Vicente as a Valencia player in 2010
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Vicente Rodríguez Guillén | ||
Date of birth | 16 July 1981 | ||
Place of birth | Valencia, Spain | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
Playing position | Winger | ||
Youth career | |||
Benicalap | |||
Levante | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1997–2000 | Levante | 60 | (9) |
2000–2011 | Valencia | 243 | (36) |
2011–2013 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 32 | (5) |
Total | 335 | (50) | |
National team | |||
1997–1998 | Spain U16 | 11 | (1) |
1998–1999 | Spain U17 | 15 | (6) |
1999–2000 | Spain U18 | 7 | (1) |
2000–2001 | Spain U21 | 11 | (1) |
2001–2005 | Spain | 38 | (3) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Vicente Rodríguez Guillén (Spanish pronunciation: [biˈθente roˈðɾiɣeθ ɡiˈʎen]; born 16 July 1981), known simply as Vicente, nicknamed El puñal de Benicalap (The dagger of Benicalap), is a Spanish retired footballer.
A left winger with outstanding technique, pace and netting ability, his career, blighted by constant injuries, was mainly associated with Valencia with which he appeared in 328 official games over the course of 11 seasons, winning five major titles, including two La Liga championships.
Vicente represented Spain during the first half of the 2000s, and played at Euro 2004.
A Valencia CF supporter since childhood, Valencia-born Vicente started his professional career in the community with Segunda División side Levante UD, making his professional debut on 23 November 1997 against CD Leganés aged only 16.
He immediately attracted attention of leading teams like Arsenal, Valencia CF and Real Madrid but, eventually, Valencia (and its sporting director Javier Subirats) convinced the youngster to sign for the club.
After two full seasons at Levante, Vicente signed for Valencia in the summer of 2000. Initially, his favoured position of left winger was occupied by Argentine Kily González but, despite serious contention for a first-team place, he still managed to net five goals in 33 La Liga games, adding 13 appearances in the season's UEFA Champions League although he was left on the bench for the final against FC Bayern Munich.