Gonzalo Rodríguez (footballer, born 1984)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Gonzalo Rodríguez

| image = Gonzalo Javier Rodriguez 2.jpg

| image_size = 200

| caption = Rodríguez with Fiorentina in 2015

| fullname = Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez Prado

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|4|10|df=y}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/gonzalo-rodriguez_prs30897/person.shtml|title=Gonzalo Rodriguez|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=5 April 2020}}

| birth_place = Buenos Aires, Argentina

| height = 1.82 m

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2002–2004 | clubs1 = San Lorenzo | caps1 = 57 | goals1 = 4

| years2 = 2004–2012 | clubs2 = Villarreal | caps2 = 184 | goals2 = 6

| years3 = 2012–2017 | clubs3 = Fiorentina | caps3 = 159 | goals3 = 22

| years4 = 2017–2020 | clubs4 = San Lorenzo | caps4 = 33 | goals4 = 2

| totalcaps = 433 | totalgoals = 34

| nationalyears1 = 2003–2015 | nationalteam1 = Argentina | nationalcaps1 = 7 | nationalgoals1 = 1

| club-update =

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez Prado ({{IPA|es-419|ɡonˈsalo roˈðɾiɣes|lang}}; born 10 April 1984) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

After starting out at San Lorenzo, he spent most of his career with Villarreal, appearing in 253 competitive matches over the course of eight La Liga seasons (nine goals). He also played five years in the Italian Serie A with Fiorentina.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2020/06/25/primera/1593096904_274302.html|title=Gonzalo Rodríguez, uno de los históricos del {{sic|nolink=y|Villareal}}, se retira|trans-title=Gonzalo Rodríguez, one of Villarreal's legends, retires|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Javier|last=Mata|language=es|date=25 June 2020|access-date=21 February 2024}}

Club career

=San Lorenzo=

Born in Buenos Aires, Gonzalo started playing with San Lorenzo de Almagro. He made his Primera División debut on 26 July 2002 at the age of 18, against Rosario Central.{{cite news|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/274107-gonzalo-rodriguez-se-retira-en-medio-de-la-pandemia|title=Gonzalo Rodríguez se retira en medio de la pandemia|trans-title=Gonzalo Rodríguez retires amidst the pandemic|newspaper=Página 12|language=es|date=24 June 2020|access-date=21 February 2024}}

At age 20, Rodríguez had already represented Argentina, previously having appeared at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship with the under-20 team.

=Villarreal=

In July 2004, Rodríguez signed for Spain's Villarreal CF, being an undisputed starter in his first two seasons and renewing his contract for a further five years.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01b1-0ea83ad85958-f2f1c5a9b32f-1000--villarreal-refresh-rodriguez-contract/|title=Villarreal refresh Rodríguez contract|publisher=UEFA|date=27 January 2006|access-date=3 May 2010}} However, after the surprise elimination from the UEFA Intertoto Cup at the hands of NK Maribor, in which he was sent off,{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news/01b7-0e6d939094f9-1667ad81f5b9-1000--maribor-soar-as-villarreal-crash-out/|title=Maribor soar as Villarreal crash out|publisher=UEFA|first=Martin|last=Pavcnik|date=22 July 2006|access-date=21 February 2024}} and a month into the league campaign, he suffered a serious injury, tearing the cruciate ligament in his right knee; after returning to activity in April 2007, he suffered the same injury two months later.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01c2-0f84b2247629-8fe785cc7413-1000--grim-news-for-gonzalo-at-villarreal/|title=Grim news for Gonzalo at Villarreal|publisher=UEFA|date=14 June 2007|access-date=26 July 2018}}

Rodríguez returned to good form in 2008–09, often partnering Uruguayan Diego Godín{{cite news|url=http://www.elperiodicomediterraneo.com/noticias/deportes/pareja-moda_363715.html|title=La pareja de moda|trans-title=Hip duo|newspaper=El Periódico Mediterráneo|first=Rafael|last=Fabián|language=es|date=5 March 2008|access-date=10 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2008/09/19/mas_futbol/1221805625_850215.html|title=Old Trafford doctora a la pareja Gonzalo-Godín|trans-title=Gonzalo-Godín duo get PhD at Old Trafford|newspaper=Diario AS|first=A.|last=Andrés|language=es|date=19 September 2008|access-date=10 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2010/07/06/actualidad/1278400916_850215.html|title=Godín vuelve a tiempo|trans-title=Godín returns on time|newspaper=El País|first=Damián|last=Ruiz Fájula|language=es|date=6 July 2010|access-date=10 January 2018}} and totalling 48 La Liga games over two seasons, with his side always qualifying for the UEFA Europa League, finishing fifth and seventh respectively. On 7 April 2011, in the Europa League quarter-final tie against FC Twente, he broke his fibula following a tough challenge by Marc Janko, being rushed to hospital in an ambulance and lost for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/04/07/europa.league.roundup.ap/index.html|title=EL: Villarreal punishes FC Twente; Benfica beats PSV|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=7 April 2011|access-date=18 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104051602/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/04/07/europa.league.roundup.ap/index.html|archive-date=4 November 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/deportes/futbol-00162/noticia-defensa-villarreal-gonzalo-rodriguez-pierde-temporada-lesion-20110408124804.html|title=El defensa del Villarreal Gonzalo Rodríguez se pierde la temporada por lesión|trans-title=Villarreal defender Gonzalo Rodríguez misses season due to injury|publisher=Europa Press|language=es|date=8 April 2011|access-date=21 February 2024}}

=Fiorentina=

In early August 2012, following Villarreal's relegation, Gonzalo joined ACF Fiorentina alongside his teammate Borja Valero.{{cite web|url=http://en.violachannel.tv/breaking-news-detail/items/borja-valero-gonzalo-rodriguez-and-aquilani-to-fiorentina.html|title=Borja Valero, Gonzalo Rodriguez and Aquilani to Fiorentina|publisher=ACF Fiorentina|date=4 July 2012|access-date=4 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229110621/http://en.violachannel.tv/breaking-news-detail/items/borja-valero-gonzalo-rodriguez-and-aquilani-to-fiorentina.html|archive-date=29 December 2016}} He scored six Serie A goals from 35 appearances in his first year, helping to a final fourth place and the subsequent Europa League qualification.{{cite news|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/calcio/fantanews/07-11-2014/fantacalcio-14-15-gonzalo-rodriguez-crisi-peggiori-fiorentina-serie-a-90971587712.shtml|title=Fantacalcio 14–15: Gonzalo Rodriguez in crisi, è tra i peggiori della Fiorentina|trans-title=Fantacalcio 14–15: Gonzalo Rodriguez in crisis, among Fiorentina's worst|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport|first=Roberto|last=Pinna|language=it|date=7 November 2014|access-date=21 February 2024}}

In the 2015–16 season, Rodríguez was named new team captain by new manager Paulo Sousa.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2016/01/01/18892672/fiorentina-rodriguez-ci-crede-il-sogno-di-vincere-lo|title=Fiorentina, Rodriguez ci crede: "Il sogno di vincere lo Scudetto adesso è concreto"|trans-title=Fiorentina, Rodriguez a believer: "The dream of winning the Scudetto is now real|publisher=Goal|language=it|date=1 January 2016|access-date=25 January 2016}} He made his 200th competitive appearance for the Italian club on 9 April 2017, and marked the occasion with his 25th goal in a 2–2 away draw against UC Sampdoria.{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/100947/serie-week-31-did-you-know|title=Serie A Week 31: Did You Know?|publisher=Football Italia|first=Susan|last=Campanale|date=10 April 2017|access-date=20 April 2017}}

=Return to San Lorenzo=

Rodríguez returned to San Lorenzo in July 2017, on a free transfer.{{cite news|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/futbol/gonzalo-rodriguez-vuelve-a-san-lorenzo-fue-una-decision-del-corazon-nid2041405/|title=Gonzalo Rodríguez vuelve a San Lorenzo: "Fue una decisión del corazón"|trans-title=Gonzalo Rodríguez returns to San Lorenzo: "My decision was from the heart"|newspaper=La Nación|language=es|date=10 July 2017|access-date=27 September 2020}} On 23 June 2020, the 36-year-old announced his retirement.{{cite news|url=https://argentina.as.com/argentina/2020/06/23/futbol/1592932338_679248.html|title=Gonzalo Rodríguez se retira del fútbol profesional|trans-title=Gonzalo Rodríguez retires from professional football|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Fede|last=González|language=es|date=23 June 2020|access-date=29 July 2020}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/gonzalo-javier-rodriguez/3093/|title=G. Rodríguez|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=15 May 2016}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="2"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|International !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals
rowspan="2" valign="center"\|San Lorenzo \|2002–03 \|27	3	0	0	7	1	34	4
2003–04 \|30	1	0	0	5	1	35	2
colspan="2"\|Total !57	4	0	0	12	2	69	6
rowspan="8" valign="center"\|Villarreal \|2004–05 \|34	2	0	0	15	2	49	4
2005–06 \|29	0	1	0	11	0	41	0
2006–07 \|6	0	0	0	2	0	8	0
2007–08 \|18	0	0	0	2	0	20	0
2008–09 \|27	2	0	0	8	0	35	2
2009–10 \|21	0	2	0	7	0	30	0
2010–11 \|23	1	6	0	10	1	39	2
2011–12 \|26	1	0	0	5	0	31	1
colspan="2"\|Total !184	6	9	0	60	3	253	9
rowspan="5" valign="center"\|Fiorentina \|2012–13 \|35	6	0	0	0	0	35	6
2013–14 \|33	4	3	0	10	2	46	6
2014–15 \|30	7	5	0	10	1	45	8
2015–16 \|35	4	3	0	5	0	43	4
2016–17 \|26	1	1	0	7	0	34	1
colspan="2"\|Total !159	22	12	0	32	3	203	25
rowspan="3" valign="center"\|San Lorenzo \|2017–18 \|14	0	2	0	3	0	19	0
2018–19 \|10	1	6	0	4	1	20	2
2019–20 \|9	1	1	0	0	0	10	1
colspan="2"\|Total !33	2	9	0	7	1	49	3
colspan="2"\|Career Total !433	34	30	0	111	9	574	43

=International=

colspan=5 \| Argentina
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Year	Apps	Goals
2003	2	1
2004	1	0
2005	2	0
2008	1	0
2015	1	0
Total\|\|7\|\|1

:Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/other-sport/2003/02/06/rodriguezs-goal-enough-for-argentina-to-edge-mexico|title=Rodriguez's goal enough for Argentina to edge Mexico|newspaper=The Star|date=6 February 2003|access-date=5 April 2020}}

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
1.	3 February 2003	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States	{{fb\|MEX}}	align=center \| 1–0	align=center \| 1–0	Friendly

Honours

San Lorenzo

Copa Sudamericana: 2002

Villarreal

UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2004{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2004/08/23/champions/1093263539.html|title=El Villarreal vuelve a la UEFA tras ganar la Intertoto|trans-title=Villarreal return to UEFA after winning the Intertoto|newspaper=El Mundo|language=es|date=23 August 2004|access-date=21 February 2024}}

Individual

Fiorentina All-time XI{{cite web|url=http://www.fiorentina.it/it/news/articolo.37.51489/festa-al-franchi-presenti-e-assenti-no-eccellenti-da-rui-costa-baggio-e-batistuta.html|title=Festa al Franchi, presenti e assenti. No eccellenti da Rui Costa, Baggio e Batistuta|trans-title=Party at the Franchi, present and absentees. Excellent players, from Rui Costa, to Baggio and Batistuta, decline|publisher=Fiorentina.it|first=Matteo|last=Magrini|language=it|date=23 August 2016|access-date=24 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824134506/http://www.fiorentina.it/it/news/articolo.37.51489/festa-al-franchi-presenti-e-assenti-no-eccellenti-da-rui-costa-baggio-e-batistuta.html|archive-date=24 August 2016}}