Rui Marques

Football player infobox
playername = Rui Marques
fullname = Manuel Rui Marques
nickname =


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|9|3
cityofbirth = Luanda
countryofbirth = Angola
height = height|m=1.80
currentclub = Leeds United
clubnumber = 5
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1998–1999
1999–2000
2000–2001
2001–2004
2004–2005
2005–
2006
clubs = FC Baden
SSV Ulm
Hertha Berlin
VfB Stuttgart
Maritimo
Leeds United
→ Hull City (loan)
caps(goals) = 27 (0)
32 (0)
01 (0)
47 (0)
08 (0)
60 (3)
01 (0)
nationalyears = 2006–
nationalteam = Angola
nationalcaps(goals) = 011 (0)
pcupdate = 11:37, 4 October 2008 (GMT)
ntupdate = 17:11, 18 July 2008 (UTC)

Manuel Rui Marques (born 3 September 1977 in Luanda, Angola), more commonly known as Rui Marques, is an Angolan footballer, currently playing as a defender for Leeds United. Although born in Angola, Marques moved to Portugal as a child, hence the name Manuel.

Club career

Early career

Marques began professionly in Germany's SSV Ulm 1846 in the 1999-2000 season but then moved to Hertha BSC in Berlin, Germany's capital.

Marques then moved to VfB Stuttgart where he played four seasons at the German club. In the 2004-05 season he moved to CS Marítimo of Madeira, Portugal. After struggling to break into the first team, Marques was subsequently released by Marítimo after just one season and in the 2005-06 season Marques moved to Leeds United in England on a Bosman transfer [cite news | date=2007-07-29 | url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=295303&plid=5163&clid=2&cpid=10 | title=Leeds land Marques | publisher=Sky Sports| accessdate=2007-06-22 | author=James Pearson] .

Leeds United

Marques made one appearance for Leeds in the 2005-06 season in the Carling Cup against Oldham, in which he was clearly very nervous and uncomfortable playing at right-back, Marques did not feature again for Leeds that season and at the end of 2005-06 he went to Hull City on a short-term loan [cite news | date=2007-03-23 | url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=373786&plid=5163&clid=88&cpid=10 | title=Tigers land Leeds stopper | publisher=Sky Sports| accessdate=2007-06-22 | author=James Pearson] , which was cut short due to injury.

The 2006-07 campaign again saw Marques over-looked by manager Kevin Blackwell, and again by the new Leeds manager Dennis Wise, who made it clear Marques would not feature under his leadership and was told he was free to leave the club [cite news | date=2007-11-23 | url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=46&ArticleID=1893312 | title=Wise considers transfer option | publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post| accessdate=2007-06-22 | author=Phil Hay] , along with a number of other squad and fringe players. However, Marques has never once complained about his isolation from the first team and has worked hard to try and prove himself, being included in a number of different match-day squad listings and on a couple of occasions making the substitutes bench.

Marques' hard-work and persistence was rewarded when he was called up to the first team squad for Leeds United's 2-1 victory against Coventry City on 1 January 2007, where he turned in a very solid performance at centre back. This performance saw Marques being rewarded with a long run in the starting lineup at Elland Road. Marques stated that he would prefer to concentrate on Leeds' relegation battle than signing a new deal. He was an instant hit with the fans. [cite news | date=2007-04-17 | url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=461447&plid=5163&clid=2&cpid=10 | title=Marques putting Leeds first | publisher=Sky Sports| accessdate=2007-06-22 | author=James Pearson] . Leeds were relegated to League One, but Marques showed his commitment to the club and signed a new deal on the 7th August 2007. Marques became a regular in the first team and scored his first goal for the Elland Road outfit on 18 August 2007 in the 4-1 drubbing of Southend United in the dying minutes of the match. Marques missed several matches in January 2008, linking up with Angola for the African Cup Of Nations.

On his return, Marques established himself as fourth-choice captain at Leeds [cite news | date=2008-02-22 | url=http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDetail/0,,10273~1246741,00.html | title=Captain Rui | publisher=Leeds United| accessdate=2008-05-11] , taking up the armband for most of March 2008 whilst Alan Thompson, Jonathan Douglas and Andy Hughes were out injured. Marques picked up an injury and was replaced by Paul Huntington in Leeds' starting line-up. Due to Huntington's fantastic form, Marques was kept out of the side for the rest of the season, only being limited to occasional substitute appearances.

Before he left the club, manager Dennis Wise stated he would offer Marques a new contract. Upon his arrival, new manager Gary McAllister offered Marques a new contract but talks stalled with the length of the contract appearing to be the deciding factor in Marques' decision [cite news | date=2008-04-10 | url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/Contract-length-the-key-in.3967302.jp | title=Contract length the key in Rui Marques talks | publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post| accessdate=2008-05-11] . However, on 20th May 2008 he signed a new contract with Leeds United, contracting him to the club for a further two seasons.

References

External links