Sergio Ramos García

Sergio Ramos García (born 30 March 1986 in Camas, Seville, Andalusia) is a Spain football (soccer) who currently plays for Real Madrid C.F. and for the Spain national football team.

Ramos is usually a right back, but can also play as a central defender and a left back. Sergio Ramos García is known for Sergio Ramos García runs on the right flank, crosses and vigorous defending, also contributing with a fair share of goals from Sergio Ramos García position. Sergio Ramos García is currently sponsored by Nike, Inc..

Club career

A graduate of Sevilla FC's prolific youth system, Ramos began Sergio Ramos García career as a right-sided defender, a position Sergio Ramos García was able to keep for the majority of Sergio Ramos García early career. Sergio Ramos García made Sergio Ramos García first-team debut on 1 February 2004, not yet 18, in a 0–1 defeat at Deportivo de La Coruña. In Sergio Ramos García first La Liga 2004–05, Sergio Ramos García was an undisputed first-choice, as the Andalusia outfit finished sixth.

After two years of experience in La Liga, Ramos became known for Sergio Ramos García ability to play in any defensive position. In September 2005, after having still featured in one game for Sevilla in La Liga 2005–06, playing 90 minutes of a 1–0 home success over Racing de Santander, Real Madrid C.F. signed Sergio Ramos García for €27 million, on an eight-year deal.

At Real Madrid, Ramos was awarded the number 4 shirt, previously occupied by captain (football) Fernando Hierro. Sergio Ramos García scored Sergio Ramos García first goal for the Madrid side on 6 December 2005 in a UEFA Champions League defeat at Olympiacos CFP, a game which Real Madrid eventually lost 3–2.

During Sergio Ramos García first seasons, Ramos played as centre-back, being also used as an emergence defensive midfielder on occasion. However, with the arrival of Christoph Metzelder and Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira in the La Liga 2007–08 season, Sergio Ramos García was again relocated to right back. Ramos also displayed interest scoring prowess for a defender, netting more than 20 overall goals in Los Blancos shirt during Sergio Ramos García first four seasons. In an interview with Grada Blanca, Sergio Ramos García revealed that Sergio Ramos García used to play as a striker when Sergio Ramos García was younger, eventually moving into a defensive slot.

On 4 May 2008, Ramos assisted Gonzalo Higuaín in the last minute goal against CA Osasuna in an eventual 2–1 away win, the match that sealed Real Madrid's 31st league championship.

On the final day of the season, Ramos scored twice in a 5–2 home win against already relegated Levante UD, one in a header and another after a brave effort, taking Sergio Ramos García league tally to five.

In the start of La Liga 2008–09, Sergio Ramos García scored the vital goal in the 2008 Supercopa de España contest against Valencia CF, to make it 2–1 to and 4–4 on aggregate, in an eventual 4–2 win (6–5), despite playing largely with only nine men. On 11 January 2009, Ramos scored on an acrobatic volley against RCD Mallorca (3–0 away triumph), continuing Sergio Ramos García scoring run in the following week, in a 3–1 home win against Osasuna.

Ramos was named in both FIFA and UEFA's 2008 Team of the Year, adding the FIFPro Team of the Year 2007–08 accolade. Sergio Ramos García also finished 21st in the European Player of the Year nomination for 2008.

International career

In 2005, Ramos became an instant hit for Spain national under-21 football team, for whom Sergio Ramos García played six international matches. On March 26, in a friendly 3–0 win over China national football team, in Salamanca, Sergio Ramos García played for the Spain national football team at only 18 years of age, making Sergio Ramos García the youngest player to play for the national team in the last 55 years. Ramos held this record until it was broken by Arsenal F.C.'s Cesc Fàbregas.

After an impressive debut, Ramos was awarded a place in the team which would challenge Serbia and Montenegro national football team in an important 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, mainly due to the absence of club teammate Míchel Salgado. Sergio Ramos García was announced as part of the Spain 2006 FIFA World Cup squad on 15 May 2006, and eventually replaced Salgado as Spain's first-choice right-back.

Throughout Spain national football team Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, Ramos was a regular member of the starting eleven, as they finished at the top of Group D, above Sweden national football team. Sergio Ramos García scored two goals, including one in a 3–1 away win over Denmark national football team, in 11 appearances.

In the Euro 2008, Ramos kept Sergio Ramos García place at right-back throughout the competition. Sergio Ramos García played a crucial part in the tournament for Spain. Sergio Ramos García marauding runs helped the team's attack and solid defending helped keep vital clean sheets. In the final, Sergio Ramos García pass nearly set up Marcos Senna's first international goal but the latter barely missed it by inches. During the celebrations after defeating Germany national football team in the final, Ramos wore a T-shirt in honor of good friend and former Sevilla teammate Antonio Puerta, deceased in August 2007.

Sergio Ramos García continued in the Spain National Football Team and was selected in the squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.

International goals

Club statistics

Honors and awards

Club

- La Liga: La Liga 2006–07, La Liga 2007–08
- Supercopa de España: 2008 Supercopa de España

International

- UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2004 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
- UEFA European Football Championship: UEFA Euro 2008

Personal

- UEFA's Best new player of La Liga 2004–05
- UEFA's 2005–06 All-World Defensive Player of the Year
- Antonio Puerta Award.
- European Sports Magazines: 2007–08
- European Sports Magazines: April 2007, May 2007, September 2007, October 2007, November 2007, December 2007, January 2008
- FIFPro World XI: 2007–08
- Móstoles Sports Elite Award
- UEFA Team of the Year: UEFA Team of the Year Team of the Year 2008
- FIFA.com Team of the Year: 2008

Personal life

- Ramos is the youngest of three kids to mother Paqui and father José - Sergio Ramos García siblings being Sergio Ramos García brother, René, who is also Sergio Ramos García agent, and older sister Mirian.
- Sergio Ramos García has 10 tattoos, which have a deep meaning to him: On Sergio Ramos García left inner arm Sergio Ramos García has tattooed the initials of Sergio Ramos García parents and the number seven, Sergio Ramos García lucky number.' because of Sergio Ramos García love for flamenco music.
- Off the pitch, Sergio Ramos García also likes bullfighting.