Monchi

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Monchi

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| full_name = Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|9|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = San Fernando, Spain

| height = 1.83 m

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Sevilla

| years1 = 1988–1990 | clubs1 = Sevilla B | caps1 = 41 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1990–1999 | clubs2 = Sevilla | caps2 = 85 | goals2 = 0

| totalcaps = 126 | totalgoals = 0

| nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 =

| manageryears1 = | managerclubs1 =

}}

Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo (born 20 September 1968), commonly known as Monchi, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper, currently president of football operations at Premier League club Aston Villa.

He played solely for Sevilla in a nine-year professional career. Later, he worked as director of football at that club (two spells), Roma and Aston Villa.

Playing career

Born in San Fernando, Cádiz, Andalusia, Monchi graduated from Sevilla's youth system. He made his senior debut with the reserves in the 1988–89 season, in Segunda División B.

In the summer of 1990, Monchi was promoted to the main squad in La Liga. He first appeared in the competition on 13 January 1991, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Real Sociedad.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1991/01/14/pagina-22/1226803/pdf.html#&mode=fullScreen|title=La Real no pasó del empate|trans-title=Real could get nothing more than a draw|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|last=Sáez|first=Félix|language=es|date=14 January 1991|access-date=2 January 2015}}

Monchi spent the vast majority of his career as a backup to Juan Carlos Unzué, only featuring more regularly from 1995 onwards.{{cite news|url=https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noticias/deportes/futbol/2021/06/14/unzue-recuerda-etapa-sevillista-una-visita-sanchez-pizjuan-730234-1022.html|title=Unzué recuerda su etapa sevillista en una visita al Sánchez Pizjuán|trans-title=Unzué remembers Sevilla spell in visit to the Sánchez Pizjuán|newspaper=Diario de Navarra|language=es|date=14 June 2021|access-date=27 December 2021}} He played a career-best 26 matches in 1996–97, as the campaign ended in relegation.{{cite web|url=https://eldesmarque.com/sevilla/sevilla-futbol-club/1208295-julian-rubio-descenso-1997-sevilla|title=Julián Rubio y el Betis-Sporting que dio la puntilla al Sevilla hace 23 años|trans-title=Julián Rubio and the Betis-Sporting that finished burying Sevilla 23 years ago|publisher=El Desmarque|language=es|date=31 May 2020|access-date=27 December 2021}}

Monchi retired in 1999 aged only 30, after contributing 20 games – playoffs included – to his team's promotion.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/manchester-city-vs-sevilla-who-needs-moneyball-if-you-have-monchi-a6701616.html|title=Who needs Moneyball if you have Monchi?|newspaper=The Independent|last=Jensen|first=Pete|date=20 October 2015|access-date=2 June 2016}}

Sporting director

In 2000, after Sevilla were relegated from the top division, Monchi was appointed their director of football.{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/94729-the-mastery-of-monchi-the-power-behind-sevillas-throne|title=The mastery of "Monchi": The power behind Sevilla's throne|publisher=Bleacher Report|last=Stamp|first=Alex|date=19 December 2008|access-date=2 January 2015}} He was given two objectives by the board: develop the club's youth system and implement a vast scouting policy inside and outside Spain.

Monchi helped discover Diego Capel, Alberto Moreno, Jesús Navas, Antonio Puerta, Sergio Ramos and José Antonio Reyes,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/17/sevilla-monchi-liverpool-europa-league-final|title=The secret behind Sevilla's success? Meet Monchi, the transfer wizard|newspaper=The Guardian|last=Lowe|first=Sid|date=17 May 2016|access-date=2 June 2016}} and he also created a network of over 700 scouts around the world. Within this setup, he sourced a number of profitable bargains (including Adriano, Dani Alves, Júlio Baptista, Federico Fazio, Seydou Keita and Ivan Rakitić),{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1956/europe/2014/10/23/5395031/meet-monchi-the-man-who-discovered-dani-alves-and-is|title=Meet Monchi – the man who discovered Dani Alves and is attracting Barcelona|publisher=Goal|last=Platt|first=Oliver|date=23 October 2014|access-date=2 January 2015}} making a profit of around €200 million in the transfer market, as the club established itself in the top half of the top division in his 16 years there.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-divisi%C3%B3n/15/blog/post/1981765/monchi-the-man-who-made-sevilla|title=Monchi: The man who made Sevilla|publisher=ESPN FC|last=Hunter|first=Graham|date=11 August 2014|access-date=2 January 2015}}

Monchi asked to leave Sevilla in the 2016 off-season,{{cite news|url=http://www.diariodesevilla.es/article/deportes/2296066/bomba/nervioacuten/monchi/decide/irse.html|title=Bomba en Nervión: Monchi decide irse|trans-title=Bomb at Nervión: Monchi decides to leave|newspaper=Diario de Sevilla|last1=Florido|first1=Eduardo|last2=Ortega|first2=F.J.|language=es|date=31 May 2016|access-date=5 July 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/85339/monchi-confirms-sevilla-exit|title=Monchi confirms Sevilla exit|publisher=Football Italia|date=3 June 2016|access-date=25 June 2016}} but the board did not accept his request unless he paid his €5 million buyout clause.{{cite news|url=http://www.diariodesevilla.es/article/deportes/2296719/monchi/se/queda/la/fuerza.html|title=Monchi se queda a la fuerza|trans-title=Monchi is forced to stay|newspaper=Diario de Sevilla|last=Florido|first=Eduardo|language=es|date=1 June 2016|access-date=5 July 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/sevilla/2016/06/03/575180a6468aeb3d1a8b4630.html|title=Monchi: "No pedí salir por tener 15 ofertas, sino para descansar y coger aire fresco"|trans-title=Monchi: "I did not ask to leave because I had 15 offers, but to rest and take a breather"|newspaper=Marca|last=Fernández|first=Alberto|language=es|date=3 June 2016|access-date=5 July 2016}} He left in April 2017, having helped win eleven trophies during his tenure.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/04/10/sevilla-monchi-sporting-director-la-liga-barcelona-real-madrid-atletico|title=Monchi sets out on new challenge after impressive reign as Sevilla sporting director|publisher=Sports Illustrated|last=Lyttleton|first=Ben|date=10 April 2017|access-date=11 April 2017}} Later that month, he signed a four-year contract in the same role with Roma in Italy's Serie A.{{cite web|url=https://www.asroma.com/en/news/2017/4/first-interview-monchi-sets-out-his-aims-after-joining-roma|title=First interview: Monchi sets out his aims after joining Roma|publisher=A.S. Roma|date=25 April 2017|access-date=30 March 2019}}

On 17 March 2019, Monchi confirmed that he would be returning to Sevilla as sporting director the following month.{{cite web|url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/monchi-officially-returns-to-sevilla-en-24754021?variable=20190920&_branch_match_id=703477368959771169|title=Monchi officially returns to Sevilla|publisher=One Football|last=Costa|first=Phil|date=17 March 2019|access-date=20 September 2019}} He occupied the position until June 2023,{{cite web|url=https://www.sevillafc.es/actualidad/noticias/monchi-se-desvincula-sevilla-fc|title=Monchi se desvincula del Sevilla FC|trans-title=Monchi cuts ties with Sevilla FC|publisher=Sevilla FC|language=es|date=16 June 2023|access-date=16 June 2023}} when he was announced as president of football operations at Premier League club Aston Villa.{{cite web|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/june/16/monchi-appointed-president-of-football-operations/|title=Monchi appointed President of Football Operations|publisher=Aston Villa F.C.|date=16 June 2023|access-date=16 June 2023}}