Rodri Hernández
Born 1996 · Age 29
Spanish professional footballer (known as Rodri) — defensive midfielder for Manchester City and the Spain national team. Renowned for passing, playmaking and physical attributes; Ballon d'Or winner (2024).
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Life & Career Timeline
Joined Rayo Majadahonda youth setup
Played for Rayo Majadahonda under-11/-12 teams (youth career 2006–2007).
Joined Atlético Madrid youth academy
Moved to Atlético Madrid's youth setup from Rayo Majadahonda (aged 11).
Released by Atlético Madrid youth
Released by Atlético Madrid in 2013 reportedly due to doubts over his physical development.
Signed for Villarreal youth
Joined Villarreal CF's youth setup after leaving Atlético Madrid.
UEFA European Under-19 Championship winner (Spain U19)
Part of Spain U19 squad that won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship (2015).
Senior debut for Villarreal B (reserve team)
Came on as a late substitute in a 3–1 Segunda División B away win at Espanyol B.
First start for Villarreal B
First start for Villarreal B in a 2–0 victory at Real Zaragoza B.
First-team debut for Villarreal (Copa del Rey)
Started in a 2–0 home win over SD Huesca (Copa del Rey).
La Liga debut for Villarreal
Came on as a substitute in a 2–1 away loss to Rayo Vallecano.
Spain U21 UEFA European Championship runner-up (2017)
Part of Spain U21 side that finished runner-up at the 2017 U21 Euros.
Contract renewal with Villarreal
Renewed contract with Villarreal until 2022 after establishing himself as a regular.
First La Liga goal
Scored his first La Liga goal for Villarreal — opening goal in a 1–1 draw at Espanyol.
First senior Spain call-up
Selected for Spain's full national team for friendlies vs Germany and Argentina.
Spain senior debut
Debuted for Spain as a substitute in a 1–1 friendly draw with Germany in Düsseldorf.
Agreement reached: Transfer to Atlético Madrid
Atlético reached agreement with Villarreal for his transfer; five-year contract reported.
Atlético Madrid debut & UEFA Super Cup winner
Played 71 minutes in Atlético's 4–2 extra-time win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup (debut for Atlético).
Competitive Spain debut (UEFA Nations League)
Made competitive national-team debut as a substitute in Spain's 6–0 win over Croatia.
First start for Spain & BBC Man of the Match
Started in a 4–1 friendly win over Wales in Cardiff and was named man of the match by the BBC.
Transferred to Manchester City (release clause met)
Manchester City met Rodri's release clause (~£62.6–62.8m), he signed a five-year contract; record fee paid by City at the time.
Manchester City debut — FA Community Shield win
Made his City debut at Wembley; City beat Liverpool on penalties after 1–1 draw (Community Shield).
Premier League debut for Manchester City
Premier League debut in a 5–0 away win at West Ham United.
First goal for Manchester City
Scored his first goal for City in a 3–2 away defeat to Norwich City.
Hamstring injury (short-term)
Sidelined for about a month with a hamstring problem announced in October 2019.
EFL Cup winner (Carabao Cup) — scored in final
Scored City's second goal (a header) in a 2–1 win over Aston Villa at Wembley; match-winning goal.
Graduated — Degree in Business Administration (Jaume I University)
Studied at Jaume I University in Castellón de la Plana for four years while playing for Villarreal; graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Management (graduation year reported as 2021).
Scored penalty vs Tottenham
Converted City's first goal from the penalty spot in a 3–0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Premier League title (2020–21 season)
Part of Manchester City's Premier League winning squad (2020–21).
Premier League Goal of the Month (November 2021)
Won Premier League Goal of the Month for November 2021.
Top passing metrics in Premier League (2021–22 season)
Recorded leading pass completion counts and completion rate among Premier League midfielders in 2021–22 (pass completion ~91.8%; pass count high).
Manchester City contract extension until 2027
Agreed to extend his City contract, committing him to the club until 2027.
Part of FA Cup-winning squad (2022–23)
Member of Manchester City's 2022–23 FA Cup winners.
PFA Team of the Year (Premier League 2022–23)
Named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2022–23 Premier League season.
UEFA Champions League Team of the Season (2022–23)
Included in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season following City's 2022–23 victory.
Globe Soccer Awards — Best Midfielder of the Year (2023)
Recognized by Globe Soccer Awards as Best Midfielder (2023).
Premier League titles (continued success)
Contributed to Manchester City's league titles across multiple seasons; key part of a squad that later won four consecutive titles (2020–21 to 2023–24).
First time captaining Spain
Captained Spain for the first time in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier (2–0 loss to Scotland at Hampden Park).
First UEFA Champions League goal
Scored his first UCL goal in a 3–0 quarter-final first-leg win over Bayern Munich.
Scored winning goal in Champions League final; completed continental treble
Scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Inter Milan in the UCL final; City completed the treble (Premier League, FA Cup, UCL). Named match Player of the Match.
UEFA Champions League Player of the Season (2022–23)
Selected as the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season for 2022–23.
UEFA Nations League Finals — Player of the Tournament & winner
Named Player of the Finals for the 2023 Nations League; Spain beat Croatia in the final on penalties; Rodri scored his penalty in the shootout.
First Premier League red card
Sent off vs Nottingham Forest for lashing out at Morgan Gibbs-White; first PL red card.
FIFA Club World Cup winner & Golden Ball (2023)
Won the FIFA Club World Cup with Manchester City and was awarded the tournament Golden Ball (best player).
Suspension(s) following disciplinary bookings (season impact)
Following red card and accumulation of bookings, suspensions coincided with a run of matches City lost while he was unavailable (Sep–Dec 2023 period).
IFFHS recognitions (World Team / UEFA Team / World's Best Player 2024)
Named in IFFHS Men's World Team (2023, 2024), IFFHS Men's UEFA Team (2024) and IFFHS World's Best Player (2024).
PFA Team of the Year (Premier League 2023–24)
Named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2023–24 Premier League season.
Captained Spain (second time) and scored two penalties vs Brazil
Captain for the second time in a friendly vs Brazil; scored twice (both penalties) in a 3–3 draw — his 2nd and 3rd senior international goals.
50th cap for Spain (warm-up vs Northern Ireland)
Earned his 50th international cap in Spain's 5–1 warm-up win over Northern Ireland in Mallorca (pre-Euro 2024 warm-up).
Scored in UEFA Euro 2024 (vs Georgia)
Scored in Spain's Euro 2024 campaign (30 June 2024 RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne) — part of Spain's run to the final.
UEFA Euro 2024 Winner; Player of the Tournament
Spain beat England 2–1 in the Euro 2024 final; Rodri named Player of the Tournament with a standout tournament (92% passing accuracy reported).
UEFA investigation opened over celebration chant
Investigation opened after Rodri and Morata were filmed chanting 'Gibraltar is Spanish' during Euro 2024 celebrations.
Formally charged by UEFA; disciplinary proceedings
Formally charged under Article 11 of UEFA; later handed a one-match ban related to the celebration chant.
Sustained ACL and meniscus injury vs Arsenal; ruled out long-term
Withdrawn in the first half of a 2–2 draw with Arsenal; later confirmed ACL and meniscus injury ruling him out for majority of 2024–25 season.
Awarded the Ballon d'Or (2024)
Won the 2024 Ballon d'Or — first Manchester City player to win it and the second male Spanish winner after Luis Suárez (1960).
Return from long-term injury — substitute vs Bournemouth
Made comeback as a late substitute in a 3–1 win against Bournemouth in the penultimate match of the 2024–25 season (first appearance since ACL injury).
Key Achievement Ages
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