Mario Rondón Explained

Mario Rondón
Fullname:Mario Junior Rondón Fernández[1]
Birth Date:26 March 1986
Birth Place:Los Teques, Venezuela
Height:1.83 m
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Académica
Clubnumber:19
Youthyears1:1997–2004
Youthclubs1:Menor Los Castores
Youthyears2:2004–2005
Youthclubs2:Pontassolense
Years1:2005–2009
Caps1:101
Goals1:21
Years2:2009–2011
Caps2:31
Goals2:9
Years3:2010
Clubs3:Beira-Mar (loan)
Caps3:10
Goals3:1
Years4:2011–2015
Caps4:108
Goals4:31
Years5:2015–2016
Caps5:31
Goals5:6
Years6:2018
Caps6:18
Goals6:9
Years7:2018
Caps7:7
Goals7:3
Years8:2019
Caps8:18
Goals8:10
Years9:2019–2021
Caps9:53
Goals9:7
Years10:2021–2022
Caps10:23
Goals10:1
Years11:2022–2024
Caps11:59
Goals11:10
Years12:2024–
Caps12:0
Goals12:0
Nationalyears1:2011–2015
Nationalcaps1:13
Nationalgoals1:3
Club-Update:20 May 2024

Mario Junior Rondón Fernández (pronounced as /es/; born 26 March 1986) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Portuguese Liga 3 club Académica.

Club career

Born in Los Teques, Miranda, Rondón arrived in Portugal at age 18, finishing his junior career with A.D. Pontassolense. He then proceeded to play a further four seasons with the third division club.[2]

After scoring 11 goals in his last year, Rondón moved straight into the Primeira Liga after signing with F.C. Paços de Ferreira in May 2009.[3] Rarely used in his debut season, he finished it on loan to Segunda Liga's S.C. Beira-Mar,[4] featuring relatively as the Aveiro team returned to the top flight after a three-year absence.

Rondón returned to Paços for 2010–11. In the first game of the campaign, against Sporting CP on 14 August, he scored the only goal for a home win,[5] eventually finishing as the side's top scorer with nine league goals and adding four in their runner-up run in the Taça da Liga (2–1 final loss to S.L. Benfica).[6]

On 14 July 2011, Rondón joined C.D. Nacional on a five-year contract, for an undisclosed fee.[7] He scored a career-best 12 goals in 30 games in his third year,[8] helping the Madeirans to the playoff round of the UEFA Europa League.[9] [10]

On 28 February 2015, Rondón transferred to Chinese Super League newcomers Shijiazhuang Ever Bright FC.[11] He scored the club's first-ever goal in the competition on 9 March, but in a 2–1 defeat at Guangzhou Evergrande FC.[12]

In January 2018, after more than one year of inactivity, Rondón moved to Romania's CS Gaz Metan Mediaș for the remainder of the season.[13] He made 21 appearances and netted ten times in all competitions, with fellow Liga I team CS Universitatea Craiova reportedly showing interest in signing the forward.[14]

Rondón rejoined Shijiazhuang on 29 June 2018, aged 32.[15] In May 2019, he signed a contract with Romanian champions CFR Cluj.[16] He scored his first league goal for the latter on 23 February 2020 in a 2–0 away victory over Universitatea Craiova,[17] adding another in the Europa League group stage against Stade Rennais F.C. (1–0 at home, where he was sent off after only three minutes on the pitch) to help his team to progress to the knockout stages.[18]

International career

Rondón earned his first cap for Venezuela on 25 March 2011, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute for Alejandro Moreno in a 2–0 friendly away win over Jamaica. He scored his first goal in another exhibition match, a 3–1 loss in South Korea on 5 September 2014.[19]

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pontassolense2005–06Segunda Divisão17210182
2006–0725641297
2007–0829210302
2008–093011113112
Total101217210823
Paços Ferreira2009–10Primeira Liga4010103090
2010–1127910643413
Total3192074304313
Beira-Mar (loan)2009–10Segunda Liga10110111
Nacional2011–12Primeira Liga29106110414012
2012–132841020314
2013–14301200203212
2014–15215433020308
Total10831114806113336
Shijiazhuang Ever Bright2015Chinese Super League30600306
2016100010
Total31600316
Gaz Metan Mediaș2017–18Liga I189312110
Shijiazhuang Ever Bright2018China League One7373
Gaz Metan Mediaș2018–19Liga I18101810
CFR Cluj2019–202421012300375
2020–212951010410419
Total53720227107814
Radomiak2021–22Ekstraklasa23110241
Sepsi OSK2022–23Liga I4095240115012
2023–24191206010281
Total591072100217813
Académica2021–22Liga 3000000
Career total45910833915441831551130

International

Venezuela
YearAppsGoals
201110
201220
201310
201442
201551
Total133

Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rondón goal.

International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
scope=row15 September 2014 Bucheon Stadium, Bucheon, South Korea align=center 1–0 align=center 1–3 Friendly
scope=row29 September 2014 International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan align=center 1–1 align=center 2–2 Friendly
scope=row312 November 2015 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia align=center 1–2 align=center 2–4 2018 World Cup qualification

Honours

Beira-Mar

2009–10

Paços de Ferreira

CFR Cluj

2019–20, 2020–21

2020[20]

Sepsi OSK

2022–23

Notes and References

  1. Web site: M. Rondón. Mais Futebol. pt. 8 March 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140816054422/http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/m-rondon/nacional/1577-63-18219. 16 August 2014.
  2. Web site: Mário Rondon: "Estou no melhor momento no Nacional". Mário Rondon: "I'm at my best since arriving at Nacional". Mais Futebol. André. Sousa Martins. pt. 7 October 2013. 8 March 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230404115636/https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/amp/mario-rondon-estou-no-melhor-momento-no-nacional. 4 April 2023.
  3. Web site: Rondon já trabalha para o Paços de Ferreira 2009/2010. Rondon already working for 2009/2010 Paços de Ferreira. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 19 May 2009. 8 March 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210711114903/https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-nacional/rondon-ja-trabalha-para-o-pacos-de-ferreira-20092010_d263230. 11 July 2021.
  4. News: Mário Rondon emprestado ao Beira-Mar. Mário Rondon loaned to Beira-Mar. Público. pt. 13 January 2010. 8 March 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184736/https://www.publico.pt/2010/01/13/desporto/noticia/mario-rondon-emprestado-ao-beiramar-1417581. 9 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Late Hulk strike gives Porto victory. PortuGOAL. 15 August 2010. 10 June 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140104040609/http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/more-liga-sagres-news/14478-porto-win-pacos-stun-sporting. 4 January 2014.
  6. Web site: Bwin Cup final: Benfica make it three in a row!. PortuGOAL. 23 April 2011. 20 July 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120318041443/http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/more-carlsberg-cup-news/23418-bwin-cup-final-live-match-updates. 18 March 2012.
  7. News: Rondón certo por 5 épocas. Rondón confirmed for 5 seasons. Record. José. Santos. pt. 14 July 2011. 14 July 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110715200304/http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Nacional/interior.aspx?content_id=707199. 15 July 2011.
  8. News: Mário Rondon admite sair. Mário Rondon admits leaving. Record. pt. 24 April 2014. 8 March 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230904102408/https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/nacional/detalhe/mario-rondon-admite-sair-879547. 4 September 2023.
  9. News: Mario Rondón pensa em Espanha ou Inglaterra. Mario Rondón thinks of Spain or England. Diário de Notícias. João. Ruela. pt. 24 April 2014. 19 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180120065625/https://www.dn.pt/desporto/futebol-nacional/interior/mario-rondon-pensa-em-espanha-ou-inglaterra-3829496.html. 20 January 2018.
  10. News: Derrota por 2–0 na Bielorrússia complica qualificação do Nacional. 2–0 defeat in Belarus makes qualification harder for Nacional. Público. João. Ruela. pt. 21 August 2014. 19 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210721023531/https://www.publico.pt/2014/08/21/desporto/noticia/derrota-por-20-na-bielorrussia-complica-qualificacao-do-nacional-1667217/amp. 21 July 2021.
  11. Web site: http://sports.163.com/15/0228/00/AJGJG6GG00051C89.html. zh:委内瑞拉国脚加盟永昌获官宣 鲁能旧将联袂加盟. NetEase. zh. 28 February 2015. 10 March 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141052/http://sports.163.com/15/0228/00/AJGJG6GG00051C89.html. 12 June 2018.
  12. Web site: http://hebei.ifeng.com/news/detail_2015_03/10/3634970_0.shtml. zh:前葡超锋霸轰无解世界波 河北足球终获中超历史首球. Ifeng. zh. 10 March 2015. 10 March 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000709/http://hebei.ifeng.com/news/detail_2015_03/10/3634970_0.shtml. 4 March 2016.
  13. Web site: Octavian Moraru nu a pierdut timpul! Noul manager sportiv al Mediaşului a adus primii jucători la echipă. Octavian Moraru did not waste time! New sporting director at Mediaş brought first players to the team. Telekom TV. ro. 8 January 2018. 9 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180110054813/http://www.telekomsport.ro/exclusiv-octavian-moraru-nu-a-pierdut-timpul-noul-manager-sportiv-al-mediasului-a-adus-primii-jucatori-la-echipa-17568360. 10 January 2018.
  14. Web site: Craiova aduce golgeterul României în 2018: Mario Rondon este dorit în Bănie. Craiova bring Romania's top scorer in 2018: Mario Rondón is wanted in Bănie. Fanatik. Eduard Nicolae. Popa. ro. 7 June 2018. 8 June 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230904102412/https://www.fanatik.ro/craiova-aduce-golgeterul-romaniei-in-2018-mario-rondon-este-dorit-in-banie-18391975. 4 September 2023.
  15. Web site: https://www.sohu.com/a/238429948_463728. zh:永昌官方宣布前外援隆东回归. Shijiazhuang officially announce return of former foreign player Rondón. Sohu. zh. 29 June 2018. 29 June 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180629102535/https://www.sohu.com/a/238429948_463728. 29 June 2018.
  16. News: CFR Cluj, primele două transferuri pentru Liga Campionilor: Mario Rondon și Luis Aurelio de la Gaz Metan!. CFR Cluj, first two transfers for Champions League: Mario Rondon and Luis Aurelio from Gaz Metan!. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 27 May 2019. 3 June 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190602231036/https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/cfr-cluj-i-a-luat-pe-mario-rondon-si-luis-aurelio-de-la-gaz-metan-568127.html. 2 June 2019.
  17. Web site: Craiova – CFR Cluj 0–2. Rondon și autogolul lui Martic au rezolvat meciul. Craiova – CFR Cluj 0–2. Rondon and Martic's own goal solved the match. Eurosport. Sebastian. Ujica. ro. 23 February 2020. 20 March 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210925025749/https://www.eurosport.ro/fotbal/romanian-liga-i/2019-2020/chipciu-debut-pentru-cfr-cluj-in-meciul-de-la-craiova.-ultimul-derby-din-sezonul-regulat_sto7679748/story.shtml. 25 September 2021.
  18. Web site: CFR Cluj – Rennes 1–0. Final nebun în Gruia. Ardelenii mai au nevoie de un punct pentru a ajunge în primăvara europeană. CFR Cluj – Rennes 1–0. Crazy ending in Gruia. Transylvanians still need a point to reach the European spring. Digi Sport. ro. 7 November 2019. 20 March 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200320194547/https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/europa-league/cfr-cluj-rennes-live-video-1955-digi-sport-1-ardelenii-sunt-de-parere-ca-mai-pot-obtine-trei-puncte-cu-francezii-752042. 20 March 2020.
  19. Web site: La Vinotinto perdió 3 goles por 1 ante Corea del Sur. La Vinotinto lost against South Korea by 3 goals to 1. Puro Vinotinto. es. 8 September 2014. 13 November 2015. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20141013235822/http://purovinotinto.com/2014/09/la-vinotinto-perdio-3-goles-por-1-ante-corea-del-sur/. 13 October 2014.
  20. Web site: FOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj a câștigat Supercupa României!. PHOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj won the Romanian Supercup!. Romanian Football Federation. ro. 15 April 2021. 16 April 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416084851/https://www.frf.ro/competitii/supercupa-romaniei-cfr-cluj-vs-fcsb/. 16 April 2021.