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Rubén Garabaya facts for kids

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Rubén Garabaya
Ruben Garabaya 01.jpg
Personal information
Full name Rubén Garabaya Arenas
Born (1978-09-15) 15 September 1978 (age 46)
Avilés, Asturias, Spain
Nationality Spanish
Height 2.02 m (6 ft 7+12 in)
Playing position Pivot
Senior clubs
Years Team
BM Corvera
1997–1999
Caja España Ademar
1999–2001
Frigoríficos del Morrazo
2001–2007
BM Valladolid
2007–2010
FC Barcelona
2010–2018
Naturhouse La Rioja
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Spain 168 (318)
Medal record
Men's handball
Representing  Spain
Olympic Games
Bronze 2008 Beijing Team
World Championship
Gold 2005 Tunisia
Bronze 2011 Sweden
European Championship
Silver 2006 Switzerland
Mediterranean Games
Gold 2005 Almería

Rubén Garabaya is a famous Spanish former handball player. He was born on September 15, 1978. He played as a 'pivot', which is a key position in handball, often playing close to the opponent's goal. Rubén is known for his strong play and for winning many medals with the Spanish national team.

Rubén Garabaya: A Handball Champion

Rubén Garabaya Arenas is a well-known name in the world of handball. He spent many years playing at the highest level. He was a very important player for both his club teams and the Spanish national team. His career shows how much hard work and dedication can lead to great success in sports.

Early Days and Club Career

Rubén Garabaya started his handball journey in Spain. He played for several different clubs throughout his career. Each club helped him become the strong player he was.

  • He began his professional career with BM Corvera.
  • From 1997 to 1999, he played for Caja España Ademar.
  • He then moved to Frigoríficos del Morrazo from 1999 to 2001.
  • One of his longest stays was with BM Valladolid, where he played from 2001 to 2007.
  • Later, he joined one of the biggest clubs, FC Barcelona, playing there from 2007 to 2010.
  • He finished his long career with Naturhouse La Rioja, playing from 2010 until 2018.

Playing for Spain: National Team Success

Rubén Garabaya was a key player for the Spain men's national handball team. He represented his country in many important international competitions. He played in 168 matches for Spain and scored 318 goals.

Ruben Garabaya 02
Garabaya playing in Barcelona in 2008.

Olympic Games

Rubén was part of the Spanish team that went to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The team played very well and won a bronze medal. They defeated Croatia in a tough match to secure their medal. This was a huge achievement for Rubén and his teammates.

World Championships

He also had great success at the IHF World Men's Handball Championship.

  • In 2005, he won a gold medal at the World Championship held in Tunisia. This was a fantastic victory for Spain.
  • In 2011, he helped Spain win another bronze medal at the World Championship in Sweden.

European Championships

Rubén also earned a silver medal at the 2006 European Men's Handball Championship in Switzerland. This showed Spain's consistent performance at the top level of European handball.

Mediterranean Games

In 2005, Rubén Garabaya won a gold medal at the 2005 Mediterranean Games in Almería, Spain. This was another important win for him and his country.

What is a Pivot in Handball?

A pivot is a very important position in handball. The pivot player usually stands close to the opponent's goal area. Their main jobs are:

  • To block defenders, creating space for their teammates to shoot.
  • To receive passes and score goals from close range.
  • To help with defensive plays when the team loses the ball.

Rubén Garabaya was known for being a strong and smart pivot.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Rubén Garabaya para niños

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