Rubén Ayala

"Ruben Ayala" redirects here. For the California politician, see Ruben Ayala (politician).

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

Rubén Hugo Ayala Sanabria (born 8 January 1950 in Santa Fe, Argentina) is a former Argentine football player and manager, who played as a forward.

Rubén Ayala

Ayala in 1974.
Personal information
Full name	Rubén Hugo Ayala Sanabria
Date of birth	(1950-01-08) 8 January 1950 (age 75)
Place of birth	Humboldt, Santa Fe, Argentina
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1968–1973	San Lorenzo	123	(47)
1973–1979	Atlético Madrid	169	(45)
1979–1980	Jalisco	29	(16)
1980–1984	Atlante	135	(29)
Total		456	(137)
International career
1969–1974	Argentina	25	(11)
Managerial career
1986–1987	Cobras de Ciudad Juárez
1987–1988	Tampico Madero
1988–1989	Cobras de Ciudad Juárez
1992–1994	Correcaminos UAT
2000–2003	Pachuca (Assistant)
2005	Pachuca (interim)
2007–2008	Pachuca Reserves and Academy
2008–2010	Universidad del Fútbol
2010–2011	Pachuca Reserves and Academy
2011–2012	Titanes Tulancingo
2012	Murciélagos
2013–2019	León Reserves and Academy
2017	León (Interim)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of May 2007

Playing career

Born in Humboldt, Las Colonias Department, Santa Fe Province, Ayala played club football for Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro in Argentina where he was part of the team that famously went unbeaten for the whole of the 1972 Nacional championship.

In 1973, he left for Atlético de Madrid in Spain where he won several titles. In 1979, he moved to Mexico to play for Club Jalisco and Atlante F.C.^[1]

During his playing career he earned 25 caps and scored 11 goals for the Argentina national football team, and played in the 1974 FIFA World Cup (scoring against Haiti).

He was nicknamed Ratón (Mouse) due to his short height.

Managerial career

After retiring as a player Ayala took up coaching in Mexico he has been manager of Cobras de Querétaro (1986–1987), Tampico-Madero (1987–1988), Cobras de Ciudad Juárez (1988–1989), Correcaminos (1992–1994) and C.F. Pachuca (2000–2005). During his time with Pachuca he guided them to two league titles the Invierno 2001 and the Apertura 2003 as an assistant coach.

Honours

San Lorenzo

• Primera Division Argentina: 1972 Metropolitano, 1972 Nacional
• Copa Argentina Final Canceled: 1970

Atlético de Madrid

• European Cup Runner-up: 1973-74
• Copa Intercontinental: 1974
• Copa del Rey: 1975-76
• La Liga: 1976-77

Atlante F.C.

• CONCACAF Champions Cup: 1983
• Primera División Runner-up: 1981-82

Individual

• Copa Argentina Top Scorer: 1970 (5 goals)