020
28 April 2021 5 June 2023 [30]
3 June 2024Present
Career total

Honours

Almería

2021–22[23]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. News: Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia. La Voz de Galicia. es. 3 February 2020.
  2. News: Tito convence a Rubi a la tercera. Rubi gets talked into by Tito the third time around. Mundo Deportivo. Javier. Gascón. es. 28 June 2013. 12 January 2020.
  3. News: Punto del Manlleu a base de casta. Manlleu point due to heart. Mundo Deportivo. es. 30 May 1994. 29 October 2015.
  4. News: El meta Tato Burgada evita que suba L'Hospitalet. Keeper Tato Burgada prevents L'Hospitalet from being promoted. Mundo Deportivo. Lluís. Flaqué. es. 28 June 2004. 5 June 2023.
  5. Web site: El Sabadell destitueix "Rubi" com a entrenador de l'equip. Sabaldell dismiss "Rubi" as manager of the team. Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. ca. 2 March 2005. 5 June 2023.
  6. News: Rubi llega al Benidorm para hacerse cargo del nuevo proyecto. Rubi arrives at Benidorm to take over new project. Diario Información. Vicente. Fuster. es. 11 June 2009. 18 August 2014.
  7. News: Joan Francesc Ferrer 'Rubi' serà l'entrenador del Girona. Joan Francesc Ferrer 'Rubi' will be Girona's manager. Ara. ca. 8 June 2012. 18 August 2014.
  8. News: El Girona cierra con derrota la mejor temporada en sus 83 años de historia. Girona close best season of their 83-year history with defeat. El Comercio. es. 22 June 2013. 18 August 2014.
  9. Web site: Joan Francesc Ferrer, Rubi, se incorpora al staff de Tito Vilanova. Joan Francesc Ferrer, Rubi, added to Tito Vilanova's staff. FC Barcelona. es. 28 June 2013. 18 August 2014.
  10. Web site: Rubi, nuevo entrenador del Real Valladolid. Rubi, new manager of Real Valladolid. Real Valladolid. es. 3 June 2014. 18 August 2014.
  11. Web site: Gaizka Garitano llevará el timón. Gaizka Garitano will take the reins. Real Valladolid. es. 6 July 2015. 6 July 2015.
  12. Web site: Rubi, nuevo entrenador del Levante UD. Rubi, new manager of Levante UD. Levante UD. es. 28 October 2015. 28 October 2015.
  13. News: El Valencia capea el temporal. Valencia weather the storm. Marca. Cristian. Ballesteros. es. 31 October 2015. 5 June 2023.
  14. Web site: Muchas gracias Rubi. Thank you very much Rubi. Levante UD. es. 26 May 2016. 29 May 2016.
  15. Web site: Rubi: "Los jugadores van a creer en lo que hacemos". Rubi: "The players will believe in what we do". Sporting Gijón. es. 18 January 2017. 18 January 2017.
  16. News: El Huesca anuncia a Rubi como su nuevo entrenador. Huesca announce Rubi as their new manager. Marca. es. 23 June 2017. 24 February 2018.
  17. Web site: ¡Gracias por todo Rubi!. Thanks for everything Rubi!. SD Huesca. es. 25 May 2018. 29 May 2018.
  18. Web site: Rubi, new Espanyol's coach. RCD Espanyol. 3 June 2018. 3 June 2018.
  19. Web site: Rubi es desvincula del RCD Espanyol de Barcelona. Rubi cuts ties with RCD Espanyol de Barcelona. RCD Espanyol. ca. 6 June 2019. 6 June 2019.
  20. Web site: Rubi, new Real Betis head coach. Real Betis. 6 June 2019. 6 June 2019.
  21. Web site: Real Betis sack coach Rubi three games into La Liga resumption. BBC Sport. 21 June 2020. 21 June 2020.
  22. News: Rubi firma con el Almería un proyecto a largo plazo, hasta 2023. Rubi signs long-term project with Almería, until 2023. Diario de Almería. Paco. Gregorio. es. 28 April 2021. 29 April 2021.
  23. News: El Almería vuelve a Primera siete años después: así nacen los colores de la piel. Almería return to Primera seven years later: that is how colours of the skin are born. Diario de Almería. Paco. Gregorio. es. 29 May 2022. 6 June 2022.
  24. News: Embarba transforma la agonía en felicidad. Embarba transforms agony into happiness. Marca. José Ignacio. Pérez. es. 4 June 2023. 5 June 2023.
  25. News: Rubi anuncia que deja el Almería. Rubi announces he is leaving Almería. Marca. Antonio. Martínez. es. 5 June 2023. 5 June 2023.
  26. Web site: Rubi, regresa ‘la leyenda’ al banquillo del Almería. Rubi, 'the legend' returns to the Almería bench. UD Almería. es. 3 June 2024. 5 June 2024.
  27. Web site: Tercera División (Grupo 5) 2001–02. Tercera División (Group 5) 2001–02. Futbolme. es. 17 February 2016.
    Web site: Tercera División (Grupo 5) 2002–03. Tercera División (Group 5) 2002–03. Futbolme. es. 17 February 2016.
  28. Web site: Tercera División (Grupo 5) 2003–04. Tercera División (Group 5) 2003–04. Futbolme. es. 17 February 2016.
    Web site: Fase de ascenso a Segunda División B 2003–04. Promotion phase to Segunda División B 2003–04. Futbolme. es. 17 February 2016.
  29. Web site: Tercera División (Grupo 5) 2005–06. Tercera División (Group 5) 2005–06. Futbolme. es. 17 February 2016.
    Web site: Fase de ascenso a Segunda División B 2005–06. Promotion phase to Segunda División B 2005–06. Futbolme. es. 17 February 2016.


  30. News: Rubi, premiado como mejor entrenador de Segunda. Rubi, awarded best Segunda manager. La Vanguardia. es. 26 November 2018. 14 June 2023.