Luis Rubiales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Luis Rubiales
Rubiales in 2018
UEFA Vice-President
In office 29 May 2019 – 10 September 2023
President	Aleksander Čeferin
Vice President	Karl-Erik Nilsson (as first vice-president)
26th President of Royal Spanish Football Federation
In office 27 May 2018 – 10 September 2023
Preceded by	Ángel María Villar Juan Luis Larrea (interim)
Succeeded by	Pedro Rocha
5th President of Association of Spanish Footballers
In office 22 March 2010 – 20 November 2017
Preceded by	Gerardo Movilla
Succeeded by	David Aganzo
Personal details
Born	Luis Manuel Rubiales Béjar (1977-08-23) 23 August 1977 (age 47) Las Palmas, Spain
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Spouse	Manuela Delicado Vega ​ ​ (m. 2000; div. 2015)​
Children	3
Occupation	Footballer Football administrator
Luis Rubiales Personal information Playing position Defender Youth career 1991–1993 Motril 1993–1995 Valencia 1995–1997 Atlético Madrid Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1997–1999 Guadix 46 (10) 1999–2000 Mallorca B 30 (1) 2000–2001 Lleida 35 (0) 2001–2003 Xerez 55 (0) 2003–2008 Levante 85 (0) 2008–2009 Alicante 15 (0) 2009 Hamilton Academical 3 (0) Total 269 (11) Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Luis Manuel Rubiales Béjar (born 23 August 1977) is a former Spanish football official and professional player who played as a defender, appearing in 53 La Liga matches over three seasons. He was the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and one of UEFA's vice-presidents. On 10 September 2023, Rubiales resigned from his post. On 3 April 2024, Rubiales was arrested in Madrid as part of a corruption investigation about the relocation of the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.

Early life

Rubiales was born in Las Palmas on the Canary Islands to father Luis Manuel Rubiales López, a primary school teacher and mother Ángeles Béjar, a hairdresser. He was raised in Motril in the Province of Granada.

Playing career

Rubiales spent the majority of his playing career in the Segunda División, representing Guadix, Mallorca B, Lleida, Xerez, Levante (gaining promotion to La Liga in 2004 and 2006) and Alicante CF. He made his debut in the Spanish top flight on 29 August 2004, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–1 away draw against Real Sociedad.

On 4 August 2009, it was announced Rubiales had agreed a one-year deal at Scottish Premier League side Hamilton Academical. However, after his third league appearance, in which he was named man of the match, he announced his retirement at the age of 32, returning to Spain to take up a backroom role at Levante.

Administrative career

AFE President

In March 2010, Rubiales was elected president of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE). He quit his post in November 2017 with the intention of running for office at the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

RFEF President

Rubiales was elected as the RFEF president in May 2018. Upon taking office he vowed to establish a fixed wage for the leaders of the regional federations (hitherto the exception rather than the norm), thereby endowing each of the entities with €100,000 for their professionalisation. Dissenting voices within the RFEF reportedly silenced thereafter.

In one of his first actions as president, Rubiales dismissed the Spanish national men's team head coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, having not been informed by the latter that he was negotiating to become the new manager of Real Madrid.

On 8 September 2018, Rubiales gave an interview in which he criticised the Spanish League president Javier Tebas for signing a contract that would see matches being played in the United States. The former explained that the deal was "worthless" without the Spanish Federation's approval.

On 18 April 2022, the Spanish digital newspaper El Confidencial published some leaked documents and audio files that they called Supercopa Files, which included conversations that took place in 2019 between Rubiales and the footballer and businessman Gerard Piqué. The audio files find Rubiales negotiating to pay Piqué commissions related to playing the Supercopa de España in Saudi Arabia. One of the conditions for these commissions was that two of the four participating teams would need to be Barcelona (Piqué's club at the time) and Real Madrid. Rubiales would also benefit from these commissions due to the variable part of his salary in the federation.

In 2022, Rubiales' uncle and former chief of staff Juan Rubiales accused Luis Rubiales of embezzlement of RFEF money, allegedly spent on private parties with a group of friends in a house in Salobreña in 2020. He has also been accused of using federation resources for his personal enjoyment, such as a trip to New York in 2018 accompanied by a Mexican painter. Juan Rubiales also accused his nephew of devising an espionage scheme against AFE president David Aganzo.

In December 2022, Rubiales filed a lawsuit against Wikipedia demanding that content on the Spanish Wikipedia which might be seen as damaging to his honour be removed. The complaint was filed through the legal department of the RFEF. The lawsuit focuses on Wikipedia content about scandals including negotiations for the sale of the Supercopa de España to Saudi Arabia said to involve commissions and personal benefits, and derogatory WhatsApp postings about teams in the Spanish league.

On 25 March 2023, the RFEF recognised 1937 Copa de la España Libre winners Levante FC, now replaced by Levante UD, as the equivalent of winning the Copa del Rey. Rubiales then handed the trophy to the 2023 captain of Levante, Vicente Iborra, before their match against Real Zaragoza on 31 March.

Personal life

Rubiales married lawyer Manuela Delicado Vega, with whom he had three daughters. They later separated, but reportedly remained on good terms.

Honours

Levante

• Segunda División: 2003–04

See also

In Spanish: Luis Rubiales para niños