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After 16 seasons, 22 trophies, 671 games and 101 goals, club captain Sergio Ramos said his farewell to Real Madrid and joined Paris Saint-Germain.
A modern day big with the Merengues as well as Spain, the Defender’s Trophy contains four UEFA Champions League titles, five Ligas, the 2008 and 2012 UEFA EUROs and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Celebrate his accomplishments as center-back Ramos prepares for new pasture.
What they say
“Ramos doesn’t surprise me. That’s what he has – a great personality. He’s always there, always cheering on the players and he never lets his guard down. He never gives up.”
Zinédine Zidane, former Real Madrid coach
“There are defenders with extraordinary technical abilities, others have unique defensive qualities – like [Fabio] Cannavaro, shiny on the marking. Others, like [Franco] Baresi, can command a back row while others influence with strong personalities. But taking everything into account to assess a defender, Sergio Ramos is the most complete. He has a bit of everything: technical ability, strength, personality and leadership. “
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach
“He defends well, can play and manages all facets of the game. He is a very complete footballer.”
Thiago Silva, Chelsea defender
“Sergio Ramos is the toughest opponent I have met. He is very strong, has a lot of experience and is a very competitive player.”
Luis Suárez, Atlético de Madrid striker
“You wanted to take over the world. You were just a boy when you arrived and I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. You are forever one of Real Madrid’s greatest legends.”
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez
Career review *
International: 180 appearances, 23 goals
UEFA club competition: 138 appearances, 18 goals
* Also made six outings for Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup, scoring three goals
Claim to fame
Seville & Real Madrid
• His € 27million transfer from Seville to Madrid in 2005 at the age of 19 remains a record amount for a Spanish teenager.
• Ramos has scored in 17 consecutive La Liga campaigns, a record for a defender. He scored 13 goals on all fronts for Madrid in 2019/20, a personal best for just one season.
• Part of an elite group of defenders to have scored in two different European Cup finals, Ramos is the only one to have done so during the UEFA Champions League era. His goals in the 2014 and 2016 final, both against Atlético, put him alongside Tommy Gemmell (1967, 1970) and Phil Neal (1977, 1984).
• His equalizer in added time in the 2016 UEFA Super Cup against childhood team Sevilla means he has scored in the final of the UEFA Champions League, Club World Cup, and FIFA and the UEFA Super Cup. Not bad for a central defender!
Paris Saint Germain
• After completing his 16-year stay in Madrid on July 8, 2021, Ramos signed a contract for Paris until 2023.
Spain
• Ramos became Spain’s youngest international in 55 years when he made his debut four days before his 19th birthday, which he then scored with a first competitive start – in a World Cup qualifier 2006 against Serbia and Montenegro.
• He was familiar with Spanish victories at UEFA EURO 2008, the 2010 World Cup and UEFA EURO 2012; he donned a T-shirt in memory of his former Sevilla teammate Antonio Puerta, who died suddenly in 2007, during the celebration of the two EURO victories. He wore the No.15 Puerta jersey for Spain (as opposed to his No.4 for Madrid).
• With David de Gea chosen ahead of Iker Casillas, Ramos captained Spain at UEFA EURO 2016 and remained captain until he was skipped for the 2020 finals squad.
• Ramos broke Casillas’ record of 167 caps for Spain in the October 2019 1-1 draw against Norway in the UEFA EURO 2020 qualifiers; He also became the most capped European player of all time when he reached 177 (now 180) caps in November 2020 against Switzerland, eclipsing Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon.
What you might not know
• The defender leaves Madrid as their most prolific red card recipient, having been sent off 26 times, a club record in all competitions. He was sent off in a record five Clásico game, most recently when Barcelona won 3-2 in the Spanish capital in 2017.
• His record for 19th La Liga red card came against Athletic in December 2017, surpassing the 18 compiled by Xavier Aguado and Pablo Alfaro. He has since achieved 20 deportations in La Liga; Meanwhile, his sacking against Manchester City in the 2019/20 round of 16 was his fourth in the UEFA Champions League.
• Ramos is no stranger to charitable work and in 2014 was appointed one of Spain’s national ambassadors to UNICEF.
• Passionate about body art, he has four tattoos on his fingers – the numbers 35, 32, 19 and 90+. The first two designate his first two team numbers with Sevilla; 19 is the number he wore for the first time for Spain; and 90+ represents their equalizer in stoppage time against Atlético when Madrid won their tenth European Cup in 2014.
• Ramos loves horses and has a stud farm in his native Andalusia where he can “disconnect and have fun”. One of his animals, Silencio de Ramos, was proclaimed Champion of Andalusia 2016; another, Yecutan SR4, was world champion in 2018.
• He has four sons, Sergio, Marco, Alejandro and Maximo Adriano; he married their mother, TV presenter Pilar Rubio, on June 15, 2019.
What he says
“I wake up everyday with the same desire to keep improving that I’ve had since I was a kid. I’m not looking for recognition. All I want to do every year is do even better, forgetting what we have won and I set myself new challenges, I will continue as long as my body allows.
“My grandfather and my father always told me that even if there was only a second left, there was always hope. You have to have that attitude, that has always been the attitude in Madrid. “
“To lead by example you have to perform well, work hard and give everything; show the younger ones so that you can ask them the same. I am very happy to have the chance to lead this team. [Madrid]. “
“I’m happy if I’m a role model. I think I fought and sacrificed a lot, so that I can do it when I retire with a clear conscience, having won everything there is to gain. . “
“One of the most difficult moments of my life has arrived, to say goodbye to Real Madrid. Thanks to the club, you will always be in my heart. It ends an incredible moment, a unique moment in my life. C see you later, because I will be back in the future. “
“I am very happy to join Paris Saint-Germain. It is a big change in my life, a new challenge and a day that I will never forget. I am proud to be part of this very ambitious project, to join a team with great players. It is a club that has already proven itself at the highest level with solid foundations. I want to continue to grow with Paris and help the team work to win titles. “
What he could still accomplish
• Become the first player to win three EUROs; although he missed UEFA EURO 2020, the next tournament is not that far away.
• His sense of goal means he could become the first defender to score in three UEFA Champions League finals.
• Reach 150 UEFA Champions League matches? He is at 129 right now.
• He also needs two more medals to tie Francisco Gento’s record six. And his new club, of course, is desperate for his first.
• Become the most capped player in the world. Former Egyptian winger Ahmed Hassan’s world record of 184 is his next target; he currently sits on 180 appearances.
What he won at the Bernabéu
4 UEFA Champions League (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
3 UEFA Super Cup (2014, 2016, 2017)
5 League (2007, 20008, 2012, 2017, 2020)
4 FIFA Club World Cup (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
2 Copa del Rey (2011, 2014)
4 Spanish Super Cup (2008, 2012, 2017, 2020)
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