Player Profile:Ruben de la Red

Full name:Rubén de la Red Gutiérrez
Date of birth:June 5, 1985 (1985-06-05) (age 23)
Place of birth :Móstoles, Spain
Height:1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position:Central midfielder

Club Career:
De la Red arrived at the Real Madrid youth system when he was just 14, the youngest in Cadete B. At one point, he was transferred to CD Móstoles after being told he was not good enough, but he was soon re-signed by Madrid. After his fourth season with the club, youth coach Quique Sánchez Flores, who was moving to Getafe, wanted de la Red to join him at his new club, but Madrid turned him down. De la Red said: "It is a pride that Quique was interested so much in me, but for me Real Madrid is the number one choice, that is clear; everything else comes afterwards".
De la Red made his first-team debut on November 10, 2004 against CD Tenerife in the Copa del Rey. During the 2006–07 season, he was also called-up to the first team by manager Fabio Capello, along with teammates Miguel Torres and Miguel Ángel Nieto, and made seven appearances during the La Liga-winning campaign. After the end of season, the midfielder renewed his contract until 2011.
On August 31, 2007, de la Red was transferred to Getafe, with Real Madrid having an option to re-buy the next two years. There, he established himself as an important first team player, usually assuming the role of playmaker, having been joined at Getafe by another Real Madrid canterano, Esteban Granero, who arrived on loan. During the season, he was forced, due to injuries to teammates, to perform as centre back, notably in the UEFA Cup tie against Bayern Munich, in which second leg he was sent off in the 6th minute.
Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón confirmed in May 2008 that, along with Granero and Javi García, De la Red would return to the Bernabéu for the 2008–09 season. He could be used in a swap deal involving a number of potential targets, although Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has stated that he would like to give the midfielder a chance to impress in his team.

National Career:
De la Red was first called by Spain for a March 26, 2008 friendly against Italy, but did not debut. Uncapped, he was named in the nation's squad of 23 for Euro 2008 by coach Luis Aragonés, but would appear in two friendly games against Peru and USA prior to the continental competition.
During the tournament's final group stage match, De la Red scored his first international goal with a powerful strike against Greece, on June 18. Spain won 2-1.

Honours:
Club

Real Madrid
Spanish League
Winner (1):2006-07
Runner-up (1): 2005-06
Spanish Super Cup
Winner (1): 2008
Runner-up (1): 2007

Getafe CF
Spanish Cup
Runner-up (1): 2007-08

Country
Spain
UEFA U-19 Championship: 2004
UEFA European Championship: 2008

Source:Wikipedia