Sergio Ramos

Infobox Football biography
playername = Sergio Ramos


fullname = Sergio Ramos García
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|3|30
cityofbirth = Camas, Sevilla
countryofbirth = Spain
height = convert|1.90|m|ftin|abbr=on
currentclub = Real Madrid
clubnumber = 4
position = right back right midfield
years = 2004–2005
2005–
clubs = Sevilla
Real Madrid
caps(goals)= 39 (2)
102 (23)
nationalyears = 2004–2005
2005–
nationalteam = Spain U21
Spain
nationalcaps(goals) = 6 (0)
42 (8)
pcupdate = 00:00, 1 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 1 September 2008 (UTC)

Sergio Ramos García (born March 30, 1986 in Camas, Seville, Andalusia), is a Spanish international footballer, who currently plays for Real Madrid. Ramos is usually a right back, but is equally at ease in the heart of the back four. He is known for his runs on the right flank, crosses, and vigorous defending.

Club career

A graduate of Sevilla's prolific youth system, Ramos began his career as a right-sided defender, a position he was able to keep for the majority of his early career. He made his first-team debut on February 1, 2004, not yet 18, in a 0-1 defeat at Deportivo de La Coruña. In his first full season, he was an undisputed first-choice, as the Andalusia outfit finished sixth.

After two years of experience in "La Liga", Ramos became known for his ability to play in any defensive position. On September 2005, after having still featured in one game for Sevilla in 2005-06, playing 90 minutes of a 1-0 home success over Racing de Santander, Real Madrid signed him for €27 million and is now worth 85 million euros on an 8-year deal. [cite web |author=|title=Ramos signs on the line for Real |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/09/08/spain.ramos/ |publisher=CNN |date=2005-09-08 |accessdate=2008-09-06 |language=] This transfer made him the third most expensive teenager behind Wayne Rooney.

At Real, Ramos was awarded the number 4 shirt, previously occupied by team captain Fernando Hierro. He scored his first goal for the capital side on December 6, 2005, in a UEFA Champions League defeat at Olympiakos, a game which Real eventually lost 2-1.

During his first seasons, Ramos played as centre-back, being also used as an emergence defensive midfielder on occasion. However, with the arrival of Christoph Metzelder and Pepe for 2007-08, he was again relocated to right back. Ramos also displayed interest scoring prowess for a defender, netting more than 20 overall goals in "Los Blancos" shirt. In an interview with "Grada Blanca", he revealed that he used to play as a striker when he was younger, eventually moving into a defensive slot. [ [http://realmadrid.com/articulo/rma43879.htm] ]

On May 4, 2008, Ramos assisted Gonzalo Higuaín in the 89th minute against CA Osasuna in an eventual 2-1 away win, in what turned out to be the clinching goal for Real Madrid's 31st league championship. On the 13 June, it was widely reported that Manchester United were keen on signing the defender. When asked about the interest on radio station Canal Sur, he said: "It is a good sign that big clubs are interested in me, but at the moment I am not considering anything. I have a good contract with Madrid and I am concentrating on the national team. When Euro 2008 finishes we will see what happens."

International career

In 2005, Ramos became an instant hit for Spain's under-21, for whom he played six international matches. On March 26, in a friendly 3-0 win over China, in Salamanca, he played for the senior side at only 18 years of age, making him the youngest player to play for the national team in the last 55 years. Ramos held this record until it was broken by Arsenal's Cesc Fábregas.

After an impressive debut, Ramos was awarded a place in the team which would challenge Serbia and Montenegro in an important 2006 World Cup qualifier, mainly due to the absence of club teammate Míchel Salgado. He was announced as part of the Spain World Cup squad on 15 May 2006, and eventually replaced Salgado as Spain's first-choice right-back.

Throughout Spain's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, Ramos was a regular member of the starting eleven, as they finished at the top of Group D, above Sweden. He scored two goals, including one in a 3-1 away win over Denmark, in 11 appearances.

In the tournament's final stages Ramos, alonside Carlos Marchena, Carles Puyol and Joan Capdevila formed a rock-solid defense that conceded just two goals in five games. During the celebrations after defeating Germany in the final, he wore a T-shirt in honor of former Sevilla teammate Antonio Puerta, deceased in August 2007.

International goals

Ig match
n =1
d =2005-10-13
st1=Stadio Olimpico| ci1=San Marino | co=San Marino
o=San Marino
sc=0-3
fr=0-6
comp=2006 FIFA World Cup qualificationIg match
n =2
d =2005-10-13
st1=Stadio Olimpico| ci1=San Marino | co=San Marino
o=San Marino
sc=0-4
fr=0-6
comp=2006 FIFA World Cup qualificationIg match
n =3
d =2007-10-13
st=Atletion| ci=Aarhus| co=Denmark
o=Denmark
sc=0-2
fr=1-3
comp=UEFA Euro 2008 qualifyingIg match
n =4
d =2007-11-17
st=Santiago Bernabéu Stadium| ci=Madrid| co=Spain
o=Sweden
sc=3-0
fr=3-0
comp=UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying

tatistics

"Statistics correct as of September 9, 2008"fact|date=October 2008

Honors and awards

Club

*Spanish League: 2006-07, 2007-08
*Spanish Supercup: 2008, runner-up 2007

International

*UEFA U-19 Championship: 2004
*UEFA European Championship: 2008

Personal

*UEFA's Best new player of La Liga 2004-05Fact|date=August 2007

*Antonio Puerta Award. [cite web| url=http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1202728446654/noticia/Noticia/Best_Andalusian_footballer.htm | title=Best Andalusian footballer | date=2008-01-29 | publisher= Realmadrid.com]

*ESM Team of the Year: 2007-08

*ESM Team of the Month: April 2007, May 2007, September 2007, October 2007, November 2007, December 2007, January 2008.

*Móstoles Sports Elite Award [cite web| url=http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1202730571017/noticia/Noticia/Sergio_Ramos_recognised.htm | title=Sergio Ramos recognised | date=2007-03-14 | publisher= Realmadrid.com]

Personal life

Ramos has had many high-profile girlfriends, including former Miss Spain Elisabeth Reyes, and fellow models Nani Gaitán (who is 10 years his senior) and Carolina Martínez. He also briefly romanced Nereida Gallardo, several months before she started dating Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

References

External links

* [http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1193041476158/1193041476906/jugador/Jugador/Ramos.htm Real Madrid profile]
* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=7348 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon
* [http://futbol.sportec.es/seleccion/ficha_jugador.asp?j=618&n=sergio/ramos/sergio/ramos/garcia National team data] es icon
*FIFA player|216814
* [http://www.sergio-ramos.com/index.html Fansite]