Rubi (footballer)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ferrer and the second or maternal family name is Sicilia.
Rubi
Rubi in 2014
Personal information
Full name Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia[1]
Date of birth (1970-01-01) 1 January 1970 (age 54)
Place of birth Vilassar de Mar, Spain
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Almería (manager)
Youth career
Vilassar Mar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1992 Vilassar Mar
1992–1994 Manlleu 76 (9)
1994–1995 Espanyol B 34 (14)
1995–1996 Hospitalet 38 (9)
1996–1997 Pontevedra 30 (1)
1997–1998 Terrassa 36 (4)
1998–1999 Vilassar Mar 33 (15)
Total 214 (37)
Managerial career
2001–2003 Vilassar Mar
2003–2004 Hospitalet
2004–2005 Sabadell
2005–2008 Espanyol B
2008 Ibiza-Eivissa
2009–2010 Benidorm
2012–2013 Girona
2014–2015 Valladolid
2015–2016 Levante
2017 Sporting Gijón
2017–2018 Huesca
2018–2019 Espanyol
2019–2020 Betis
2021–2023 Almería
2024– Almería
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia (born 1 January 1970), commonly known as Rubi, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a winger, currently manager of UD Almería.

After a playing career spent no higher than Segunda División B, he embarked on a managerial career of over two decades, leading Levante, Sporting de Gijón, Espanyol, Betis and Almería in La Liga.

Playing career

Born in Vilassar de Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Rubi never competed in higher than Segunda División B during a ten-year senior career. He started out at local club UE Vilassar de Mar, in 1989.[2]

Rubi appeared in the promotion playoffs to Segunda División with both AEC Manlleu and Terrassa FC, falling short on both occasions. Whilst with the former, he scored in a 3–3 away draw against Extremadura CF on 29 May 1994,[3] but the team eventually finished in second position in their group.

Coaching career

Rubi began working as a coach with Vilassar de Mar, and subsequently was in charge of several Tercera División sides in his native region. With CE L'Hospitalet, he lost the 2004 promotion play-off final on penalties to Atlético Levante UD.[4] His first experience in the third division was at CE Sabadell FC, being dismissed on 2 March 2005 while two points inside the relegation zone;[5] he was promoted to that level with RCD Espanyol B, a year later.

After a short stint with UD Ibiza-Eivissa, Rubi was appointed at Benidorm CF.[6] He left the club in the end of the campaign, after achieving a sixth-place finish in the third tier.

On 8 June 2012, Rubi signed with Girona FC after having been part of the staff in previous years.[7] He took the team to the best season of their history, leading them to the fourth position in division two and being eventually knocked out in the play-offs.[8]

Rubi left Girona and joined FC Barcelona on 28 June 2013, being added to Tito Vilanova's staff.[9] On 3 June of the following year, he replaced dismissed Juan Ignacio Martínez at the helm of Real Valladolid.[10]

After failing to win promotion to La Liga in 2015 Segunda División play-offs Rubi was replaced by Gaizka Garitano on 6 July 2015.[11] On 28 October, he was appointed manager of Levante UD, taking over from the sacked Lucas Alcaraz.[12] On his debut three days later, the team lost 3–0 at city rivals Valencia CF.[13] He only managed to collect seven wins until the end of the season, the side returned to the second tier after a six-year stay and he was relieved of his duties on 26 May 2016.[14]

Rubi took over at Sporting de Gijón on 18 January 2017, in the place of Abelardo.[15] In June, following their relegation, he was hired at SD Huesca.[16]

On 25 May 2018, after leading the Aragonese side to their first-ever promotion to the first division, Rubi announced he would leave at the end of the campaign.[17] He returned to Espanyol on 3 June, being appointed manager of the first team also in the top flight.[18]

On 6 June 2019, Rubi left Espanyol after paying his release clause,[19] and was appointed Real Betis manager just hours later.[20] He was dismissed on 21 June of the following year, with the club eight points above the relegation zone with as many games left to play.[21]

Rubi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with UD Almería on 28 April 2021, replacing José Gomes even though the team was placed third with six matches to go.[22] He won the league in his first full season, thus returning to the top tier after seven years.[23]

Almería survived on the final day of the 2022–23 campaign with a 3–3 draw at already relegated Espanyol, putting another of Rubi's former sides, Valladolid, into the second division at their expense.[24] He subsequently left at the end of his contract.[25]

On 3 June 2024, Rubi returned to the Power Horse Stadium on a three-year deal, following relegation the previous season.[26]

Managerial statistics

As of match updated 22 December 2024[27]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Vilassar de Mar Spain 8 June 2001 30 June 2003 76 31 16 29 136 134 +2 040.79 [28]
Hospitalet Spain 30 June 2003 1 July 2004 42 23 7 12 66 48 +18 054.76 [29]
Sabadell Spain 1 July 2004 28 February 2005 25 6 10 9 27 36 −9 024.00 [30]
Espanyol B Spain 1 July 2005 10 March 2008 114 49 31 34 189 129 +60 042.98 [31]
Ibiza-Eivissa Spain 1 July 2008 3 November 2008 11 2 3 6 15 23 −8 018.18 [32]
Benidorm Spain 11 June 2009 1 July 2010 38 18 10 10 68 51 +17 047.37 [33]
Girona Spain 8 June 2012 28 June 2013 47 22 9 16 78 64 +14 046.81 [34]
Valladolid Spain 3 June 2014 6 July 2015 48 23 12 13 71 43 +28 047.92 [35]
Levante Spain 28 October 2015 26 May 2016 31 7 6 18 33 54 −21 022.58 [36]
Sporting Gijón Spain 17 January 2017 10 June 2017 20 4 7 9 23 35 −12 020.00 [37]
Huesca Spain 23 June 2017 3 June 2018 43 21 12 10 61 42 +19 048.84 [38]
Espanyol Spain 3 June 2018 6 June 2019 44 16 13 15 57 59 −2 036.36 [39]
Betis Spain 6 June 2019 21 June 2020 33 10 11 12 49 50 −1 030.30 [40]
Almería Spain 28 April 2021 5 June 2023 92 39 21 32 131 116 +15 042.39 [41]
Almería Spain 3 June 2024 Present 23 13 6 4 44 30 +14 056.52 [42]
Career total 687 284 174 229 1,048 914 +134 041.34 —

Honours

Almería

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b "Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  2. ^ Gascón, Javier (28 June 2013). "Tito convence a Rubi a la tercera" [Rubi gets talked into by Tito the third time around]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Punto del Manlleu a base de casta" [Manlleu point due to heart]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 30 May 1994. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  4. ^ Flaqué, Lluís (28 June 2004). "El meta Tato Burgada evita que suba L'Hospitalet" [Keeper Tato Burgada prevents L'Hospitalet from being promoted]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  5. ^ "El Sabadell destitueix "Rubi" com a entrenador de l'equip" [Sabaldell dismiss "Rubi" as manager of the team] (in Catalan). Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 2 March 2005. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  6. ^ Fuster, Vicente (11 June 2009). "Rubi llega al Benidorm para hacerse cargo del nuevo proyecto" [Rubi arrives at Benidorm to take over new project]. Diario Información (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Joan Francesc Ferrer 'Rubi' serà l'entrenador del Girona" [Joan Francesc Ferrer 'Rubi' will be Girona's manager]. Ara (in Catalan). 8 June 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  8. ^ "El Girona cierra con derrota la mejor temporada en sus 83 años de historia" [Girona close best season of their 83-year history with defeat]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 22 June 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Joan Francesc Ferrer, Rubi, se incorpora al staff de Tito Vilanova" [Joan Francesc Ferrer, Rubi, added to Tito Vilanova's staff] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Rubi, nuevo entrenador del Real Valladolid" [Rubi, new manager of Real Valladolid] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Gaizka Garitano llevará el timón" [Gaizka Garitano will take the reins] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Rubi, nuevo entrenador del Levante UD" [Rubi, new manager of Levante UD] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  13. ^ Ballesteros, Cristian (31 October 2015). "El Valencia capea el temporal" [Valencia weather the storm]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Muchas gracias Rubi" [Thank you very much Rubi] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Rubi: "Los jugadores van a creer en lo que hacemos"" [Rubi: "The players will believe in what we do"] (in Spanish). Sporting Gijón. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  16. ^ "El Huesca anuncia a Rubi como su nuevo entrenador" [Huesca announce Rubi as their new manager]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 June 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  17. ^ "¡Gracias por todo Rubi!" [Thanks for everything Rubi!] (in Spanish). SD Huesca. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  18. ^ "Rubi, new Espanyol's coach". RCD Espanyol. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  19. ^ "Rubi es desvincula del RCD Espanyol de Barcelona" [Rubi cuts ties with RCD Espanyol de Barcelona] (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Rubi, new Real Betis head coach". Real Betis. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  21. ^ "Real Betis sack coach Rubi three games into La Liga resumption". BBC Sport. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  22. ^ Gregorio, Paco (28 April 2021). "Rubi firma con el Almería un proyecto a largo plazo, hasta 2023" [Rubi signs long-term project with Almería, until 2023]. Diario de Almería (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  23. ^ a b Gregorio, Paco (29 May 2022). "El Almería vuelve a Primera siete años después: así nacen los colores de la piel" [Almería return to Primera seven years later: that is how colours of the skin are born]. Diario de Almería (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  24. ^ Pérez, José Ignacio (4 June 2023). "Embarba transforma la agonía en felicidad" [Embarba transforms agony into happiness]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  25. ^ Martínez, Antonio (5 June 2023). "Rubi anuncia que deja el Almería" [Rubi announces he is leaving Almería]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  26. ^ "Rubi, regresa 'la leyenda' al banquillo del Almería" [Rubi, 'the legend' returns to the Almería bench] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  27. ^ Rubi coach profile at Soccerway
  28. ^ "Tercera División (Grupo 5) 2001–02" [Tercera División (Group 5) 2001–02] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
    "Tercera División (Grupo 5) 2002–03" [Tercera División (Group 5) 2002–03] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  29. ^ "Tercera División (Grupo 5) 2003–04" [Tercera División (Group 5) 2003–04] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
    "Fase de ascenso a Segunda División B 2003–04" [Promotion phase to Segunda División B 2003–04] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  30. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2004–05 season". BDFutbol.
  31. ^ "Tercera División (Grupo 5) 2005–06" [Tercera División (Group 5) 2005–06] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
    "Fase de ascenso a Segunda División B 2005–06" [Promotion phase to Segunda División B 2005–06] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
    "Matches Rubi, 2006–07 season". BDFutbol.
    "Matches Rubi, 2007–08 season". BDFutbol.
  32. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2008–09 season". BDFutbol.
  33. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2009–10 season". BDFutbol.
  34. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2012–13 season". BDFutbol.
  35. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2014–15 season". BDFutbol.
  36. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2015–16 season". BDFutbol.
  37. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2016–17 season". BDFutbol.
  38. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2017–18 season". BDFutbol.
  39. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2018–19 season". BDFutbol.
  40. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2019–20 season". BDFutbol.
  41. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2020–21 season". BDFutbol.
    "Matches Rubi, 2021–22 season". BDFutbol.
  42. ^ "Matches Rubi, 2024–25 season". BDFutbol.
  43. ^ "Rubi, premiado como mejor entrenador de Segunda" [Rubi, awarded best Segunda manager]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 26 November 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2023.