 Rodríguez in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ricardo Rodríguez Suárez | ||
| Date of birth | (1974-04-03)3 April 1974 (age 51) | ||
| Place of birth | Oviedo, Spain | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Kashiwa Reysol (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| Oviedo | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2006–2007 | Girona (youth) | ||
| 2007 | Girona | ||
| 2007–2008 | Málaga (assistant) | ||
| 2011–2012 | Saudi Arabia (assistant) | ||
| 2013 | Saudi Arabia U17 | ||
| 2013 | Girona | ||
| 2014 | Ratchaburi Mitr Phol | ||
| 2014–2015 | Bangkok Glass | ||
| 2016 | Suphanburi | ||
| 2016–2020 | Tokushima Vortis | ||
| 2021–2022 | Urawa Red Diamonds | ||
| 2024 | Wuhan Three Towns | ||
| 2024– | Kashiwa Reysol | ||
Ricardo Rodríguez Suárez (Spanish pronunciation:[riˈkaɾðoroˈðɾiɣeθ]; born 3 April 1974), is a Spanishfootball coach who is the manager ofJ1 League clubKashiwa Reysol. He was declared the best coach of the J1 League in the2021 season, in which he won theEmperor's Cup withUrawa Red Diamonds. Also, he won theJapanese Super Cup in 2022.
Born inOviedo, Asturias, Rodríguez was aReal Oviedo youth graduate, but a serious knee injury forced him to leave his footballing career.[1] He has a bachelor's degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences from theUniversity of A Coruña (1994–1998), and between 2000 and 2002 he obtained a PhD in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at theUniversity of Oviedo while studying a master's degree in Sports High Performance provided by theSpanish Olympic Committee at the same time.[1]
From 2003 until 2006, Rodríguez completed the necessary studies to obtain the coaching badge fromUEFA Pro License, provided by theSpanish Football Federation.
Rodríguez started his career in 1998 at his former club Oviedo, being namedthe reserves' coach. In 2001, he was promoted to the main squad inSegunda División.[2]
In 2003 Rodríguez worked as a director and manager ofReal Madrid's youth school inMéxico City, along with Alberto Gil andXabier Azkargorta.[3] He remained in charge for three years.
In 2006, Rodríguez returned to his home country, being appointed manager ofGirona FC'sJuvenil squad. On 6 February of the following year, he was named manager of theCatalans' first team inTercera División (along with sporting directorJavi Salamero),[4] replacing firedJoan Carrillo, until the end ofthe campaign.[5] He achieved promotion inthe play-offs, after defeatingPaco Jémez'sRSD Alcalá.
On 25 June 2007 Rodríguez was named at the helm ofMálaga CF'sB-team,[6] but was shortly after appointed asJuan Muñiz's assistant at the main squad[7] and being promoted toLa Liga at the end ofthe season. In July 2008 he was appointed asdirector of football.[8]
On 4 March 2010 Rodríguez left theAndalusians, with the club already promoted.[9]
In August 2011 he signed a three-year deal with theSaudi Arabia Football Federation, initially as a consultant.[10]
Rodríguez acted along withJuan Ramón López Caro andFrank Rijkaard,[11] being added in the latter's squad in August 2012. In January 2013, after Rijkaard's dismissal, López Caro was appointed manager ofthe full squad and Rodríguez took charge ofthe under-17s.
On 4 July 2013, Rodríguez returned to Girona, with his side now inSegunda División.[1] He was relieved from his duties on 19 December, after a poor display in his last outings.[12]
On 19 January 2014, Rodríguez was named at the helm ofThai Premier League'sRatchaburi F.C.[13] Rodríguez finished his first season in Thailand with Ratchaburi by the fourth place in the final standing, highest position in the club history. In November, afterthe season's end, he left the club[14] and signed for fellow league teamBangkok Glass F.C. shortly after.[15] Rodríguez was sacked near the end of the 2015 season after 30 games of domestic league. In March 2016 he was appointed as manager ofSuphanburi.[16]
On 28 June 2016, Ricardo Rodriguez has resigned from his position at Suphanburi after 3 months in charge.[17]
In November 2016, Rodríguez signed with Japan'sJ2 League sideTokushima Vortis from 2017 season.[18] Rodríguez is the first Spanish coach to win a trophy in Japan.[19]
After successfully having guided Vortis to the first-ever J2 title, it was announced he will joinUrawa Red Diamonds for the2021 season.[20] At the end of his first season he was considered the most valued coach in the JLeague "for the impact on the club and the game changer of Urawa Reds" by recovering the competitive spirit of the team. At the end of the season, he was declared the best coach of the J1 League, and also he won theEmperor's Cup.[21] Weeks later, Ricardo Rodríguez further strengthened his project at the helm of Urawa Red Diamonds by winning theJapanese Super Cup against the JLeague champions, Kawasaki Frontale, and became the first Spanish coach to win the Emperor's Cup and the Japanese Super Cup.[22] At the end of the season 2022, Ricardo Rodríguez decided to call time on his successful tenure at Urawa Red Diamonds to embark on new professional challenges after leading the team to the AFC Champions League final and glory in the Emperor's Cup and the Japanese Super Cup.
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Girona |  | 6 February 2007 | 28 June 2007 | 19 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 11 | +25 | 078.95 | [23] |
| Girona | | 4 July 2013 | 19 December 2013 | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 26 | 31 | −5 | 027.27 | [24] |
| Ratchaburi Mitr Phol |  | 19 January 2014 | 2 November 2014 | 47 | 22 | 14 | 11 | 77 | 55 | +22 | 046.81 | [25] |
| Bangkok Glass | | 13 November 2014 | 24 November 2015 | 38 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 58 | 43 | +15 | 050.00 | [26] |
| Suphanburi | | 22 March 2016 | 28 June 2016 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 18 | +4 | 035.29 | [27] |
| Tokushima Vortis |  | 29 November 2016 | 28 December 2020 | 178 | 83 | 43 | 52 | 261 | 177 | +84 | 046.63 | [28] |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | | 28 December 2020 | 30 October 2022 | 106 | 47 | 34 | 25 | 160 | 104 | +56 | 044.34 | [29] |
| Wuhan Three Towns |  | 5 January 2024 | 10 December 2024 | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 33 | 47 | −14 | 026.67 | [30] |
| Kashiwa Reysol | | 11 December 2024 | Present | 47 | 27 | 12 | 8 | 78 | 46 | +32 | 057.45 | [31] |
| Total | 504 | 233 | 133 | 138 | 751 | 532 | +219 | 046.23 | — | |||
Tokushima Vortis
Urawa Red Diamonds
Individual
