Rafael Gordillo


Rafael Gordillo Vázquez is a Spanish retired footballer. A tremendously attacking left wingback, equally at ease as defender and midfielder and with a good effort rate, he had an unmistakable style of playing with his socks down.
He represented Betis and Real Madrid with individual and team success, appearing in 428 La Liga games and scoring 38 goals over 16 seasons. He won ten major titles with the latter club, including five national championships.
Gordillo was a mainstay for the Spain national team in the 80s, appearing in nearly 80 matches and representing the nation in five international tournaments.

Club career

Born in Almendralejo, Province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Gordillo moved to Seville when he was just a few months old. He grew up in the Polígono de San Pablo neighbourhood, and signed with Real Betis in 1972 at the age of 15. On 30 January 1977 he made his first-team – and La Liga – debut, against Burgos CF, and helped the Andalusians to the Copa del Rey in his first year.
After nine professional seasons with Betis – 12 in total, and another with the reserve side – being named the country's footballer of the year at the end of 1979–80 and appearing in nearly 300 official matches, Gordillo moved to Real Madrid for 1985–86, winning the UEFA Cup in his debut campaign and scoring in the final against 1. FC Köln, and forming a dreaded left-wing partnership with José Antonio Camacho during four years, with the former playing as a midfielder. In 1989's Spanish Cup, he scored the final's only goal against Real Valladolid.
In 1992, 35-year-old Gordillo returned to Betis, helping them return to the top division in his second year and retiring after one final season with neighbours Écija Balompié, also in the second level. With the latter, he also worked as director of football.
In the following decade, Gordillo returned to Betis also in directorial capacities. On 13 December 2010, he was elected the club's president.

International career

Gordillo earned 75 caps and scored three goals for Spain, during one full decade. His debut came on 29 March 1978 in a friendly 3–0 win over Norway, in Gijón.
Gordillo went on to represent the country in two FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships.

International goals

Post-retirement

Gordillo re-joined Betis for a third time, appearing for the club in the indoor soccer national league. He also worked briefly for laSexta as a sports commentator, at the 2006 World Cup.

Honours

Club

Betis
Real Madrid
Spain