Alexis (footballer, born 1985) facts for kids

Alexis Ruano Delgado (born 4 August 1985), known simply as Alexis, is a Spanish former professional footballer. He mostly played as a central defender, which is a player who helps protect the goal. Sometimes, he also played as a full-back, covering the sides of the field.

Alexis played in La Liga, Spain's top football league, for 15 seasons. He played 321 matches and scored 17 goals in this league. He played for several teams, including Málaga, Getafe, Valencia, Sevilla, and Alavés. He also played professionally in Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Alexis's Football Journey

Starting Out: Málaga and Getafe

Alexis was born in Málaga, Spain. He started his football career at his hometown club, Málaga CF. He played for three years, sometimes with the main team and sometimes with the reserve team, Málaga B. His first game for the main team was on 15 February 2004. Málaga won that game 5–2.

In 2006, Alexis moved to Getafe CF. He scored an important goal for Getafe against Real Madrid on 14 October 2006. Getafe won that game 1–0. That season, Getafe had one of the best defences in the league.

Playing for Valencia

In April 2007, Valencia signed Alexis. He joined them for a deal that lasted until 2013. He had a serious knee injury in his first season with Valencia. However, he helped the team win the Copa del Rey, which is a major Spanish cup competition. He scored the second goal in the 3–1 final victory against his old club, Getafe.

In the 2008–09 season, Alexis started as a key defender for Valencia. He scored a goal in a 2–2 draw against UD Almería. He also helped Valencia finish third in La Liga in the 2009–10 season. In a memorable moment, he scored a last-minute goal against CD Tenerife, which helped Málaga avoid being relegated to a lower league.

Time with Sevilla and Getafe Again

On 24 August 2010, Alexis joined Sevilla FC. He signed a six-year contract. In his first year, he played 21 league games and helped Sevilla finish fifth. This meant they qualified for the UEFA Europa League, another big European competition.

In the 2011–12 season, Alexis scored a late goal against Villarreal CF to help Sevilla get a 2–2 draw. Later that season, he went back to Getafe on loan because they had many injured defenders. This loan was extended for the entire 2012–13 season. In the summer of 2013, Alexis signed a permanent four-year deal with Getafe. He continued to be a regular player when he was healthy.

Moving Abroad: Turkey and Saudi Arabia

On 21 January 2016, when he was 30 years old, Alexis played for a team outside Spain for the first time. He joined Beşiktaş J.K. in the Turkish Süper Lig. After a game against Akhisar Belediyespor, his performance was criticized.

Return to Spain with Alavés

Alexis returned to Spain's top league on 29 July 2016. He signed with Deportivo Alavés, a team that had just been promoted. In his first season, he scored two goals in 24 games. Alavés finished ninth in the league that year.

Later Career Years

On 22 June 2018, Alexis moved abroad again. He joined Al-Ahli in the Saudi Professional League for two years. However, he returned to Spain on 7 August 2019. He signed a two-year deal with Racing de Santander, a team that had just been promoted to the second division.

Alexis's Achievements

Alexis won several awards and trophies during his career:

• Getafe

* Copa del Rey runner-up: 2006–07

• Valencia

* Copa del Rey: 2007–08

• Beşiktaş

* Süper Lig: 2015–16

• Alavés

* Copa del Rey runner-up: 2016–17

• Spain National Youth Teams

* UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2004 * FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2003

• Individual Award

* La Liga Breakthrough Player: 2006–07 (This award is given to a player who has shown great improvement and promise in the league.)

See also

In Spanish: Alexis Ruano para niños