José Raúl Baena Urdiales (Spanish pronunciation: [xoˈse raˈul βaˈenawɾˈðjales];[a] born 2 March 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Raúl Baena Urdiales[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 2 March 1989[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Torrox, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1999 | Faro Torrox | ||
| 1999–2003 | Málaga | ||
| 2003–2007 | Barcelona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2010 | Espanyol B | 38 | (3) |
| 2009–2013 | Espanyol | 85 | (2) |
| 2013–2017 | Rayo Vallecano | 91 | (4) |
| 2017–2019 | Granada | 23 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Melbourne Victory (loan) | 21 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | Atromitos | 17 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Kitchee | 18 | (3) |
| 2023–2024 | Sabadell | 19 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2006 | Spain U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 2011 | Spain U21 | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:01, 20 March 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editEspanyol
editBorn in Torrox, Province of Málaga, Andalusia, and after starting his footballing career at local Málaga CF[3] and later coming through the FC Barcelona's youth ranks,[4] Baena switched to Catalonia neighbours RCD Espanyol in 2007, at the age of 18. He made his debut with its first team on 4 October 2009 in a La Liga match against Villarreal CF, playing the second half as the ten-man side eventually held off the hosts to a 0–0 draw.[5]
Baena quickly became an integral part of the main squad, alternating starts with appearances from the bench in his debut season. On 12 December 2009, his penalty offense on FC Barcelona's Xavi supposed the game's only goal, in a derby defeat.[6]
Baena was regularly used by manager Mauricio Pochettino in the following campaigns, often partnering another club youth graduate, Javi Márquez, in central midfield.[7] On 21 January 2012 he scored his first goal in the top flight, opening the score in a 3–0 home victory over Granada CF.[8]
Rayo Vallecano
editOn 26 June 2013, Baena signed a two-year contract with Rayo Vallecano.[9] In 2014–15 he scored twice in 28 matches to help his team to finish 11th in the top tier and, at its closure, agreed to a two-year extension.[10]
Granada
editBaena joined Granada of the Segunda División in the summer of 2017, agreeing to a three-year deal.[11] During his only season at the Nuevo Estadio de Los Cármenes, he acted as team captain.[12][13]
In September 2018, Baena signed for Melbourne Victory FC on a one-year loan.[13][14][15] He scored his only goal in the A-League on 1 December in a 4–0 home defeat of Western Sydney Wanderers FC,[16] and left the following May.[17][18][19]
Kitchee
editBaena joined Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee SC on 10 December 2020, after one year with Atromitos F.C. in the Super League Greece.[20] On 1 May 2022, in the last group fixture of the AFC Champions League, he scored in injury time of the 2–2 home draw with Vissel Kobe, sending his team through to the knockout stage at the expense of Melbourne City FC.[21]
Later career
editIn February 2023, aged 34, Baena returned to Spain after five years away, with CE Sabadell FC of the Primera Federación.[22]
International career
editBaena won his only cap for the Spain under-21 side on 28 March 2011 as a member of Espanyol, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute for Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera in the 1–1 friendly draw with Belarus held in Alcalá de Henares.[23][24]
Career statistics
edit- As of 28 May 2023[25]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Espanyol B | 2009–10 | Segunda División B | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Espanyol | 2009–10 | La Liga | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | ||||
| 2011–12 | 32 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 1 | ||||
| 2012–13 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 85 | 2 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 93 | 2 | ||||
| Rayo Vallecano | 2013–14 | La Liga | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | ||||
| 2015–16 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 1 | ||||
| 2016–17 | Segunda División | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 1 | |||
| Total | 91 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 98 | 4 | ||||
| Granada | 2017–18 | Segunda División | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| Melbourne Victory (loan) | 2018–19 | A-League | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 24 | 1 | |
| Atromitos | 2019–20 | Super League Greece | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 | ||
| Kitchee | 2020–21 | Hong Kong Premier League | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| 2021–22 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8[b] | 0 | 17 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 42 | 3 | ||
| Sabadell | 2022–23 | Primera Federación | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 274 | 12 | 19 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 318 | 12 | ||
Notes
edit- ^ In isolation, Baena is pronounced [baˈena].
- ^ a b Appearances in Sapling Cup
- ^ One appearance in Sapling Cup, one appearance in Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield
References
edit- ^ a b "Baena". Diario AS. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Raúl Baena". Melbourne Victory FC. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Raúl Baena: "Soy del Málaga a muerte"" [Raúl Baena: "I'll be a Málaga fan until I die"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 19 February 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ Llorens, Moisés (29 October 2008). "Bronca de Laporta con el abogado de un ex canterano" [Laporta run-in with former youth player's lawyer]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "Drab draw for Villarreal". ESPN Soccernet. 4 October 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
- ^ "Ibrahimovic spot-kick sinks Espanyol". ESPN Soccernet. 12 December 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
- ^ Juárez, Mari Carmen (8 December 2010). "Pochettino tiene que rehacer su doble pivote" [Pochettino has to recompose holding midfielder tandem]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "El Espanyol golea al Granada y duerme en puestos europeos (3–0)" [Espanyol rout Granada and sleep in European places (3–0)] (in Spanish). RTVE. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ "El Rayo ficha a Raúl Baena por dos temporadas" [Rayo sign Raúl Baena for two seasons]. La Información (in Spanish). 26 June 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "El Rayo sigue apostando por Baena" [Rayo still bet on Baena] (in Spanish). La Liga. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Raúl Baena cambia Vallecas por Granada" [Raúl Baena changes Vallecas for Granada]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 3 July 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Raúl Baena podrá jugar ante el Barça B al anularle Competición una amarilla" [Raúl Baena will be able to play against Barça B as Committee overrule yellow]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 30 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ a b Lynch, Michael (3 September 2018). "Melbourne Victory sign Spanish midfielder Raul Baena". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Melbourne Victory swoop for Spaniard Raul Baena". FourFourTwo. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ Green, Sam (3 September 2018). "Victory land Spanish midfielder Raul Baena". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ Harrington, Anna (1 December 2018). "Melbourne Victory turn in a 'statement' performance with 4–0 win over Wanderers". Fox Sports. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Victory sever ties with visa stars". FourFourTwo. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ Lynch, Michael (28 May 2019). "Baema, Niedermeier and Ingham depart Victory". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ "Rebuilding Victory shed Baena, Niedermeier, Ingham". The World Game. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ Zhihao, Yuan (10 December 2020). "【港超聯】前巴塞青訓投傑志成超級外援教練讚攻守兼備" (in Chinese). HK 01. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ Chadband, Ian (1 May 2022). "Ex-Victory man knocks City out of Asian CL". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ Arroyo, Adrián (2 February 2023). "Raúl Baena fitxa pel Sabadell i s'hi incorporarà dilluns" [Raúl Baena signs for Sabadell and will join them on Monday] (in Catalan). Ràdio Sabadell. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "Fútbol/Sub-21.– Crónica del España-Bielorrusia; 1–1" [Football/Under-21.– Spain-Belarus match report; 1–1] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "El torroxeño Raúl Baena jugó con la sub-21 española ante Bielorrusia" [Torrox-born Raúl Baena played with the Spanish under-21s against Belarus]. Diario Axarquía (in Spanish). 29 March 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ Raúl Baena at Soccerway
External links
edit
- Raúl Baena at BDFutbol
- Raúl Baena at Futbolme (in Spanish)