Rubén Rochina Explained

Rubén Rochina
Fullname:Rubén Rochina Naixes[1]
Birth Date:23 March 1991
Birth Place:Sagunto, Spain
Height:1.82 m
Position:Winger, forward
Currentclub:Atlético Baleares
Youthyears1:2003–2004
Youthclubs1:Valencia
Youthyears2:2004–2010
Youthclubs2:Barcelona
Years1:2008–2011
Caps1:26
Goals1:4
Years2:2011–2014
Caps2:46
Goals2:7
Years3:2013
Clubs3:Zaragoza (loan)
Caps3:15
Goals3:1
Years4:2014
Clubs4:Rayo Vallecano (loan)
Caps4:17
Goals4:3
Years5:2014–2016
Caps5:54
Goals5:8
Years6:2016–2018
Caps6:27
Goals6:2
Years7:2018
Clubs7:Levante (loan)
Caps7:5
Goals7:1
Years8:2018–2021
Caps8:80
Goals8:8
Years9:2021–2023
Caps9:23
Goals9:1
Years10:2024–
Caps10:11
Goals10:1
Nationalyears1:2008
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:4
Nationalyears2:2009
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2010
Nationalcaps3:9
Nationalgoals3:4
Club-Update:17:49, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

Rubén Rochina Naixes (born 23 March 1991) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger or a forward for club Atlético Baleares.

He began his professional career with Barcelona B before joining Blackburn Rovers in 2011, spending three years with the club that included two loan spells, at Zaragoza and Rayo Vallecano.

Club career

Barcelona

Born in Sagunto, Valencian Community, Rochina arrived at FC Barcelona's youth system at the age of 13, after starting his development with local Valencia CF.[2]

Whilst still a junior, he appeared in 13 games for Barcelona's reserves in the Segunda División B, playing three times (117 minutes) in the 2009–10 season as Luis Enrique's side returned to Segunda División after an 11-year absence.[3] [4]

Blackburn Rovers

On 31 January 2011, without having appeared for Barcelona's first team, Rochina joined Premier League team Blackburn Rovers on a four-year deal.[5] On 11 February, he scored twice for the reserves against Newcastle United's reserves in a 4–4 draw.[6]

On 16 April 2011, Rochina made his league debut for his new club, starting in a 2–0 loss at Everton.[7] On 24 August he scored his first competitive goal for Rovers, just five minutes into the League Cup match against Sheffield Wednesday, and added a second in the 3–1 home win.[8]

Rochina scored his first league goal for Blackburn on 11 September, in a 1–1 away draw to Fulham.[9] In the next game he provided an assist in a 4–3 home victory over Arsenal,[10] and appeared in 18 matches during the campaign as the team was relegated.

On 1 September 2012, Rochina scored a back-heeled goal to equalise six minutes from time in a 3–3 away draw against Leeds United.[11] He spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Real Zaragoza.[12] He made his La Liga debut on 3 February 2013 as a 74th-minute substitute in a 1–1 away draw with Málaga CF,[13] and scored his first goal in the competition on 27 April to help defeat RCD Mallorca 3–2 at La Romareda,[14] as the Aragonese eventually suffered relegation after finishing bottom.

On the opening day of the 2013–14 Championship season, Rochina dislocated his shoulder during the fixture against Derby County.[15] After surgery, he missed the next three months of the campaign, and on 20 January 2014 he returned to the Spanish top flight on loan, this time to Rayo Vallecano.[16] His first appearance came six days later, in a 2–4 home loss to Atlético Madrid in which he played 34 minutes.[17]

Granada

On 3 August 2014, Rochina signed a four-year deal with Granada CF for an undisclosed fee.[18] He scored two goals in his first year, the second being a 50-meter lob in a 3–0 away win over Real Sociedad.[19] [20]

Rochina netted six times in 2015–16 as Los Nazaríes again avoided relegation,[21] including a late equaliser for a 2–2 draw in the Derby of eastern Andalusia away to Málaga CF on 28 November 2015.[22]

Rubin Kazan

On 20 July 2016, Rochina moved abroad for a second time when Russian Premier League side FC Rubin Kazan triggered his €10 million release clause and offered to treble his wages – Blackburn were due 15% of the receipt.[23] He returned to his homeland on 31 January 2018, joining Levante UD on loan until the end of the season.[24]

Levante

Following his loan, Rochina signed a three-year contract with Levante on 4 July 2018.[25] He scored four league goals in each of his first two seasons.[26] [27]

Later career

Rochina returned to Granada in August 2021, for a €10 million fee.[28] Bothered by several injury problems,[29] he suffered top-tier relegation at the end of 2021–22 but achieved promotion the following campaign, contributing only eight appearances to this feat.[30] [31]

On 8 February 2024, following a trial at FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda from Slovakia,[32] the 32-year-old Rochina joined Primera Federación club CD Atlético Baleares.[33]

International career

Rochina was capped for Spain at under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels, for a total of 17 caps and eight goals. With the first of those age groups, he won the 2008 UEFA European Championship in Turkey.[34]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barcelona B2008–09[35] Segunda División B102102
2009–10[36] Segunda División B3030
2010–11[37] Segunda División132132
Total264000000264
Blackburn Rovers2010–11[38] Premier League4040
2011–121821044236
2012–13Championship1952010225
2013–145050
Total4673054005411
Zaragoza2012–13[39] La Liga151151
Rayo Vallecano2013–14[40] La Liga173173
Granada2014–15La Liga192192
2015–1635630386
Total548300000578
Career total1582360540016927

Honours

Granada

2022–23[41]

Spain U17

2008[34]

Spain U19

Notes and References

  1. News: Rochina. Diario AS. 20 October 2022.
  2. News: El pasado 'che' de Rochina. Rochina's 'che' past. El Periódico de Aragón. es. 19 February 2013. 4 December 2013.
  3. News: Luis Enrique ya tiene el '9' que buscaba. Luis Enrique already has the number 9 he was looking for. Sport. Ivan. San Antonio. es. 11 January 2009. 4 December 2013.
  4. Web site: Rubén Rochina: "La cantera del Barça es la mejor del mundo". Rubén Rochina: "Barça's youth system is the best in the world". Terra. es. 3 January 2012. 4 December 2013.
  5. Web site: Rubén of the Rovers. Blackburn Rovers F.C.. 1 February 2011. 20 January 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110203185107/http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10303~2280797%2C00.html. 3 February 2011.
  6. Web site: Fans call for Rochina's chance to shine. A Different League. Mushtaq. Quraishi. 13 April 2011. 20 January 2014.
  7. Web site: Everton 2–0 Blackburn. BBC Sport. Michael. Da Silva. 16 April 2011. 20 January 2014.
  8. Web site: Blackburn 3–1 Sheffield Wed. BBC Sport. 24 August 2011. 30 August 2011.
  9. News: Struggling Fulham and Blackburn left frustrated after stalemate. The Guardian. Dominic. Fifield. 11 September 2011. 20 January 2014.
  10. Web site: Blackburn 4–3 Arsenal. BBC Sport. Nabil. Hassan. 17 September 2011. 20 January 2014.
  11. News: Leeds United 3 Blackburn Rovers 3: Ruben is United's Achilles' heel. Yorkshire Post. 1 September 2012. 20 January 2014.
  12. Web site: DJ Campbell & Jerome Thomas: Blackburn want duo on loan. BBC Sport. 1 February 2013. 4 December 2013.
  13. Web site: Malaga suffer blow. ESPN FC. 3 February 2013. 4 December 2013.
  14. Web site: Zara edge basement thriller. ESPN FC. 27 April 2013. 4 December 2013.
  15. News: Derby County 1 Blackburn Rovers 1: match report. The Daily Telegraph. Henry. Winter. 4 August 2013. 4 December 2014.
  16. Web site: Ruben heads home. Blackburn Rovers F.C.. 20 January 2014. 20 January 2014.
  17. News: El Atlético retoma la senda del triunfo. Atlético rediscover winning ways. Marca. Tomás. Campos. es. 26 January 2014. 27 January 2014.
  18. Web site: Rochina returns to Spain. Blackburn Rovers F.C.. 5 August 2014. 5 August 2014.
  19. News: El Granada ya muestra el oficio 'made in Caparrós'. Granada already showing know-how 'made in Caparrós'. Marca. Ángel. Liceras. es. 23 August 2014. 19 May 2015.
  20. News: Así se escribe un milagro. Acto III. How to write a miracle. Act III. Marca. Ángel. Liceras. es. 17 May 2015. 19 May 2015.
  21. News: El Granada sella la permanencia. Granada seal survival. ABC. es. 8 May 2016. 1 August 2016.
  22. Web site: Late capitulation leaves Malaga bottom Primera Division. ESPN FC. 28 November 2015. 20 July 2016.
  23. News: Blackburn Rovers set for cash windfall as Ruben Rochina completes Rubin Kazan move. Lancashire Telegraph. 20 July 2016. 20 July 2016.
  24. Web site: Rubén Rochina llega al Levante UD en calidad de cedido. Rubén Rochina arrives at Levante UD on loan. Levante UD. es. 31 January 2018. 31 January 2018.
  25. Web site: Rochina se vincula al Levante para las próximas tres temporadas. Rochina signs a three-year contract. Levante UD. es. 4 July 2018. 4 July 2018.
  26. News: Rubén Rochina será la siguiente 'patata caliente'. Rubén Rochina will be the next 'hot potato'. Super Deporte. R.. Marín. V.. Linares. es. 22 May 2020. 29 August 2021.
  27. Web site: Rochina, tenemos un problema. Rochina, we have a problem. Cadena COPE. Pedro. Zamora. es. 18 September 2020. 29 August 2021.
  28. News: Rubén Rochina: un regreso que ilusiona en Granada. Rubén Rochina: exciting return in Granada. Diario AS. Carlos. Cariño. es. 22 August 2021. 21 March 2024.
  29. Web site: Rochina dice adiós a lo que queda de temporada. Rochina says goodbye to remainder of season. Vavel. Cristofer. Sabio Gonzalez. es. 13 January 2023. 21 March 2024.
  30. News: Ascenso del Granada a Primera: el análisis de la plantilla. Granada promotion to Primera: squad analysis. Granada Hoy. Paco. García Álvarez. es. 27 May 2023. 21 March 2024.
  31. News: Rochina, futuro incierto. Rochina, uncertain future. Diario AS. Antonio. Gallardo. es. 25 June 2023. 21 March 2024.
  32. Web site: Pred prípravným stretnutím DAC 1904 – Šamorín. DAC 1904 – Šamorín friendly match preview. FC DAC Dunajská Streda. Nagy. Krisztián. sk. 30 January 2024. 6 March 2024.
  33. Web site: Rubén Rochina llega al CD Atlético Baleares. Rubén Rochina arrives at CD Atlético Baleares. CD Atlético Baleares. es. 8 February 2024. 6 March 2024.
  34. News: Rochina, un internacional con España que fue campeón de Europa. Rochina, Spain international who was European champion. Ideal. Ángel. Orte. es. 6 August 2014. 2 June 2023.
  35. Web site: Rochina: Rubén Rochina Naixes: 2008–09. BDFutbol. 13 December 2013.
  36. Web site: Rochina: Rubén Rochina Naixes: 2009–10. BDFutbol. 13 December 2013.
  37. Web site: Rochina: Rubén Rochina Naixes: 2010–11. BDFutbol. 13 December 2013.
  38. Web site: Games played by Ruben Rochina in 2010/2011. Soccerbase. 13 December 2013.
  39. Web site: Rochina: Rubén Rochina Naixes: 2012–13. BDFutbol. 13 December 2013.
  40. Web site: Rubén Rochina. Soccerway. 27 January 2014.
  41. News: Paco López no recuerda algo igual. Paco López does not remember anything like this. Estadio Deportivo. Álvaro. Arenillas. es. 27 May 2023. 2 June 2023.
  42. Web site: France fight back to claim U19 crown. UEFA. Andrew. Haslam. 30 July 2010. 5 October 2020.