Rafael Marquez was born in 1979, February 13, in Michoacan. This is a Mexican football player who plays for Atlas. He is an all-rounder in defensive play, making him a valuable player for the team. He manages to perform well both in the position of a defensive midfielder and as a central defender. And by the way, he is the captain of the Mexican national team.
On the beginning of a club career
Started by Rafael Marquez at Atlas. As part of this team, he made his debut - then he was 17 years old. He showed excellent performance on the field. In just three years (from 1996 to 1999), he entered the field 77 times and scored six goals during this time. Then he was noticed “from above” and invited to the Mexican national team. This was in 1997.
And in 1999, Monaco FC bought him for 6 million euros. And in France, Marquez managed to show himself the way he should. Success came to him quickly - already in his firstseason, he helped the new club to reach the final of the French Championship and win it. Interestingly, Rafael received many other invitations from more titled and eminent teams, but he decided to stay at Monaco. He played there until 2003. And then the Catalan “Barcelona” bought him for 5 million euros – Rafael Marquez could not refuse this.
“Barcelona”
In the first season spent as part of this club, the Mexican managed to play 21 matches. Rafael Márquez took the field as a central defender, and with his mastery of the game helped the club to win second place in the Spanish championship. He played his second season as a defensive midfielder. The team needed a player in this position as Gerard Lopez, Edilson and Thiago Motta were out due to injury. That is, there were no “oporniks” left, and Rafael Marquez, in fact, rescued the team with his versatility. And he really had a great season.
In 2010, on August 1, the Mexican was proposed by a club called the New York Red Bulls. So he went to America right after Thierry Henry. This team also bought it. However, in 2012, on December 12, the American club terminated the contract with the Mexican. Both sides agreed to this.
The next day, it turned out that Rafael Marquez Alvarez had become a player in a Mexican club called Leon. And in 2014 he moved to Hellas Verona. This is a well-known Italian club playing in Serie A. And moving there was an important step in a football careerRaphael.
Team
Rafael Marquez, whose photo is provided above, first appeared on the field as part of the national team in 1997, February 5th. Then there was a match against Ecuadorian players. In every game in which the Mexican could show himself, he showed his personal potential and abilities to the fullest. And for this reason, very soon he became one of the key players in the national team. He played every match at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Championships. After his team left the group (this was in 2006), he said: if everyone wants the level of the national team to be higher, the players need to play for the best clubs in Europe.
Interestingly, Rafael Marquez is the only player in history to have worn the captain's armband in all four World Cups.
Achievements and interesting facts
Interestingly, Marquez's father is also a footballer. So the craving for sports is in his gene level. Marquez himself also had a family - even twice. The first time he was married to Adriana Lavat (Mexican actress), and their marriage lasted from 2001 to 2007. There were also children - a son, who was named Santiago, and a daughter, Rafaela. But then the young people divorced. In 2011, Rafael married a girl named Heidi Michel. She is a very attractive young Mexican model.
Rafael has a lot of achievements. He has won the Confederations Cup, the CONCACAF Gold Cup (twice, and was runner-up once), as well as two bronze medals andonce “silver” in the America's Cup. But that is not all! With Monaco, he became the champion of France and the owner of the French League Cup. The Super Bowl was also won.
But, of course, we managed to take the most awards together with Barcelona. Marquez is a four-time champion of Spain, winner of the Cup and Super Cup (three times) of the Country, he won the Champions League twice … Once he reached the UEFA Super Cup final with the team, but another time the victory was nevertheless achieved. He won the Club World Championship once. And, of course, he has personal awards. He is the best defender of the French championship in 1999, the best North American player (2005), and in addition, he won the free kick competition in 2008.
