Rafael Márquez Álvarez (Spanish:[rafaˈelˈmaɾkes]ⓘ; born 13 February 1979) is a Mexicanfootballcoach and former player who played as adefender. He is currently the assistant coach of theMexico national team. NicknamedEl Káiser,[2] he is regarded as the best defender in Mexico's history and one of the best Mexican players of all time.[3][4][5]
Márquez began his career withAtlas in 1996, playing in over 70 games with the club before moving to France in 1999 withMonaco, where he won aLigue 1 title. In 2003, Márquez joinedBarcelona, becoming the first ever Mexican to represent the club. He would go on to play in over 240 games during seven seasons with theBlaugrana and win numerous honors, including fourLa Liga titles and twoUEFA Champions League titles. In 2006, he became the first Mexican player to win the Champions League when Barcelona defeatedArsenal in thefinal. In 2010, Márquez joinedMajor League Soccer clubNew York Red Bulls. After being released from the club in 2012, he returned to his native Mexico, this time to play forLeón,[6] captaining the team to back-to-backLiga MX titles in 2013 and 2014. Márquez then transferred toHellas Verona of the ItalianSerie A.[7] He returned to his boyhood club Atlas in 2015, and announced his retirement from football in April 2018.
Márquez began his career withAtlas, making his debut in October 1996 at only 17 years of age. Márquez rose to prominence while with Atlas, making 77 appearances for the team and being runner-up in the league, losing the final againstToluca on penalties during theVerano 1999 tournament.[10]
Monaco
After playing the1999 Copa América with Mexico, Márquez joined French clubMonaco for a reported US$6 million.[11] He made his debut on 14 August againstBastia. In his firstseason, Monaco won theLigue 1 (then known as the French Division 1) title, with Márquez being named in the league's Team of the Season. He went on to play in 109 matches with Monaco over four seasons, winning theCoupe de la Ligue as well.[12]
Barcelona
Márquez in 2008
In the summer of 2003, Márquez signed for Spanish clubBarcelona.[13] He made his debut inLa Liga on 3 September 2003 againstSevilla, the match ending in a 1–1 draw. On 9 November, he scored his first goal for Barcelona in their 2–1 victory overReal Betis.[14] In his firstseason with Barcelona, Márquez made 22 league appearances (31 across all competitions) as the team finished second in the league, five points behindValencia.
During his second season, he was moved from his natural position as a centre-back to a defensive midfield role, due to injuries to playersThiago Motta,Edmílson andGerard.That year, Barcelona won its 17th league title on 14 May 2005 after a 1–1 tie withLevante. A month after an injury to his left knee, Márquez returned to play againstA.C. Milan in the first leg of the2006 UEFA Champions League semi-final. Barcelona, playing away at theSan Siro, won 1–0. On 17 May, Barcelona won theUEFA Champions League after defeatingArsenal 2–1 in thefinal, with Márquez playing the entire match. He became the first Mexican to play in a Champions League final and the first to win it.[3] Following his participation with Mexico at the2006 World Cup, Márquez signed a four-year contract extension with Barcelona, with the buy-out clause set at €100 million.[15]
During the2007–08 season, Márquez formed a partnership with new signingGabriel Milito while captainCarles Puyol was out injured. Constant injuries, however, threw off his form. Márquez's success declined with the rest of the season, leading Barcelona to end up in third place inLa Liga after a miserable second half where injuries lead to his contribution being negligible. Even so, new coachPep Guardiola continued to rely on his contributions; with the departure ofRonaldinho, Márquez had become the last original signing of theFrank Rijkaard era to remain on the team. In October 2007, Márquez was included in the list of players nominated for theFIFA World Player of the Year award, the only player from theCONCACAF to be nominated.[16]
Márquez with Barcelona in August 2009
Márquez was Guardiola's first-choice at centre-back along with captain Puyol for the2008–09 season. On 13 December 2008, Márquez played his 200th match for Barcelona in their 2–0 win againstReal Madrid.[17] On 28 April 2009, during Barcelona's2008–09 Champions League semi-final match againstChelsea, Márquez sustained a knee injury which required surgery, meaning he would miss the remainder of the season.[18] Barcelona would go on to complete a historictreble after winning the Champions Leaguefinal 2–0 againstManchester United.
Prior to the2009–10 season, Márquez received an offer from ItalianSerie A clubFiorentina.[19] Márquez, however, said he wanted to end his career at Barcelona.[20] Márquez eventually signed a new contract with Barça in November 2009 that would keep him at the club until 2012.[21] On 20 February 2010, he scored his first goal since his return againstRacing Santander.
On 31 July 2010, Márquez was released from his contract by Barcelona.[22] During his time with the club, he played in 242 matches and scored 13 goals, making him the most-capped non-European player in the club's history and the eighth-most capped foreigner.[23] In his 12-year European career, Márquez appeared in 46 UEFA Champions League matches, which was the most by a Mexican orCONCACAF player,[24] until compatriotJavier Hernández surpassed that record in 2017.[25] At the time, Márquez was also one of two players from CONCACAF to play in a Champions League final, the other being Trinidad and Tobago'sDwight Yorke for Manchester United in1999.[24]
New York Red Bulls
Márquez during his time with the New York Red Bulls
After seven years with and being released by Barcelona and participating at the2010 FIFA World Cup, it was reported that Italian clubJuventus were interested in signing Márquez as a back-up for defenderLeonardo Bonucci.[26]
On 1 August 2010, it was announced that Márquez had signed with theNew York Red Bulls ofMajor League Soccer on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[27] He was the club's thirdDesignated Player and was unveiled to the media atRed Bull Arena on 3 August wearing the number 4 jersey and reuniting with former Barcelona teammateThierry Henry. On 8 August, Márquez made his MLS debut against theChicago Fire in a scoreless draw. On 21 August, Márquez scored his first goal, an astonishing shot with his right foot, for the Red Bulls in a 4–1 win atToronto FC. On 21 October, Márquez started for the Red Bulls in a 2–0 victory overNew England Revolution which clinched the regular seasonEastern Conference title.[28]
New York released Márquez on 13 December 2012.[29] His stint in New York was heavily criticized by many fans and journalists for his constant injuries, suspensions and perceived lack of commitment to the fans and club.[5][30][31] Márquez later revealed in an interview withESPN Deportes that going to play in the United States was "a bad decision" and called it the worst decision he ever made in his career. He said that he had misjudged the arc of his career, believing it was declining faster than it was, and that he regretted declining offers from various European clubs, including one from Italian sideJuventus.[5][32]
León
Hours after being released by the New York Red Bulls, it was announced that Márquez signed withLiga MX sideLeón, returning to his home country after 13 years abroad.[33] It would not be until 5 October 2013 that Márquez scored his first goal for León in theLiga MX againstPuebla, scoring a penalty kick in the 17th minute.
On 15 December, León captured theApertura 2013 title after defeatingAmérica 5–1 on aggregate.[34] Márquez, the club captain, played in both legs as he lifted his first league title in Mexico, more than 14 years after losing the final against Toluca when he played in Atlas.[35] The following tournament, Márquez helped León capture their second straight league title, becoming only the second team in history to win consecutive league titles in the short tournament era, the first beingUNAM, who won the Clausura 2004 and Apertura 2004.[36] He also became the firstMexican footballer to win league titles in three countries.[3]
Hellas Verona
On 7 August 2014,Hellas Verona of Serie A signed Márquez on undisclosed terms.[37] He stated that he had taken a pay cut to join the club as he was desperate to return to Europe.[38] Márquez made his league debut on 31 August, starting as Verona played out a goalless draw at home againstAtalanta.[39]
Return to Atlas
On 21 December 2015, it was announced that Márquez had officially transferred toAtlas, returning to the club he debuted with.[40] He was handed the number 4 shirt.
On 19 April 2018, Márquez announced that he would retire at the end of theseason. He did, however, state his intention of representing Mexico at theWorld Cup.[41] Márquez played his final match at theEstadio Jalisco on 20 April, a 1–0 victory in theClásico Tapatío againstGuadalajara. The following week, Márquez played his final club match againstPachuca at theEstadio Hidalgo, which ended in a 0–0 draw.[42]
Márquez made his debut withMexico on 5 February 1997 in a friendly match againstEcuador. It was reported that his call-up was due to an error made by national team coachBora Milutinović, who wanted to call up fellow Atlas player César Márquez.[43] Márquez became a regular call-up for Mexico, although he was not chosen for the1998 FIFA World Cup squad. Márquez played various tournaments with the national team, winning the1999 FIFA Confederations Cup and losing to Canada at the2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Márquez started all four of Mexico's games during the2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, where he was given thecaptain's armband by then coachJavier Aguirre despite his young age of 23. He received a red card during Mexico's second round 2–0 loss to theUnited States for a deliberate mid-air head butt onCobi Jones in the final minutes of the match.
Márquez was selected byRicardo La Volpe for the2006 World Cup in Germany. Márquez played in all of three of Mexico's opening round matches, and scored the lone Mexican goal in a 2–1 loss toArgentina in the second round off aPável Pardo free kick which was headed to the far post byMario Méndez, allowing an unmarked Márquez to strike the ball into the back of the net. The winner was scored byMaxi Rodríguez in extra time afterHernán Crespo had equalised for Argentina.[44]
New Mexico coachHugo Sánchez called-up Márquez to participate in the2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the2007 Copa América. Márquez joined up with the team Mexico for the Gold Cup's championship game against the United States after the conclusion of2006–07 La Liga; he started the match, which Mexico lost 2–1.[45]
Márquez captained Mexico at the2010 World Cup, scoring Mexico's goal in the tournament's opening match againstSouth Africa which ended in a 1–1 draw.[46] In Mexico's 2–0 win againstFrance, Márquez assistedJavier Hernández in Mexico's first goal.[47]
On 29 March 2011, Márquez became the eighth player in history to reach100 caps for Mexico in a friendly match againstVenezuela, where Mexico drew 1–1.[48]
During Mexico's opening match at the2014 World Cup – a 1–0 win overCameroon – Márquez became the first player to captain a team in fourWorld Cups.[5] On 23 June, he scored the opening goal in the 3–1 win againstCroatia, thus advancing to the knockout stage.[49] This goal made Márquez the first Mexican player to score in three consecutive World Cups, and the second Mexican player ever to score in three World Cups afterCuauhtémoc Blanco.[50]
In May 2015, it was announced Márquez was included in the 23-man squad that would participate in theCopa América tournament in Chile.[51] He was selected to start as captain in Mexico's opening fixture of the tournament, a 0–0 draw withBolivia inViña del Mar.[52] The following year, Márquez captained Mexico at theCopa América Centenario, scoring in their opening game a 3–1 victory overUruguay.[53]
On 11 November 2016, in a2018 World Cup qualifier inColumbus, Ohio, Márquez scored the winning goal for Mexico in the 89th minute to seal a 2–1 victory over the United States.
Appearing in Mexico's secondgroup-stage match against New Zealand at the2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, Márquez – at 38 years and four months – became the second-oldest player to appear in a match in Confederations Cup history. He was also making his first appearance at the tournament since 2005, setting new record for most years between consecutive matches with twelve.[54]
On 4 June 2018, Marquez was named in Mexico's final 23-man squad for theWorld Cup.[55] This meant he would travel to his fifth World Cup finals, becoming only the fourth player in history to do so, alongside GermanLothar Matthäus, ItalianGianluigi Buffon and fellow MexicanAntonio Carbajal.[56] He was substituted in forAndrés Guardado at the 74th minute in Mexico's 1–0 win over defending-championsGermany, and became the third man in history to play at a fifth World Cup.[57] On 2 July, in Mexico's round of 16 match againstBrazil, Márquez became the first player ever to play as a captain in five World Cups and was substituted off at half-time, marking his last appearance as a professional.[58]
Coaching career
Following his retirement, he was introduced as Atlas' new sporting president, succeedingFabricio Bassa.[59][60] He held the position until May 2019.[61] In October 2021, Márquez joined theTUDN network as an analyst and commentator for national team games.[62]
Alcalá
On 8 April 2020, Márquez was appointed as a youth coach atAlcalá, taking care of the Cadete A (under 15) squad for the 2020–21 season.[63][64]
Barcelona Atlètic
On 14 July 2022, Márquez was appointed head coach ofBarcelona Atlètic, signing a two-year contract.[65] In his firstseason in charge, he led Barça Atlètic to a fourth place finish, qualifying for the promotional playoffs before being eliminated byReal Madrid Castilla 5–4 on aggregate. On 14 June 2023, it was announced that Márquez would continue with the team, signing an extension.[66] On 21 July 2024,Barcelona Atlètic announced Rafael's departure of the club.
Capable of playing as a centre-back, sweeper, or defensive midfielder,[22] Márquez is widely considered to be one of Mexico's greatest-ever players.[3][4][5] He has been described as elegant on the ball and in his tackling, possessing excellent technical ability and vision, tactical awareness, dependable in the air for both defending and attacking, and being skillful coming out of defense. Affectionately nicknamed the "Kaiser of Michoacan", he also stood out for his leadership ability.[70][71][72][73][74][75] In 2024,La Liga included Márquez in its Barcelona best eleven of the 21st century.[70]
According to the OFAC, Márquez conducted money laundering by acting as a strawperson for Flores Hernández and his criminal organization. They alleged that Márquez used businessmen Mauricio Heredia Horner and Marco Antonio Fregoso González to act for or on his behalf. Márquez's assets "that are under U.S. jurisdiction or are in the control of U.S. persons" would be frozen.[83][84] The MexicanAttorney General's Office said in a statement that Márquez came voluntarily to their offices to provide a statement that same day.[85] Since 22 September 2021 he has been removed from the list and is now clear of his name from the U.S. Treasury Department.[86]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
^"Meet the Confed Cup captains".FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 17 June 2017. Archived fromthe original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved18 June 2017.When you think aboutEl Tri's captain, you don't have to look further than No4 [Rafael Márquez]. The only player in history to have captained his side in four consecutive FIFA World Cups™, 'El Káiser' will be wearing the armband once again in Russia.
^Crawford, Stephen (28 April 2009)."Barcelona Defender Rafael Marquez Out for the Season". Goal.com. Retrieved27 July 2009.Barcelona centre-back Rafael Marquez has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in Tuesday night's Champions League clash with Chelsea.
^"Bueno, bonito y barato" [Good, pretty and cheap] (in Spanish).Fox Sports en Español. 14 June 2009. Archived fromthe original on 20 July 2009. Retrieved27 July 2009.Florentina ha mostrado su interés formal en el mexicano Rafael Márquez..." ["Florentina have formally demonstrated their interest in the Mexican Rafael Márquez...]
^"Marquez nears return".The World Game. SBS. 30 April 2014. Retrieved21 April 2020.It would be my wish to retire at Barca. I'm very calm with regards the contract renewal. I know that we will arrive at an agreement, so it's only a question of time.
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