Rafael Márquez

Soccer Player

Rafael Márquez was born in Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico on February 13th, 1979 and is the Soccer Player. At the age of 45, Rafael Márquez biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.

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Date of Birth
February 13, 1979
Nationality
Mexico
Place of Birth
Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico
Age
45 years old
Zodiac Sign
Aquarius
Networth
$25 Million
Salary
$5 Million
Profession
Association Football Player
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Rafael Márquez Height, Weight, Eye Color and Hair Color

At 45 years old, Rafael Márquez has this physical status:

Height
182cm
Weight
Not Available
Hair Color
Not Available
Eye Color
Not Available
Build
Not Available
Measurements
Not Available
Rafael Márquez Religion, Education, and Hobbies
Religion
Not Available
Hobbies
Not Available
Education
Not Available
Rafael Márquez Spouse(s), Children, Affair, Parents, and Family
Spouse(s)
Not Available
Children
Not Available
Dating / Affair
Not Available
Parents
Not Available
Rafael Márquez Life

Rafael Márquez Álvarez (born 13 February 1979) is a Mexican former professional footballer.

He played as a central defender, sweeper, or defensive midfielder.

Nicknamed El Káiser, Márquez is regarded as the best defender in Mexico's history and one of the best Mexican players of all time.Márquez began his career with Atlas in 1996, playing in over 70 games with the club before moving to France in 1999 with Monaco, where he won the Ligue 1 title.

In 2003, Márquez transferred to Barcelona, becoming the first ever Mexican to represent the club.

He would go on to play in over 200 games during seven seasons with Barcelona, and win numerous championships.

In 2006, he became the first Mexican player to win the UEFA Champions League when Barcelona defeated Arsenal in the final.

In 2010 Márquez joined the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.

After being released from the club in 2012, he moved back to Mexico, this time to play for Club León.

After captaining the team to two back-to-back league titles in 2013 and 2014, Márquez transferred to Hellas Verona of the Italian Serie A. He returned to boyhood club Atlas in 2015, and announced his retirement from football in April 2018. A Mexican international since 1997, Márquez has been capped 146 times for the national team, having won the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2003 and 2011 editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

In 2018, he became only the third player to play for his national team in five consecutive editions of the FIFA World Cup, in the 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 editions of the tournament.

Márquez is the Mexican player with the most World Cup matches played with 19.

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Rafael Márquez Career

Club career

Márquez began his work with Atlas, for whom he debuted in October 1996 at the age of 17. Márquez rose to prominence with Atlas, appearing on 77 appearances for the team and as runner-up in the league, losing the final against Toluca on penalties in the Verano 1999 tournament.

Márquez joined French club AS Monaco for a reported US$6 million after competing in the 1999 Copa América with Mexico. He made his debut against Bastia on August 14th. Monaco won the league title in his first season, with Márquez being selected in the Ligue 1 team of the season. He went on to play in 109 matches with Monaco over four seasons, winning the Coupe de la Ligue as well.

Márquez signed for Barcelona, Spain, in the summer of 2003. He made his La Liga debut against Sevilla on September 3rd, 2003, with the match ending in a 1–1 draw. In Barcelona's 2–1 victory over Real Betis on 9 November, he scored his first goal for the team. Márquez's first season with Barcelona ended in 22 league appearances (31 in all competitions) as the team finished second in the league, five points behind Valencia.

Due to injuries to players Thiago Motta, Edmlson, and Gerard, he was switched from a center back to a defensive midfield position during his second season as a center back to a defensive midfielder. Barcelona claimed its 17th league title on May 14 after a 1–1 draw with Levante in 2005. Márquez returned to action against A.C. Milan in the first leg of the 2006 UEFA Champions League semi-finals a month after suffering a fractured leg. Barcelona defeated San Siro 1–0 while playing away at the San Siro. Barcelona beat Arsenal 2–1 in the final on May 17th, with Márquez playing the entire match. He was the first Mexican to play in a Champions League final and the first to win it. Márquez signed a four-year contract extension with Barcelona following his appearance at the 2006 World Cup, with the buy-out clause set at €100 million.

Márquez formed a friendship with new signing Gabriel Milito during the 2007-08 season, but captain Carles Puyol was out injured. On the other hand, constant injuries did not keep him off his form. Márquez's success diminished with the remainder of the season, resulting in Barcelona's third place in La Liga after a difficult second half in which injuries caused his contribution to be negligible. Nonetheless, Pep Guardiola's successor relying on his contributions; Márquez's departure made him the team's last original recruit of the Frank Rijkaard period. Márquez was one of the first players to be nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in October 2007.

Márquez was Guardiola's first-choice center back, as well as captain Puyol for the 2008–09 season. Márquez won by 2–0 over Real Madrid in his 200th match for Barcelona on December 13, 2008. Márquez sustained a knee injury during Barcelona's 2008–09 Champions League semi-final match against Chelsea, requiring surgery, and he will miss the remainder of the season. After winning the Champions League final 2–0 against Manchester United, Barcelona will continue to complete a treble.

Márquez received a proposal from Fiorentina, Italy's top-tier club, prior to the 2009–10 season. Márquez, on the other hand, said he wanted to stop his work at Barcelona. Márquez's new deal with Barça in November 2009 ended his career at Barça, and he will remain with the club until 2012. He scored his first goal since returning from Racing Santander on February 20.

Márquez was released from his job by Barcelona on July 31, 2010. He played in 242 games and scored 13 goals, making him the mostcapped non-European player in the club's history and the eighth-most captained foreigner. Márquez played in 46 UEFA Champions League matches, the most by a Mexican or CONCACAF player until compatriot Javier Hernández broke that record in 2017. Márquez was also one of two CONCACAF players to play in a Champions League final in 1999, the other being Trinidad and Tobago's Dwight Yorke for Manchester United.

It was announced that Italian club Juventus were interested in signing Márquez as a back-up for defender Leonardo Bonucci after seven years with Barcelona and being released.

Márquez had signed with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer on a three-and-a-half-year contract on August 1, 2010. He was the club's third Designated Player and was unveiled to the media at Red Bull Arena on August 3rd wearing the number 4 jersey and reuniting with former Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry. Márquez played his MLS debut against the Chicago Fire on August 8 in a scoreless draw. In a 4–1 victory over Toronto FC on August 21, Márquez scored his first goal, a spectacular shot with his right foot, for the Red Bulls. Márquez got off the Red Bulls in a 2–0 victory over New England Revolution, clinching the Eastern Conference championship for the regular season.

On December 13, 2012, Márquez was announced in New York. Many fans and journalists have chastised his stay in New York for his continuing injuries, suspensions, and apparent lack of dedication to the fans and team. In an interview with ESPN Deportes, Márquez later revealed that playing in the United States was "a bad decision" and that it was the hardest move he had in his career. He said he had misjudged the course of his career, claiming it was declining faster than it was, and that he regretted losing offers from several European clubs, including one from Italian side Juventus.

Márquez signed with León, returning to his home country after 13 years abroad, just hours after being drafted by the New York Red Bulls. Márquez scored his first goal for León in the Liga MX against Puebla on October 5, 2013, scoring a penalty kick in the 17th minute.

León claimed the Apertura 2013 crown after defeating América 5–1 on aggregate. Márquez, the club's captain, competed in both legs for his first league title in Mexico, more than 14 years after losing the final against Toluca when he was a child. Márquez was a member of the Clausura 2004 and Apertura 2004 respectively, winning León's second straight league title in the short period of history, the second team in history to win consecutive league titles in the short tournament era, the first being UNAM, who won the Clausura 2004 and Apertura 2004. He was also the first Mexican footballer to win league titles in three countries.

Hellas Verona of Serie A signed Márquez on undisclosed terms on August 7th, 2014. He recalled taking a pay cut to join the club because he was eager to return to Europe. On August 31, he made his debut in the league, starting when Verona played out a goalless draw at home against Atalanta.

Márquez had officially joined Atlas on December 21, 2015, marking the club with which he debuted. He was given the number 4 shirt.

Márquez announced on 19 April 2018 that he would retire at the end of the season. He did, however, state his intention to represent Mexico at the World Cup. On the 20th of April, Márquez played his last match at the Estadio Jalisco, winning by 1–0 over Guadalajara in the Clásico Tapato. Márquez's last club match against Pachuca at the Estadio Hidalgo ended in a 0–0 draw last week.

International career

Márquez made his Mexico debut in a friendly match against Ecuador on February 5, 1997. Bora Milutinovi's call-up was due to an oversight made by national team coach Bora Milutinovi's mistake, who was attempting to call up fellow Atlas player César Márquez. Márquez received a regular call-up for Mexico, but he wasn't selected for the 1998 FIFA World Cup squad. Márquez won the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup and lost to Canada at the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. During the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, Márquez played all four of Mexico's games, where he was given the captain's armband by then coach Javier Aguirre despite his youthful age of 23. During Mexico's second round 2–0 loss to the United States for a deliberate mid-air headbutt on Cobi Jones in the final minutes of the match, he was given a red card.

Ricardo La Volpe selected Márquez for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Márquez played in all three of Mexico's opening round games and scored the lone Mexican goal in a 2–1 loss to Argentina in the second round, with a Pável Pardo free kick that was headed to the far post by Mario Méndez, allowing an unidentified Márquez to kick the ball into the far post. After Hernán Crespo had equalized for Argentina, the winner was scored by Maxi Rodrez in extra time.

Hugo Sánchez, the head coach of Mexico, called up Márquez to compete in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2007 Copa América. Márquez appeared for the Gold Cup's championship match against the United States after the 2006–07 La Liga championship ended; he started the match, which Mexico lost 2–1.

Márquez captained Mexico at the 2010 World Cup, scoring Mexico's goal in the tournament's first match against South Africa, which resulted in a 1–1 draw. Márquez assisted Javier Hernández in Mexico's first goal in Mexico's 2–0 victory over France.

Márquez scored 100 caps for Mexico in a friendly match against Venezuela on March 29, 2011, where Mexico defeated Mexico 11-01.

Márquez became the first player to cap a team in four World Cups during Mexico's opening match at the 2014 World Cup, beating Cameroon 1–0. He scored the first goal in the 3–1 victory over Croatia on June 23, thus advance to the knockout stage. Márquez became the first Mexican player to score in three consecutive World Cups and the second Mexican player to score in three World Cups since Cuauhtémoc Blanco.

Márquez was selected in the 23-man squad that would compete in the Copa América tournament in Chile in May 2015. He was chosen to start as captain in Mexico's first match of the tournament, a 0–0 draw with Bolivia in Via del Mar. Márquez captained Mexico at the Copa América Centenary in 2004, defeating Uruguay 3–1.

Márquez scored the winning goal for Mexico in the 89th minute on November 11, 2016, a 2–1 win over the United States.

Márquez, Márquez, who turned 38 years and four months in Mexico's second group-stage match against New Zealand at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, became the second oldest player to play in a match in Confederations Cup history. He was also appearing at the tournament for the first time since 2005, a new record for consecutive matches with twelve.

Marquez was named in Mexico's final 23-man squad for the World Cup on June 4th. He would reach his fifth World Cup finals, becoming only the fourth player to do so in history, alongside German Lothar Matthäus, Italian Gianluigi Buffon, and fellow Mexican Antonio Carbajal. He was recalled in for Andrés Guardado in Mexico's 1–0 victory over defending champions Germany in the 74th minute, making him the third man to play in a fifth World Cup in history. Márquez became the first player to play as a captain in five World Cups on July 2nd and was forced to miss halftime, marking his last appearance as a professional.

Managerial career

Márquez was voted youth coach at RSD Alcalá on April 8, 2020, and she was in charge of the Cadete A (under 15) team for the 2020–21 season.

Márquez was named coach of FC Barcelona B on July 14, 2022, following a two-year deal.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year.

Sources:

International goals

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