Rafael Gordillo facts for kids
Gordillo in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael Gordillo Vázquez | ||
| Date of birth | 24 February 1957 | ||
| Place of birth | Almendralejo, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Wing-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1971–1972 | San Pablo | ||
| 1972–1975 | Betis | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1975–1976 | Triana Balompié | ||
| 1976–1985 | Betis | 275 | (23) |
| 1985–1992 | Real Madrid | 182 | (20) |
| 1992–1995 | Betis | 68 | (8) |
| 1995–1996 | Écija | 18 | (1) |
| Total | 543 | (52) | |
| International career | |||
| 1977 | Spain U21 | 1 | (1) |
| 1979 | Spain U23 | 3 | (0) |
| 1979 | Spain amateur | 4 | (0) |
| 1978–1988 | Spain | 75 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Rafael Gordillo Vázquez, born on February 24, 1957, is a famous Spanish retired footballer. He was known for playing as a left wing-back. This means he played on the left side of the field, helping both in defense and attack. He could also play as a regular defender or a midfielder. Rafael was famous for his unique style of playing with his socks down!
He spent most of his career playing for two big Spanish clubs: Betis and Real Madrid. He played in 428 La Liga games, which is Spain's top football league. He scored 38 goals over 16 seasons. With Real Madrid, he won ten major trophies, including five national championships.
Gordillo was also a key player for the Spanish national team in the 1980s. He played in 75 matches for his country and represented Spain in five big international tournaments.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Rafael Gordillo was born in Almendralejo, Spain. When he was just a few months old, his family moved to Seville. He started playing football early and joined Real Betis in 1972 when he was 15.
Early Career at Betis
On January 30, 1977, Rafael played his first game for Betis in La Liga. In his first year, he helped his team win the Copa del Rey, a major Spanish cup. He played nine professional seasons with Betis. He was even named Spain's best footballer in the 1979–80 season. During his time at Betis, he played almost 300 official matches.
Moving to Real Madrid
In 1985, Gordillo moved to Real Madrid. In his first season there, he helped them win the UEFA Cup. He even scored a goal in the final match! At Real Madrid, he formed a strong partnership on the left side of the field with another great player, José Antonio Camacho. In 1989, he scored the only goal in the Spanish Cup final, helping Real Madrid win another trophy.
Return to Betis and Retirement
Rafael Gordillo returned to Betis in 1992 when he was 35 years old. He helped them get back into the top division in his second year. He played one more season with Écija Balompié before retiring from playing in 1996. After he stopped playing, he worked as a director of football for Écija.
After Playing Football
Later, Gordillo returned to Betis in different leadership roles. On December 13, 2010, he was chosen as the president of the club.
Playing for Spain
Rafael Gordillo played 75 matches for the Spanish national team over ten years. He scored three goals for his country. His first game for Spain was on March 29, 1978, in a friendly match against Norway. Spain won that game 3–0.
International Tournaments
Gordillo played for Spain in two FIFA World Cups: in 1982 and 1986. He also played in three UEFA European Championships: in 1980, 1984, and 1988. In the 1984 European Championship, Spain finished as the runner-up, and Gordillo played in almost all their matches.
Goals for Spain
Here are the goals Rafael Gordillo scored for the Spanish national team:
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 15 May 1983 | Ta' Qali National Stadium, Attard, Malta |  Malta |
2–3 | 2–3 | Euro 1984 qualifying |
| 2. | 25 September 1985 | Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain |  Iceland |
2–1 | 2–1 | 1986 World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 11 June 1988 | Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, Germany |  Denmark |
1–3 | 2–3 | UEFA Euro 1988 |
Life After Football
After retiring from professional football, Rafael Gordillo continued to be involved in the sport. He played for Betis again in the national indoor soccer league. He also worked as a sports commentator for a TV channel called laSexta during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Awards and Trophies
Rafael Gordillo won many awards and trophies during his amazing career:
With Betis
- Copa del Rey: 1976–77
With Real Madrid
- La Liga (Spanish League): 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 (five times!)
- Copa del Rey: 1988–89
- Supercopa de España (Spanish Super Cup): 1988, 1989, 1990
- UEFA Cup: 1985–86
With Spain
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1984 (Spain finished second)
Individual Awards
- Don Balón Award: 1979–80 (Best Spanish Player)
- La Liga Team of The Year: 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84
Images for kids
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Gordillo in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Rafael Gordillo para niños
