30.11.2009 17:26
Márquez loyal to Barça
Edgar Fornós
Rafa Márquez, who has just extended his contract with FC Barcelona until 2012, is now into his seventh season with the Club, making him currently the longest serving foreign star.
Márquez signed for FC Barcelona from Monaco in the summer of 2003 at the age of 24. Born in Zamora
(Mexico) he was one of the first signings of new manager Frank Rijkaard and the recently elected
Board. He’s now into his seventh season making him the longest serving foreign player. Just
like the home-grown players he’s loyal to Barça.
A midnight debut
Bizarrely enough, Márquez made his Barça debut against Sevilla at midnight on 2nd September
2003 in the Camp Nou. The match became known as the “gazpacho match” as the Club
decided to offer this typical Andalusian soup to the fans that turned up to support the team.
12 goals
Although
his priority is defence, Rafa Márquez has scored 12 goals for Barça. His first came in his debut
season (2003-04) on the eleventh matchday against Betis, a match which Barça won 2-1. Since then he
has added 7 more in the league, 2 in the Cup and one in the Champions League and in the World Club
Cup.
A host of honours
Few footballers around the world can boost a medal drawer has full as Márquez. As a Barça
player he has won 4 leagues, 2 Champions Leagues, one Spanish Cup, 3 Spanish Super Cups, one
European Super Cup as well as a League Cup with Monaco and the Confederations Cup with Mexico.
A defender with ball skills
When he’s managed to avoid injury, Márquez has held down a regular first team place
under both Frank Rijkaard and Josep Guardiola. His ability to play the ball out from defence has
been much appreciated and he has demonstrated on numerous occasions that he functions perfectly as
a central defensive midfielder.