Rafael Paz facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael Paz Marín | ||
| Date of birth | 2 August 1965 | ||
| Place of birth | Puebla de Don Fadrique, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Huéscar | |||
| Granada 74 | |||
| 1980–1984 | Sevilla | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1984–1986 | Sevilla B | ||
| 1984–1997 | Sevilla | 340 | (25) |
| 1997 | Celaya | 14 | (1) |
| Total | 354 | (26) | |
| International career | |||
| 1982 | Spain U16 | 1 | (0) |
| 1984 | Spain U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 1985 | Spain U20 | 3 | (0) |
| 1985–1987 | Spain U21 | 9 | (2) |
| 1990 | Spain | 7 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Rafael 'Rafa' Paz Marín, born on August 2, 1965, is a former Spanish professional football player. He mostly played as a right midfielder, helping his team score goals and defend.
Contents
Rafa Paz's Football Journey
Starting Out in Spain
Rafa Paz was born in Puebla de Don Fadrique, a town in the Province of Granada, Spain. He began his football journey as a young player with a team called CP Granada 74. Later, he joined a bigger club nearby, Sevilla FC, while still a junior player.
Playing for Sevilla FC
Rafa Paz spent most of his career playing for Sevilla FC. He played in 386 official games for the club and scored 27 goals. That's a lot of matches!
In the 1989–90 La Liga season, which was a very important year for him, he played almost every game. He scored his highest number of goals in one season, netting six times. His great performance helped Sevilla finish sixth in La Liga, which is the top football league in Spain. This high finish meant Sevilla qualified for the UEFA Cup, a big European competition.
Moving to Mexico
After many years with Sevilla, the team was moved down to a lower league in 1997. Rafa Paz then decided to move to Mexico to continue his career. He played one season for a team called Atlético Celaya. There, he played alongside other famous Spanish players like Emilio Butragueño and Rafael Martín Vázquez. After this season, he finished his professional playing career.
Rafa Paz and the Spanish National Team
Playing for Spain
Rafa Paz also had the honor of playing for the Spain national football team. He played in seven matches for his country, all in 1990.
The 1990 FIFA World Cup
He was chosen to be part of the Spanish squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, which is one of the biggest football tournaments in the world. He played in two matches during that World Cup. His first game for Spain was a friendly match against Czechoslovakia on February 21, 1990.
Achievements and Awards
Youth Team Success
Rafa Paz achieved success even in his younger years.
- As part of the Spain U20 team, he was a runner-up in the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship (now known as the FIFA U-20 World Cup). This means his team made it all the way to the final game!
See also
In Spanish: Rafa Paz para niños
