Jean Ruiz (born 6 April 1998) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for Ligue 2 club Pau.

Jean Ruiz
Ruiz in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-04-06) 6 April 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Guebwiller, France
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Pau
Number 25
Youth career
2004–2010 ASCA Wittelsheim
2011–2012 US Wittelsheim
2012–2016 Sochaux
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2018 Sochaux B 44 (2)
2016–2019 Sochaux 48 (1)
2019–2022 Sion 35 (0)
2022Boulogne (loan) 17 (0)
2022– Pau 76 (3)
International career
2014–2015 France U17 12 (0)
2015–2016 France U18 7 (0)
2016–2017 France U19 10 (0)
2018 France U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 July 2024

Ruiz clinched victory in the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship as a part of the France national under-17 football team.

Career

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Early career

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Jean Ruiz began his football journey at ASCA Wittelsheim at the age of six. He later joined US Wittenheim in 2011 before moving to the FC Sochaux-Montbéliard youth academy in 2012.[1]

In August 2014, at just 16 years old, he made his debut with the Sochaux reserve team in the Championnat National 2 against FC Fleury 91.[2] At the end of the season, he won the 2014-15 Coupe Gambardella with Sochaux's U19 team, coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute to help secure a 2-0 victory against Olympique lyonnais. That same year, he was part of the French U17 team that won the European Championship by defeating Germany.[1] Ruiz was also selected to participate in the World Cup later that year.[3]

Prior to the start of the 2016-2017 season, Ruiz signed his first professional contract with Sochaux,[4] making his professional debut two months later in a Coupe de la Ligue match against Gazélec Ajaccio.

In June 2019, Ruiz transferred to FC Sion in Switzerland.[5]

Pau FC

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At the start of the 2022-2023 season, Ruiz returned to France, signing with Pau FC in Ligue 2. Initially expected to serve as a backup to captain Antoine Batisse and veteran Xavier Kouassi, Ruiz was thrust into a starting role following Batisse's injury. He played 39 matches and was instrumental in helping the club avoid relegation, establishing himself as a key player for the team.[6]

Despite receiving numerous offers during the offseason, Ruiz chose to remain with Pau for the 2023-2024 season, despite the club's new focus on player trading.[7] Over the course of his time at Pau, he played 71 of 76 possible Ligue 2 matches, scoring three goals and becoming one of the team's most utilized players.[8]

In June 2024, it was announced that Ruiz, who was at the end of his contract, had signed a two-year extension with Pau FC, keeping him with the club until 2026. This decision was welcomed by the club's management and supporters, as Ruiz was the most utilized outfield player for Pau in the previous season, appearing in 35 matches and scoring three goals.[9]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 7 January 2022[10]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sochaux B 2014–15 Championnat de France Amateur 12 0 colspan="2"|— 12 0
2015–16 Championnat de France Amateur 18 0 18 0
2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur 14 2 14 2
2017–18 Championnat de France Amateur 2 13 0 13 0
Sochaux 2016–17 Ligue 2 9 0 1 0 3 0 13 0
2017–18 Ligue 2 29 1 2 0 1 0 32 1
2018–19 Ligue 2 10 0 2 0 2 0 14 0
FC Sion Swiss Super League 2019–20 Swiss Super League 15 0 1 0 1 0 17 0
Swiss Super League 2020–21 Swiss Super League 17 0 1 0 1 0 19 0
Swiss Super League 2021–22 Swiss Super League 3 0 3 0
US Boulogne Championnat National 2021–22 Championnat National 17 0 17 0
Pau FC 2022–23 Ligue 2 39 2 3 0 1 0 43 2
Pau FC 2023–24 Ligue 2 37 1 1 0 1 0 39 1
Pau FC 2024–25 Ligue 2 0 0 0 0
Total Total 226 4 11 0 8 0 2 0 247 4

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ a b Jean Ruiz at the French Football Federation (in French)
  2. ^ "Sochaux-Fleury Merogis". Foot National. 17 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Equipe de France U17: la liste pour le Mondial". Footu21. 26 September 2015. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Sochaux : Jean Ruiz passe professionnel". L'Équipe. 10 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Le défenseur français Jean Ruiz signe au FC Sion". Le Nouvelliste. 25 June 2019.
  6. ^ Georges Lannessans (6 June 2023). "Jean Ruiz, fervent défenseur du Pau FC". Sud Ouest.
  7. ^ Georges Lannessans (8 April 2023). "Jean Ruiz, la fidélité fédératrice". Sud Ouest.
  8. ^ Nicolas Mairal; Georges Lannessans (14 June 2024). "Ligue 2. Jean Ruiz et le Pau FC, c'est terminé!". Sud Ouest.
  9. ^ Sempé, Christian (26 June 2024). "Foot - Ligue 2 : Jean Ruiz prolonge 2 ans au Pau FC". La République des Pyrénées (in French). Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  10. ^ Jean Ruiz at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
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