Introduction
Rubén Castro Martín ([ruˈβeŋ ˈkastɾo maɾˈtin]; born 27 June 1981) is a Spanish footballer who plays for UD Las Palmas mainly as a striker but also as a winger.
He represented mainly Las Palmas and Betis during his career, appearing in more than 280 matches in both La Liga and Segunda División. He also competed professionally in China.
Club career
Las Palmas / Deportivo
Born in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Castro was signed by Deportivo de La Coruña from local UD Las Palmas in 2004, in a deal which also saw Momo moving in the opposite direction. The deal was agreed in order to wipe out the debt that Las Palmas still had after signing Gabriel Schürrer from Deportivo for €3.6 million.
Castro scored his first goals for Las Palmas in La Liga in the 2001–02 season, when he came on as a substitute in the 64th minute of a home fixture against Real Madrid, with the score at 2–2: the match ended 4–2 for the hosts, courtesy of Rubén. In the 2003–04 campaign he was top scorer in the second division with his hometown club, netting 22 goals – with the team being nonetheless relegated – and being subsequently purchased by Depor.
At the beginning of 2006–07, Castro was on loan at Racing de Santander, but he left Cantabria due to lack of playing opportunities. During the January transfer window another loan happened, this time to Catalonia's Gimnàstic de Tarragona where he started very well with three goals in his first three matches, although the club would be eventually relegated and the player returned to Deportivo.
After appearing scarcely during the 2007–08 season, Castro was loaned again in July 2008, to newly promoted second division team SD Huesca. There, his goals proved crucial for the Aragonese as they retained their recently obtained second level status.
In late August 2009, Castro was again loaned by Deportivo and also in division two, now to Rayo Vallecano. For the second year in a row he repeated club position (11th) and goals scored (14), returning in June to the Galicians.
Betis
In August 2010, Castro was sold to Real Betis for a fee of €1.7 million. The attacking trio of himself, Jorge Molina and midfielder Achille Emaná combined for more than 50 league goals in 2010–11, as the Andalusians returned to the top division after two years of absence.
On 27 August 2011, Castro scored his first goal in the competition in nearly four years, in a local derby against Granada CF (1–0 away win, netting five minutes from time). He repeated exactly the same feat the following matchday, against RCD Mallorca.
On 10 December 2011, Castro put a stop to a streak of 11 games without one win for the Pepe Mel-led side with only one point managed, netting twice in stoppage time in a 2–1 home win against Valencia CF. He finished the campaign with 16 goals – third-best national scorer, eighth overall – as the Verdiblancos finally finished in 13th position.
From 2012 to 2015, Castro scored 67 goals all competitions comprised, including 32 in league in the latter season to help Betis return to the top flight, as champions. He celebrated his 200th appearance in the competition with a goal, helping to a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF.
In July 2017, aged 36, Castro moved abroad for the first time in his career, being loaned to Chinese Super League club Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng F.C. for five months. In his first match upon his return to the Estadio Benito Villamarín, on 15 January 2018, he replaced Sergio León late into the home fixture against CD Leganés and scored the 3–2 winner through a penalty.
Las Palmas return
On 13 July 2018, after cutting ties with Betis, 37-year-old Castro returned to his first club Las Palmas on a two-year contract..
Personal life
Castro's two older brothers – Rubén was the youngest of five siblings – Guillermo and Alejandro, were also footballers. At one point in their careers, they also represented hometown's Las Palmas.
In 2013, his fiancée pressed charges against him for domestic violence. He was released on bail and, two years later, Betis fans offered chants of support to the footballer.
Career statistics
Club
- As of 15 January 2018
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Las Palmas | 2000–01 | La Liga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 31 | 6 | ||||
| 2002–03 | Segunda División | 40 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 41 | 10 | |||
| 2003–04 | 40 | 22 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 22 | ||||
| Total | 112 | 36 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 115 | 38 | ||||
| Albacete | 2004–05 | La Liga | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||
| Deportivo | 2005–06 | La Liga | 24 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | — | 33 | 8 | |
| Racing Santander | 2006–07 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Gimnàstic | 2006–07 | La Liga | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 4 | ||
| Deportivo | 2007–08 | La Liga | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 1 | ||
| Huesca | 2008–09 | Segunda División | 41 | 14 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 42 | 15 | ||
| Rayo Vallecano | 2009–10 | Segunda División | 42 | 14 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 44 | 15 | ||
| Betis | 2010–11 | Segunda División | 42 | 27 | 7 | 5 | — | — | 49 | 32 | ||
| 2011–12 | La Liga | 34 | 16 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 16 | |||
| 2012–13 | 34 | 18 | 6 | 3 | — | — | 40 | 21 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | 34 | 13 | |||
| 2014–15 | Segunda División | 42 | 32 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 46 | 33 | |||
| 2015–16 | La Liga | 38 | 19 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 19 | |||
| 2016–17 | La Liga | 35 | 13 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 13 | |||
| 2017–18 | La Liga | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | |||
| Total | 251 | 136 | 24 | 10 | 6 | 2 | — | 281 | 148 | |||
| Guizhou Zhicheng | 2017 | Chinese Super League | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 7 | ||
| Career total | 532 | 218 | 33 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 579 | 239 | ||
Honours
Club
Betis
- Segunda División: 2010–11, 2014–15
Individual
- Pichichi Trophy (Segunda División): 2003–04, 2014–15
Records
- Betis All-time Goalscorer