 Vicente as aValencia player in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vicente Rodríguez Guillén[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1981-07-16)16 July 1981 (age 43)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Valencia, Spain[1] | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Benicalap | |||
| Levante | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–2000 | Levante | 60 | (9) |
| 2000–2011 | Valencia | 243 | (36) |
| 2011–2013 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 29 | (5) |
| Total | 332 | (50) | |
| International career | |||
| 1997–1998 | Spain U16 | 11 | (1) |
| 1998–1999 | Spain U17 | 15 | (6) |
| 1999–2000 | Spain U18 | 7 | (1) |
| 2000–2001 | Spain U21 | 11 | (1) |
| 2001–2005 | Spain | 38 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Vicente Rodríguez Guillén (Spanish pronunciation:[biˈθenteroˈðɾiɣeθɣiˈʎen]; born 16 July 1981), known simply asVicente, nicknamedEl puñal de Benicalap (Thedagger of Benicalap),[2] is a Spanish former professionalfootballer.
Aleft winger with outstanding technique, pace and scoring ability, his professional career, blighted by constant injuries,[3][4][5][6][7][8] was mainly associated withValencia with whom he appeared in 340 competitive matches over 11 seasons, winning five major titles including twoLa Liga championships.
Vicente representedSpain in the first half of the 2000s, and played atEuro 2004.
AValencia CF supporter since childhood,Valencia-born Vicente started his professional career inthe community withSegunda División sideLevante UD, making his professional debut on 23 November 1997 againstCD Leganés aged only 16.[9]
He immediately attracted attention of leading teams likeArsenal,Valencia CF andReal Madrid[9] but, eventually, Valencia (and its sporting directorJavier Subirats) convinced the youngster to sign for the club.[10]
Vicente joined Valencia in the summer of 2000. Initially, his favoured position of left winger was occupied by ArgentineKily González[11] but, despite serious contention for a first-team place, he still managed to net five goals in 33La Liga matches, adding 13 appearances inthat season'sUEFA Champions League although he was left onthe bench forthe final againstFC Bayern Munich.[12]
The arrival ofRafael Benítez as coach in2001–02 would mark Vicente's opportunity to prove himself, and he did not disappoint as his progress led to the club's first league title in over 30 years. While appearing in fewer games (31) he was already first-choice, and produced similar numbersthe following campaign, netting his only goal in a 3–0 home win overRecreativo de Huelva.[13]
2003–04 was Vicente's finest season as his energetic efforts propelled theChe to their second league title under Benítez,[14] adding two goals in seven matches in the team'svictorious run in theUEFA Cup, including one inthe final where he alsoassistedMista in the second (the pair combined for 30 league goals, 12 from Vicente, a career-best,[11] withFrancisco Rufete pitching in from the right flank).[15]
After a productive year, Vicente was linked with a host of important teams, but turned down any eventual move and agreed to a further four-year extension, stating: "I'm happy to remain at Valencia because I was born here and it's my home."[16] In the2004–05 season, however, under the management ofClaudio Ranieri, his forays down the wing appeared stagnated as the coach opted to favour fellow ItalianEmiliano Moretti to provide support for him rather than to let him have a free role along the left; furthermore, ankle injuries hindered his campaign.[17] As he returned, the manager had already been sacked, Valencia ranked seventh and he only made 12 league appearances.[18][5] Inthe following year more of the same, as the side finished 11 points behind eventual championsFC Barcelona and he was again bothered by an ankle condition.[19]
"It is clear that he is one of the best players. Some footballers are a little more than others and Vicente is one of them".
Vicente was again often injured in2006–07, most notably in the first leg of aChampions League quarter-final clash withChelsea which ended his campaign.[20][21] The English won that tie 3–2 on aggregate while the player only took part in 16 league matches, with his team ending fourth.
Vicente made an impressive comeback, opening the 3–0 victory againstIF Elfsborg in theChampions League third qualifying round at theMestalla Stadium.[22] However, another injury occurred shortly after, this time during training, and he would end up spending another large spell in the sidelines.
Disappointed, the player publicly blamed the medical staff for his continuing injuries:
"My morale is very low. I've lost all confidence in the medical staff, that's it. I've been defending them for the last two years, but I don't see any of this situation improving, when I'm still not recovered from one injury I get worse, or suffer from another one. They give me an injection and then I can't move myself for a week because of the pain".[23]
"On top of this, then they tell me maybe my injury doesn't exist, and it is psychological. It's very hard, I can't stand it any longer. I've lost all confidence in the doctor, but I don't want to be bad to anyone, but the person who loses the most is me, because I can neither play football nor help my teammates. I only ask to play twenty minutes in one go.
"That is the worst part about it all, to know that when I have the opportunity to play with good health, things turn out well for me, and I play well, I can help the team," he concluded.
Valencia responded that they would open disciplinary proceedings against Vicente after these statements, citing: 'The club will take the necessary action against the player depending on whether his conduct is considered a 'serious' or 'very serious' offence under internal regulations'.[24] The "injury saga" came to an end when the player was fined€1,200 following controversial remarks made regarding the club's medical staff.
In2008–09, although playing fewer minutes, Vicente was able to contribute more regularly, while competing for first-choice status with youngJuan Mata. He came from the bench in the season opener, a 3–0 home defeat ofRCD Mallorca,[25] and, majorly used as a substitute (usually for Mata) during the season, still contributed six league goals.[26]
Vicente's fitness problems persisted inthe following campaign, as he only made his first appearance on 6 January 2010, replacing Mata for the final 15 minutes of the 1–2 home loss againstDeportivo de La Coruña in the first leg of theCopa del Rey'sround-of-16.[27] Aged 29, he was released after a link that lasted 11 years.[11]
On 2 September 2011, Vicente signed a one-year deal withFootball League Championship sideBrighton & Hove Albion.[28] He made his official debut on the 21st, in a 1–2 home loss againstLiverpool forthe season'sFootball League Cup, winning apenalty which resulted in theAshley Barnes goal.[29]
Vicente scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 away defeat toIpswich Town on 1 October 2011.[30] However, he was afflicted by injury soon after, and was out for over three months; he returned on 4 February 2012 to provide the assist forWill Buckley in the 1–0 victory overLeicester City.[31] The following weekend, also from the bench, he set up two goals in a 2–1 win againstLeeds United atElland Road.[32]
On 10 March 2012, Brighton beatPortsmouth 2–0 at home, with Vicente scoring a brace – including one from a lowfree kick – lifting his team into the play-off places and stretching their unbeaten run to 12 games.[33] In May 2013, after only 13 appearances duringthe season, he was released alongsideGary Dicker andMarcos Painter;[34] following his departure he described his former boss,Gus Poyet, as "the worst person I've come across in football", "selfish" and "egocentric".[35]
On 17 April 2014, Vicente announced his retirement from football.[36] He returned to work with Valencia as a member of the technical staff from 2016 to 2018, before coming back once again to take on ambassadorial duties with the club in January 2023.[37][38]
Vicente made his debut forSpain in afriendly againstFrance on 28 March 2001, replacingPedro Munitis in the 72nd minute of a 2–1 win at the Mestalla.[39] He was overlooked for the2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
Vicente appeared in his first major tournament at theUEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal,[40] playing three complete group-stage matches.[41][42] Constant injuries would mean he would also fail to make the final cut for the2006 World Cup,Euro 2008 and the2010 World Cup.
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Levante | 1997–98 | Segunda División | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | |
| 1998–99 | Segunda División B | 21 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 24 | 2 | ||
| 1999–00 | Segunda División | 36 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 36 | 7 | ||
| Total | 60 | 9 | 4 | 0 | — | 64 | 9 | |||
| Valencia | 2000–01 | La Liga | 33 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 48 | 6 |
| 2001–02 | La Liga | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 39 | 3 | |
| 2002–03 | La Liga | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 39 | 1 | |
| 2003–04 | La Liga | 33 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 42 | 14 | |
| 2004–05 | La Liga | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 5 | |
| 2005–06 | La Liga | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 3 | |
| 2006–07 | La Liga | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 4 | |
| 2007–08 | La Liga | 17 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 2 | |
| 2008–09 | La Liga | 27 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 10 | |
| 2009–10 | La Liga | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | La Liga | 14 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 3 | |
| Total | 243 | 36 | 30 | 10 | 67 | 6 | 340 | 52 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2011–12 | Championship | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
| 2012–13 | Championship | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | |
| Total | 29 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 5 | ||
| Career total | 332 | 50 | 37 | 10 | 67 | 6 | 436 | 66 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2001 | 3 | 0 |
| 2002 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 9 | 1 | |
| Total | 38 | 3 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 November 2003 | Ullevaal,Oslo, Norway |  Norway | 2–0 | 3–0 | Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 2 | 8 September 2004 | Bilino Polje,Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2006 World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 17 August 2005 | El Molinón,Gijón, Spain |  Uruguay | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
Valencia
Individual
