| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Raúl Baena Urdiales[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1989-03-02)2 March 1989 (age 36)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Torrox, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
| Position | 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 as of 16:01, 20 March 2024 (UTC) | |||
José Raúl Baena Urdiales (Spanish pronunciation:[xoˈseraˈulβaˈenawɾˈðjales];[a] born 2 March 1989) is a Spanish professionalfootballer who plays as adefensive midfielder.
Born inTorrox,Province of Málaga,Andalusia, and after starting his footballing career at localMálaga CF[3] and later coming through theFC Barcelona's youth ranks,[4] Baena switched toCatalonia neighboursRCD Espanyol in 2007, at the age of 18. He made his debut with its first team on 4 October 2009 in aLa Liga match againstVillarreal 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 appearancesfrom the bench in hisdebut season. On 12 December 2009, hispenalty offense onFC Barcelona'sXavi supposed the game's only goal, in aderby defeat.[6]
Baena was regularly used by managerMauricio 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 overGranada CF.[8]
On 26 June 2013, Baena signed a two-year contract withRayo Vallecano.[9] In2014–15 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]
Baena joined Granada of theSegunda División in the summer of 2017, agreeing to a three-year deal.[11] During hisonly season at theNuevo Estadio de Los Cármenes, he acted asteam captain.[12][13]
In September 2018, Baena signed forMelbourne Victory FC on a one-year loan.[13][14][15] He scored his only goal in theA-League on 1 December in a 4–0 home defeat ofWestern Sydney Wanderers FC,[16] and left the following May.[17][18][19]
Baena joinedHong Kong Premier League clubKitchee on 10 December 2020, after one year withAtromitos F.C. in theSuper League Greece.[20] On 1 May 2022, in the lastgroup fixture of theAFC Champions League, he scored ininjury time of the 2–2 home draw withVissel Kobe, sending his team through to theknockout stage at the expense ofMelbourne City FC.[21]
In February 2023, aged 34, Baena returned to Spain after five years away, withCE Sabadell FC of thePrimera Federación.[22]
Baena won his onlycap for theSpain under-21 side on 28 March 2011 as a member of Espanyol, coming on as a 70th-minutesubstitute forAthletic Bilbao'sAnder Herrera in the 1–1friendly draw withBelarus held inAlcalá de Henares.[23][24]
| 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 | ||
