Carlos Ruiz Herrero
Encyclopedia
Carlos Ruiz Herrero is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
) is a retired Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who played as a forward.
Club career
Ruiz played during 11 seasons with Athletic BilbaoAthletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
(plus one in the reserve team
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
), having been signed in 1969 from Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
neighbours CD Getxo
CD Getxo
Club Deportivo Getxo is a Spanish football team based in Getxo, Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1927, it plays in División de Honor de Vizcaya, holding home matches at Estadio Fadura, with a 3,500-seat capacity....
. On 12 September 1970, he made his debut for the first team, playing the dying minutes of the 1–1 home draw against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
.
In the following years, Ruiz continued to be used regularly by Athletic, although he was not always an undisputed starter. In the 1974–75 season, however, he netted a career-best 19 goals in 32 matches (winning the Pichichi Trophy in the process), for a 10th place in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. On 18 May 1977, he scored the 2–1 at home against Juventus FC
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
in the season's UEFA Cup final
1977 UEFA Cup Final
The 1977 UEFA Cup Final was played on May 4, 1977 and May 18, 1977 between Juventus F.C. of Italy and Athletic Bilbao of Spain. Juventus won 2-2 on away goals. This is the only triumph for an Italian side in an official European tournament without foreigner players in its first team squad.-First...
(netting a total of five during the side's continental run), but the Italians
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
won it on the away goals rule
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
.
Ruiz still enjoyed two seasons in double digits until he left Athletic (namely 1977–78, with 16 goals), but also dealt with several injuries. He eventually retired from the game in the 1982 summer at the age of 34, after one season with RCD Español
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
. He amassed league totals of 233 games and 83 goals, always in the top division.
International career
Ruiz was never cappedCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
by Spain at senior level
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, but did play for the U-21s
Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
once. It was in a match against Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national under-21 football team
The Yugoslavia national under-21 football team existed in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After the state's dissolution in 1992, the following teams were formed:*Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 football team...
played in Elche, at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero
Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero
The Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero is located in the city Spanish in Elche in Alicante, Spain. It is a sports arena that houses matches of Elche CF, a team that is currently playing in the Liga Adelante . Its name pays tribute to the late president of the club Elche, Manuel Martinez Valero...
.
Team
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1972–73, Runner-up 1976-77 - UEFA Cup: Runner-up 1976–77