Rubén Rayos

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

Rubén Rayos Serna (born 21 June 1986), commonly known as Rayo, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.

Rayo

Rayo as a Maccabi Haifa player (2013)
Personal information
Full name	Rubén Rayos Serna[1]
Date of birth	(1986-06-21) 21 June 1986 (age 38)[1]
Place of birth	Elche, Spain
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
	Elche
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2006	Elche B
2006–2008	Elche	0	(0)
2006–2008	→ Villajoyosa (loan)	62	(20)
2008–2009	Barcelona B	23	(0)
2009–2010	Orihuela	35	(11)
2010–2011	Lleida	33	(19)
2011–2013	Asteras Tripolis	62	(12)
2013–2015	Maccabi Haifa	54	(17)
2015–2016	Sochaux	12	(0)
2016–2020	Anorthosis	111	(30)
2020–2021	Bandırmaspor	23	(5)
2022	Ejea	12	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:00, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Rayo was born in Elche, Valencian Community. He finished his youth career with Elche CF, and played only Segunda División B football until the age of 25, representing Villajoyosa CF, FC Barcelona Atlètic,^[2] Orihuela CF^[3] and UE Lleida.^[4]

In the summer of 2011, Rayo moved straight into the Super League Greece, joining a host of compatriots at Asteras Tripolis FC.^[5] He scored five league goals in his first season, adding three in the campaign's domestic cup.

Rayo improved his overall totals to nine goals and 12 assists in 2012–13. In the final of the Greek Cup, against Olympiacos FC, he put his team ahead 1–0 in an eventual 3–1 extra time loss.^[6] He was eventually chosen Best Foreign Player for his exploits^[7] and, during most of his spell, was also captain.

On 6 June 2013, Rayo signed a three-year contract with Maccabi Haifa FC, netting 11 goals from 27 appearances in his first year to help his new club to fourth position in the regular season of the Israeli Premier League.^[8] In March 2014, he was involved in an incident with Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv FC's Rafi Dahan, his harsh tackle producing an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his opponent which sidelined him for almost one year – he received a straight red card,^[9][10] and Dahan was eventually forced to retire;^[11] subsequently, Dahan filed a lawsuit against Rayo and Maccabi Haifa in an Israeli court,^[12] winning the legal action after the judge ruled that the other player's actions were deliberate.^[13]

On 8 July 2015, Rayo joined French side FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, agreeing to a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.^[14] Roughly one year later, he moved to Anorthosis Famagusta FC in the Cypriot First Division.^[15]

Career statistics

As of 9 March 2020^[16][17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Asteras Tripolis	2011–12	Super League Greece	27	5	4	3	—		—		31	8
	2012–13		35	7	9	2	4	1	—		48	10
	Total		62	12	13	5	4	1	0	0	79	18
Maccabi Haifa	2013–14	Israeli Premier League	27	11	1	0	12	6	—		40	17
	2014–15		27	6	2	2	—		6	4	35	12
	Total		54	17	3	2	12	6	6	4	75	29
Sochaux	2015–16	Ligue 2	12	0	2	0	—		2	0	16	0
Anorthosis	2016–17	Cypriot First Division	30	8	4	2	—		—		34	10
	2017–18		34	5	2	0	—		—		36	5
	2018–19		24	3	2	0	2	0	—		28	3
	2019–20		23	14	2	1	—		—		25	15
	Total		111	30	10	3	2	0	0	0	123	33
Career total			239	59	28	10	18	7	8	4	293	80

Honours

Asteras Tripolis

• Greek Football Cup runner-up: 2012–13^[6]

Individual

• Super League Greece Player of the Year: 2012–13
• Super League Greece Foreign Player of the Year: 2012–13^[7]