Rodri (footballer, born 2000)

For more people with the same nickname, see Rodri.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.

Rodrigo Sánchez Rodríguez (born 16 May 2000), commonly known as Rodri ([ˈroðɾi]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Qatar Stars League club Al-Arabi. Mainly an attacking midfielder, he can also play as a winger.

Rodri

Personal information
Full name	Rodrigo Sánchez Rodríguez
Date of birth	(2000-05-16) 16 May 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Talayuela, Spain
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Al-Arabi
Number	10
Youth career
	Talayuela
	Navalmoral
2011–2012	Real Madrid
2011–2012	→ Canillas (loan)
2012–2013	Atlético Madrid
2013–2014	Espanyol
2014–2015	Barcelona
2015–2016	Deportivo La Coruña
2016–2018	Betis
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2021	Betis B	71	(9)
2020–2024	Betis	98	(3)
2024–	Al-Arabi	0	(0)
International career‡
2021–2023	Spain U21	18	(3)
Medal record Representing  Spain UEFA European Under-21 Championship Runner-up 2023 Georgia–Romania
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:45, 1 September 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 July 2023

Club career

Born in Talayuela, Cáceres, Extremadura, Rodri started his career with CP Talayuela, and subsequently represented EF Navalmoral before joining Real Madrid's La Fábrica in 2011. After spending the pre-season with the side, he was loaned to CD Canillas for a year before joining Atlético Madrid in 2012.^[1]

In June 2014, after a one-year spell at RCD Espanyol, Rodri joined FC Barcelona's La Masia.^[2] After leaving Barça in 2015, he then spent a year at Deportivo de La Coruña before joining Real Betis' youth setup in 2016.

Rodri made his senior debut with the reserves on 26 August 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 Tercera División home win against Conil CF.^[3] He scored his first senior goal on 7 October, netting the third in a 8–0 home routing of CD Gerena,^[4] and renewed his contract until 2022 the following 27 March.^[5]

Rodri made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 7 November 2020, replacing Sergio Canales late into a 5–2 away loss against his former club Barcelona.^[6]

On 8 September 2024, Rodri joined Qatar Stars League club Al-Arabi.^[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 1 September 2024^[8]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Betis B	2018–19	Tercera División	35	3	—		—		—		35	3
	2019–20	Tercera División	27	5	—		—		2[a]	1	29	6
	2020–21	Segunda División B	9	1	—		—		—		9	1
	Total		71	9	—		—		2	1	73	10
Betis	2020–21	La Liga	15	0	4	1	0	0	—		19	1
	2021–22	La Liga	21	1	4	0	3[b]	0	—		28	1
	2022–23	La Liga	30	2	2	0	6[b]	0	1[c]	0	39	2
	2023–24	La Liga	29	0	2	3	5[d]	0	—		36	3
	2024–25	La Liga	3	0	—		1[e]	0	—		4	0
	Total		98	3	12	4	15	0	1	0	126	7
Career total			169	12	12	4	15	0	3	1	199	17

1. Appearance(s) in Tercera División promotion play-offs
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearance in Supercopa de España
4. Three appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
5. Appearance in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Betis

• Copa del Rey: 2021–22^[9]

Individual

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2023^[10]

References

1. "El zurdo de oro de Talayuela" [The golden left foot of Talayuela] (in Spanish). El Periódico Extremadura. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
2. "Rodrigo, un trotamundos de 14 años" [Rodrigo, a 14-year-old journeyman] (in Spanish). Hoy. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
3. "Betis Deportivo 3–0 Conil: Rober lidera la goleada bética" [Betis Deportivo 3–0 Conil: Rober leads the routing bética] (in Spanish). Estadio Deportivo. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
4. "Betis Deportivo 8–0 Gerena: Vuelve a la senda del triunfo con una goleada" [Betis Deportivo 8–0 Gerena: Back to the winning ways with a routing] (in Spanish). Estadio Deportivo. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
5. "El Betis renueva a Rodri, una de las joyas de su cantera" [Betis renew Rodri, one of their youth pearls] (in Spanish). Marca. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
6. "Todo es más fácil con Messi" [Everything is easier with Messi] (in Spanish). Marca. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
7. "Rodri Arabi for three seasons". Al-Arabi SC (in Arabic). 8 September 2024.
8. Rodri at Soccerway
9. "Real Betis 1–1 Valencia (5–4 on pens): Real Betis win Copa del Rey final on penalties". BBC Sport. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
10. "2023 Under-21 EURO Team of the Tournament". UEFA. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

External links

• Profile at the Real Betis website
• Rodri at BDFutbol
• Rodri at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
• Rodri at Soccerway