Sergio Ramos
Personal information
Full name	Sergio Ramos García
Date of birth	March 30, 1986 (1986-03-30) (age 22)
Place of birth	Camas, Seville, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Right-back / Centre-back / Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current club	Real Madrid
Number	4
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2002–2003 2003–2005 2005–	Sevilla B Sevilla Real Madrid	26 0(2) 39 0(2) 99 (14)
National team2
2005–	Spain	34 0(4)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:09, 18 May 2008 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 16:14, 6 June 2008 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Sergio Ramos García (born 30 March 1986 in Camas, Seville) more commonly known as Sergio Ramos, is a Spanish international footballer, who usually plays as a defender for Real Madrid. Ramos is a graduate of the Sevilla FC youth system and is regarded as one of the world's best defenders. He is known for his runs up and down the right flank, accurate crosses into the box, strong defending, prowess in the air and is a constant threat on goal at set pieces and in open play.

Club career

Sevilla

Ramos began his career as a well-regarded right-side defender, a position he was able to keep for the majority of his early career. After two years of experience in La Liga, with Sevilla, he became known for his ability to play competently in any defensive position.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid signed Ramos for € 27 million ^[1] in the summer of 2005 from Sevilla, making him the ninth Sevilla player to leave for Real Madrid.^{[citation needed]} This transfer made him the third most expensive teenager behind Wayne Rooney and the most expensive domestic signing in La Liga.^{[citation needed]} At Real, he was awarded the number 4 shirt, previously occupied by Real Madrid captain Fernando Hierro.

Ramos scored his first Champions League goal for Real Madrid against Olympiakos, a game which Real eventually lost 2-1. The performances and effort level of Ramos have made him into a fan favourite at the Bernabeu. He started by playing at the centre of defence for Real, and was used as a defensive midfielder and a right back on some occasions. However, with the arrival of Christoph Metzelder and Pepe, Ramos was again able to play right back, a position that he has maintained when the central defenders have stayed away from injuries. During the 2006–07 season he showed his abilities as a great crosser of the ball, a memorable example being when he assisted Raúl to score against Barcelona in the second minute at the Santiago Bernabéu. Ramos has also shown his danger in set pieces and he has established himself as Real's most potent danger in the air, scoring five goals with his head in the 06-07 La Liga season.^{[citation needed]}

Ramos has become well known for his striking qualities in Madrid over his past seasons with Real, having scored almost 20 goals in the Los Blancos shirt. In a recent interview with Grada Blanca, he revealed that he used to play as a striker when he was younger and eventually became a defender as he grew older^[2].

On May 4, 2008, Ramos assisted Gonzalo Higuain in the 89th minute against Osasuna in what turned out to be the clinching goal for Real Madrid's 31st La Liga championship.

He scored his 4th and 5th goal of the season in a 5-2 demolishing of Levante in the final game of the season.

International career

In 2004, Ramos became one of the key figures in Spain's Under-21's, playing six international matches and acquiring experience and interest from other clubs. In Salamanca, against China, he played for the senior side at only nineteen years of age, making him the youngest player to play for the national team in the last 55 years. He held this record until it was broken by Arsenal's Cesc Fábregas.

He impressed on his debut (26 March 2005 versus China) and was awarded a place in the team which would challenge Serbia and Montenegro in an important qualification match for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Because of the absence of fellow Madrid player Míchel Salgado he was part of the starting eleven.

Ramos was announced as part of the Spain World Cup Squad on 15 May 2006, and eventually replaced Salgado as Spain's first choice right-back.

Throughout Spain's Euro 2008 qualification, he was a regular member of the starting XI as they finished at the top of Group F above Sweden. In the qualifications, he scored two goals, including one in a 3-1 win over Denmark, in 11 appearances. Ramos and Spain are in Group D for the coming championships this summer, as well as Russia, Greece, and Sweden.

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• Sergio has a tiny dog called Odi, whom he loves very much
• Sergio has stated his long hair is his brand name and he said that he would never cut it off. However, he has recently stated how he might possibly shave his long locks off, if all goes well at Euro 08.
• On his left inner arm he tattooed the initials of his parents and the number seven, his lucky number. As well as his initials, his brother and sister on his left middle finger.
• He also has tattoos with the dates of the terrorist attacks on New York and Madrid.
• Sergio’s teammates call him “gitano” or “gypsy” because of his love for flamenco music.
• Off the pitch Sergio likes bullfighting and if he had not become a football player, his dream job would be bullfighter.
• Sergio has a very good relationship with spanish friend Fernando Torres.
• Sergio looks very much like Cambridge, Ontario native Adam Boyd

Statistics

(correct as of 19, May 2008)

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	2005-10-13	Stadio Olimpico (San Marino), San Marino, San Marino	San Marino	0-3	0-6	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	2005-10-13	Stadio Olimpico (San Marino), San Marino, San Marino	San Marino	0-4	0-6	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	2007-10-13	Atletion, Aarhus, Denmark	Denmark	0-2	1-3	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
4	2007-11-17	Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain	Sweden	3-0	3-0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying

Honours

Club

• La Liga Titles:(2)

2006/07, 2007/08.

Individual

• UEFA's Best New Player of the National League Championship 2004-05.^{[citation needed]}
• Antonio Puerta Award [[1]]

References