Rubén Rayos

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rayo

| image = MHFC-Ruben-Rayos.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Rayo as a Maccabi Haifa player (2013)

| fullname = Rubén Rayos Serna{{AS.com}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|6|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Elche, Spain

| height = 1.76 m

| position = Attacking midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Elche

| years1 = 2005–2006 | clubs1 = Elche B | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 2006–2008 | clubs2 = Elche | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2006–2008 | clubs3 = → Villajoyosa (loan) | caps3 = 62 | goals3 = 20

| years4 = 2008–2009 | clubs4 = Barcelona B | caps4 = 23 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2009–2010 | clubs5 = Orihuela | caps5 = 35 | goals5 = 11

| years6 = 2010–2011 | clubs6 = Lleida | caps6 = 33 | goals6 = 19

| years7 = 2011–2013 | clubs7 = Asteras Tripolis | caps7 = 62 | goals7 = 12

| years8 = 2013–2015 | clubs8 = Maccabi Haifa | caps8 = 54 | goals8 = 17

| years9 = 2015–2016 | clubs9 = Sochaux | caps9 = 12 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2016–2020 | clubs10 = Anorthosis | caps10 = 111 | goals10 = 30

| years11 = 2020–2021 | clubs11 = Bandırmaspor | caps11 = 23 | goals11 = 5

| years12 = 2022 | clubs12 = Ejea | caps12 = 12 | goals12 = 2

| totalcaps = | totalgoals =

| club-update = 16:00, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

}}

Rubén Rayos Serna (born 21 June 1986), commonly known as Rayo, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Rayo was born in Elche, Valencian Community. He finished his youth career with Elche CF, and played only Segunda División B football until the age of 25, representing Villajoyosa CF, FC Barcelona Atlètic,{{cite web|url=http://mundoblaugrana.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/ruben-rayos-primer-fichaje-del-barcelona-atletic/|title=Rubén Rayos, primer fichaje del Barcelona Atletic|trans-title=Rubén Rayos, first Barcelona Atletic signing|publisher=Mundo Blaugrana|language=es|date=11 July 2008|access-date=26 July 2013}} Orihuela CF{{cite news|url=http://www.laverdad.es/alicante/20090826/deportes_alicante/orihuela/orihuela-refuerza-plantilla-jugadores-20090826.html|title=El Orihuela refuerza la plantilla con jugadores de las canteras del Barcelona, Español y Hércules|trans-title=Orihuela strengthen squad with players from Barcelona, Español and Hércules youth systems|newspaper=La Verdad|first=F.|last=Amat|language=es|date=26 August 2009|access-date=26 July 2013}} and UE Lleida.{{cite news|url=http://www.lacronicadeleon.es/2011/05/20/deportes/mayor-avala-al-goleador-rayos-118974.htm|title=Máyor avala al goleador Rayos|trans-title=Máyor gives thumbs up to scorer Rayos|newspaper=La Crónica de León|first=S.|last=García|language=es|date=20 May 2011|access-date=26 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222164317/http://www.lacronicadeleon.es/2011/05/20/deportes/mayor-avala-al-goleador-rayos-118974.htm|archive-date=22 December 2011}}

In the summer of 2011, Rayo moved straight into the Super League Greece, joining a host of compatriots at Asteras Tripolis FC.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2011/11/27/mas_futbol/1322348457_850215.html|title=El 'español' Asteras liquida al Olympiacos de Valverde|trans-title=Asteras from 'Spain' finish Valverde's Olympiacos|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=27 November 2011|access-date=16 December 2023}} He scored five league goals in his first season, adding three in the campaign's domestic cup.

Rayo improved his overall totals to nine goals and 12 assists in 2012–13. In the final of the Greek Cup, against Olympiacos FC, he put his team ahead 1–0 in an eventual 3–1 extra time loss.{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2013/05/11/internacional/1368304144_022257.html|title=El Olympiacos de Míchel logra el doblete tras ganar la Copa|trans-title=Míchel's Olympiacos get double after Cup win|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Quique|last=Rubio|language=es|date=11 May 2013|access-date=26 July 2013}} He was eventually chosen Best Foreign Player for his exploits{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/02/05/futbol/futbol_internacional/espanoles_mundo/1391615827.html|title=Rubén Rayos, mejor extranjero de la pasada liga griega|trans-title=Rubén Rayos, best foreign in last Greek league|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=5 February 2014|access-date=1 October 2014}} and, during most of his spell, was also captain.

On 6 June 2013, Rayo signed a three-year contract with Maccabi Haifa FC, netting 11 goals from 27 appearances in his first year to help his new club to fourth position in the regular season of the Israeli Premier League.{{cite web|url=http://eng.football.org.il/Leagues/Pages/PlayerTopGoals.aspx?LEAGUE_ID=40&SEASON_ID=15|title=Leading goalscorer|publisher=Israel Football Association|access-date=1 October 2014}} In March 2014, he was involved in an incident with Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv FC's Rafi Dahan, his harsh tackle producing an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his opponent which sidelined him for almost one year – he received a straight red card,{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/03/11/futbol/futbol_internacional/espanoles_mundo/1394554085.html|title=La brutal entrada de Rubén Rayos|trans-title=Rubén Rayos' brutal tackle|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=11 March 2014|access-date=1 October 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2014/03/11/531f54b2e2704eb7078b4583.html|title=Piden sanción ejemplar para la brutal entrada de Rayos|trans-title=Exemplary sanction wanted for Rayos' brutal tackle|newspaper=El Mundo|first=Sal|last=Emergui|language=es|date=11 March 2014|access-date=1 October 2014}} and Dahan was eventually forced to retire;{{cite web|url=http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/rafi-dahan-forced-retire-aged-25-result-ruben-rayos-tackle-video/|title=Rafi Dahan forced to retire aged just 25 as a result of THAT Rubén Rayos tackle|publisher=101 Great Goals|date=6 March 2015|access-date=22 June 2015}} subsequently, Dahan filed a lawsuit against Rayo and Maccabi Haifa in an Israeli court,{{cite web|url=https://www.sport5.co.il/HTML/Articles/Article.64.327541.html|title=מיליון שקלים: תביעת הענק בתיק רפי דהן – ראיוס 21|trans-title=Twenty-one million NIS: The big lawsuit in the Dahan – Rayos case|publisher=Sports Channel|language=he|date=7 November 2019|access-date=7 November 2019}} winning the legal action after the judge ruled that the other player's actions were deliberate.{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/sport/israel-soccer/1.8333657|title=חריג ונעשה במכוון : בית המשפט הורה לראיוס ומכבי חיפה לשלם מילונים לשחקן שפצע במשחק|trans-title=Exceptional and deliberate: The court orders Rayos and Maccabi Haifa to pay millions to an injured player|newspaper=Haaretz|language=he|date=30 December 2019|access-date=30 December 2019}}

On 8 July 2015, Rayo joined French side FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, agreeing to a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Ruben-rayos-a-sochaux-off/572871|title=Ruben Rayos à Sochaux (off.)|trans-title=Ruben Rayos to Sochaux (off.)|newspaper=L'Équipe|language=fr|date=8 July 2015|access-date=14 July 2015}} Roughly one year later, he moved to Anorthosis Famagusta FC in the Cypriot First Division.{{cite web|url=http://www.anorthosisfc.com.cy/2016/07/apoktisi-ruben-rayos-serna/|title=Απόκτηση Ruben Rayos Serna|trans-title=Acquisition of Ruben Rayos Serna|publisher=Anorthosis Famagusta|language=el|date=14 July 2016|access-date=14 July 2016}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3"\|Asteras Tripolis \|2011–12 \|rowspan="2"\|Super League Greece \|27	5	4	3	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	31	8
2012–13 \|35	7	9	2	4	1	colspan="2"\|—	48	10
colspan="2"\|Total !62	12	13	5	4	1	0	0	79	18
rowspan="3"\|Maccabi Haifa \|2013–14 \|rowspan="2"\|Israeli Premier League \|27	11	1	0	12	6	colspan="2"\|—	40	17
2014–15 \|27	6	2	2	colspan="2"\|—	6	4	35	12
colspan="2"\|Total !54	17	3	2	12	6	6	4	75	29
Sochaux \|2015–16 \|Ligue 2 \|12	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	2	0	16	0
rowspan="5"\|Anorthosis \|2016–17 \|rowspan="4"\|Cypriot First Division \|30	8	4	2	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	34	10
2017–18 \|34	5	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	36	5
2018–19 \|24	3	2	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	28	3
2019–20 \|23	14	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	25	15
colspan="2"\|Total !111	30	10	3	2	0	0	0	123	33
colspan="3"\|Career total !239	59	28	10	18	7	8	4	293	80