Rafael Paz
Encyclopedia
Rafael 'Rafa' Paz Marín (born 2 August 1965 in Puebla de Don Fadrique
, Granada, Andalusia
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played mainly as a right midfielder
.
, Paz moved in 1984 to neighbours Sevilla FC
, going on to amass 340 La Liga
matches, with 25 goals. In 1989–90, appearing in all the matches safe one, he netted a career-best six goals, helping the Andalusia
ns finish sixth, with a subsequent UEFA Cup qualification.
Upon Sevilla's relegation in 1997, Paz moved to Mexico
, closing out his career after one season with Atlético Celaya
, teaming up former fellow international Emilio Butragueño
.
on seven occasions, all in 1990, and was included in the squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
. His debut came on 21 February in a friendly match with Czechoslovakia
.
Puebla de Don Fadrique
Puebla de Don Fadrique is a municipality located in the province of Granada, Spain. According to the 2007 census , the city has a population of 2565 inhabitants.- External links :* *...
, Granada, Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
) 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 mainly as a right midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Club career
After beginning professionally with CP Granada 74CP Granada 74
Club Polideportivo Granada 74 is a Spanish football club based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1974, it last played in Tercera División, holding home games at Ciudad Deportiva Granada 92, with a capacity of 16,200 spectators.-History:Granada 74 was founded in 1974...
, Paz moved in 1984 to neighbours Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
, going on to amass 340 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...
matches, with 25 goals. In 1989–90, appearing in all the matches safe one, he netted a career-best six goals, helping the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns finish sixth, with a subsequent UEFA Cup qualification.
Upon Sevilla's relegation in 1997, Paz moved to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, closing out his career after one season with Atlético Celaya
Atlético Celaya
The Club Atlético Celaya was a Mexican football club from Celaya, Guanajuato. The club was formed in 1994 when the two second-division clubs Atletico Cuernavaca and Escuadra Celeste de Celaya merged...
, teaming up former fellow international Emilio Butragueño
Emilio Butragueño
Emilio Butragueño Santos is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a striker.He was best known for his spell with Real Madrid...
.
International career
Paz represented SpainSpain 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...
on seven occasions, all in 1990, and was included in the squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
. His debut came on 21 February in a friendly match with Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
.
Honours
Spain U20- FIFA U-20 World CupFIFA U-20 World CupThe FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
: Runner-up 19851985 FIFA World Youth ChampionshipThe 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship, the ninth edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in the Soviet Union from August 24 to September 7, 1985. The tournament took place in eight venues — Baku, Yerevan, Leningrad, Minsk, Moscow, Hoktemberyan, Tbilissi and Sumqayit — where a total...