Ricardo Arias (footballer)

Ricardo Penella Arias (born 25 February 1957) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a sweeper.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Penella and the second or maternal family name is Arias.
Ricardo Arias
Personal information
Full name Ricardo Penella Arias
Date of birth (1957-02-25) 25 February 1957
Place of birth Catarroja, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Sweeper
Youth career
Benimar
Valencia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1992 Valencia 411 (3)
1992–1993 Castellón 35 (0)
Total 446 (3)
National team
1979 Spain amateur 2 (0)
1981 Spain B 2 (0)
1979 Spain 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He appeared in 501 competitive games for Valencia, winning three major titles including the 1980 Cup Winners' Cup. In La Liga, he played 377 matches and scored twice.[1]

Club career

Born in Catarroja, Valencian Community, Arias spent 16 of his 17 professional seasons – 15 in La Liga – with local Valencia CF. He made his debut in the competition on 7 November 1976 by coming on as a late substitute in a 3–1 home win against CD Málaga,[2] and scored his first goal on 5 March 1978 to help defeat Sevilla FC 3–0 also at the Mestalla Stadium;[3] he contributed with eight matches and one goal[4] in the team's victorious run in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, converting his attempt in the shootout in the final (0–0 after 120 minutes, in Brussels).[5][6]

Subsequently, Arias went on to become a defensive mainstay for the Che. They suffered relegation at the end of 1985–86, being immediately promoted the following campaign with one goal[7] in 34 games from the player.[8]

After only 16 appearances in 1991–92, 35-year-old Arias signed for neighbouring CD Castellón in Segunda División, closing out his career at the end of the season.

International career

Arias earned one cap for Spain: on 26 September 1979, he played the first half of a 1–1 friendly draw to Portugal, at Balaídos.[9]

Post-retirement

In November 2014, Arias declared in an interview he was bankrupt, making ends meet by having odd jobs.[10] Shortly after, the father of four returned to Valencia to work in the club's social department.[11]

Honours

Valencia

References
  1. "Ricardo Arias" (in Spanish). Valencia CF. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  2. Domínguez, Miguel (8 November 1976). "3–1: El Valencia recuperó su pólvora" [3–1: Valencia rediscovered firepower]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  3. Domínguez, Miguel (6 March 1978). "3–0: El Valencia, en línea ascendiente" [3–0: Valencia, on the rise]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  4. Landa, Ángel (20 September 1979). "2–2: Por dos veces anuló el Valencia la ventaja del B. K. Copenhague" [2–2: Valencia annulled B. K. Copenhagen's advantage twice]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  5. Castillo, Juan José (15 May 1980). "¡La Recopa fue blanca!" [The Cup Winners' Cup was white!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  6. "European Competitions 1979–80". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  7. "5–1: El Valencia se despidió con una traca... de goles" [5–1: Valencia said goodbye with fireworks... of goals]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 22 June 1987. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  8. Domínguez, Miguel (31 May 1987). "2–0: El Valencia ya está en Primera" [2–0: Valencia are already in Primera]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  9. Calvo, Juan Antonio (27 September 1979). "1–1: España no dio una a derechas" [1–1: Spain did not get one right]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  10. "Arias, un histórico del Valencia, arruinado: "No tengo ni 5 euros para gasolina del coche"" [Arias, Valencia legend, ruined: "I don't even have 5 euros to put gas in the car"] (in Spanish). Voz Populi. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  11. Valle, Conrado (27 November 2014). "El Valencia contrata a Ricardo Arias para su área social" [Valencia hire Ricardo Arias to their social area]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  12. Lozano Ferrer, Carles. "Spain – Cup 1979". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
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