Raúl Jiménez

This article is about the Mexican footballer. For the Argentine singer, see Raúl Giménez.
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Jiménez and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.
Raúl Jiménez

Jiménez playing with Mexico in 2013
Personal information
Full name Raúl Alonso Jiménez Rodríguez[1]
Date of birth (1991-05-05) 5 May 1991
Place of birth Tepeji, Mexico
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current team
 Benfica
Number 9
Youth career
América
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2011–2014 América 96 (36)
2014–2015 Atlético Madrid 21 (1)
2015– Benfica 26 (5)
National team‡
2012 Mexico U23 13 (1)
2013– Mexico 43 (8)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 April 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 March 2016

Raúl Alonso Jiménez Rodríguez (born 5 May 1991) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a forward for Portuguese club Benfica and the Mexico national team.

He began his career in Club América's youth system before debuting in the first division in October 2011. He won his first championship with América in 2013, winning that years' Clausura tournament, where he was the team's second-highest goalscorer. In August 2014, Jiménez was sold to Spanish club Atlético Madrid, who were the reigning league champions. After one season, he was sold to Benfica.

Jiménez was a part of the Mexican squad that won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in 2012.[2] A full international since 2013, Jiménez has represented his country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2015 Copa América.

Club career

América

2011–12 season

Jiménez began his career playing for Club América's youth system, being considered a promising young striker. On 9 October 2011, under interim-coach Alfredo Tena, Jiménez made his professional debut during the Apertura tournament against Monarcas Morelia, in a match which ended in a 1–1 draw.[3] He scored his first goal on 30 October in a 2–3 loss to Puebla, scoring in the 2nd minute of the match.[4] He appeared six times and scored one goal in his debut tournament.

Jiménez did not appear in the Clausura 2012 until 11 February—week seven of the tournament—against Atlas, which ended in a 1–1 draw, coming on as a second-half substitute for Christian Bermúdez.[5] He scored his first goal of the tournament on 9 March in the 1–1 draw against Tijuana at the Estadio Caliente.[6] Jiménez appeared twelve times and scored once during the Clausura, with América being eliminated in the semi-finals by Monterrey.

2012–13 season

After participating in the Summer Olympics with Mexico and the sale of Vicente Matías Vuoso, Jiménez won a spot in América's starting eleven for the Apertura 2012 tournament, playing as a second-striker alongside Christian Benítez in manager Miguel Herrera's 5-3-2 tactical scheme. He was also given the vacant number 9 shirt, switching from the number 47 shirt he debuted with. Jiménez scored on 15 September in the 2–0 victory over Santos Laguna at the Estadio Azteca.[7] He would go on to score two weeks later in the 1–1 draw against Monarcas Morelia.[8] Jiménez received his first red card during América's 2–1 victory over San Luis, meaning he would miss "El Súper Clásico" against Guadalajara.[9] On 3 November, he scored the second goal in the 4–0 win over Pachuca.[10] On 17 November, Jiménez scored in the 1–2 defeat to Morelia in the second-leg of the quarter-final. Despite the loss, América won the series by a 3–2 aggregate score and advanced to the semi-finals.[11] América would ultimately be eliminated in the semi-finals by Toluca. Jimenéz ended the tournament with sixteen appearances and scoring four goals.

Jiménez began the Clausura 2013 tournament as a starter in the first two league matches, and scored his first brace in the 4–0 victory over Atlante on 19 January.[12] He bagged another brace on 2 February in América's 3–0 win against Querétaro.[13] On 31 March, Jiménez scored two headers in the 2–0 victory over Guadalajara at the Estadio Omnilife.[14] Jimenéz finished the regular phase of the tournament with eight goals, and scored in América's 1–0 away win over Pumas UNAM in the first-leg of the quarter-final series of the playoffs on 8 May.[15] In the second-leg of the semi-final series against Monterrey, Jimenéz scored from a penalty and assisted Christian Benitez in the second goal to win the match 2–1 (4–3 on aggregate), sending América to the Final against Cruz Azul.[16] Jiménez played in both legs and scored in the subsequent penalty shoot-out which América ultimately won, thus being crowned league champions.[17]

2013–2014 season

On 3 August 2013 Jiménez scored his first goal of the Apertura tournament in the 3–0 win over Atlas.[18] He would go on to score in the following three-consecutive matches in wins over Atlante, Pachuca, and Morelia, respectively, taking his goal tally to four goals in five matches played. He would score again on 13 September in América's 1–2 defeat to Santos Laguna.[19] On 5 October, Jiménez scored a header and assisted in Luis Gabriel Rey's goal in the 2–0 victory over Guadalajara.[20] Jiménez ended the regular-phase of the Apertura with seven goals in twelve games played. He scored in the second-leg of the quarter-finals against Tigres UANL which ended in a 1–1 draw at the Estadio Azteca on 1 December, with América advancing, despite a 2–2 aggregate score, due to the away-goals rule.[21] América would win the semi-final matches against Toluca and advance once again to the league final, though failing to achieve the repeat after losing both legs to León.[22]

During the 2014 Clausura season Jiménez paired with Luis Gabriel Rey creating a powerful pair in the Mexican league. During the play-offs, Jiménez scored a hat trick changing the score from 1–3 to 4–3, in the quarter-final match against Santos Laguna[23] the match ended in a 5–3 win for America, but it wasn't enough to stay in the run for the title since Santos Laguna would win in their home 3–1 ending in a 6–6 combined score [24] defeat for America (Since Santos won on away goals scored). Jiménez ended the season with 17 appearances and 8 goals scored in 1,458' minutes.[25] Recent rumors have arose stating Jiménez might move to a European team, after the World Cup.[26][27][28]

2014–2015 season

After his participation in the 2014 World Cup Jiménez was highly linked to a move to Portuguese club Porto.[29][30] However he began the Apertura 2014 season with America, with a great start after scoring 4 goals in the first 3 games. He scored a hat-trick against Puebla and assisted Oribe Peralta's first goal with America winning the match 4-0.[31] He played his last game for América on 9 August 2014 against Tigres where he assisted Miguel Layún's goal winning the match 2–0.

Atlético Madrid

Jiménez playing for Atlético Madrid in 2015

On 13 August 2014, Atlético Madrid reached an agreement with Club América for Jiménez,[32] for a fee reported to be in the region of €11 million.[33] The following day, he signed a six-year deal after passing the medical examination.[34] Jiménez made his debut on 16 August, in the final of the Ramón de Carranza Trophy pre-season tournament against Sampdoria, starting the match and being substituted out in the 79th minute. Atlético won 2–0.[35]

2014–15 season

Jiménez made his competitive debut in the first leg of the Supercopa de España on 19 August, a 1–1 draw against Real Madrid, playing the final 12 minutes in place of fellow debutant Mario Mandžukić.[36] Jiménez played in the second leg as well coming in as a substitute for Antoine Griezmann in the 73rd minute of the match, the game ended in a 1–0 win and an aggregated score of 2–1.[37]

Jiménez made his La Liga debut on 25 August 2014, in a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano. He scored his first league goal for Atlético on 27 September, in a 4–0 win against Sevilla, coming off the bench. It was his only for Atlético that season.[38]

Benfica

On 9 August 2015, Jiménez who had been expected to complete a loan deal to Premier League side West Ham, failed to show up to his medical claiming he had missed his flight to London after he had overslept.[39] However, multiple sources had reported his agent Jorge Mendes had suggested he spurn the move, in favour of a move to Primeira Liga side Benfica.[39]

On 13 August 2015, Jiménez joined Portuguese champions Benfica, signing a five-year deal.[40] Benfica reportedly paid a €1 million transfer fee, while acquiring 50 per cent of the player's rights for €3 million, with an agreement to share the player's salary with Atlético.[41]

2015–16 season

Jimenéz scored his first goal for Benfica on 29 August against Moreirense, scoring a header in the 75th minute to level the score 1–1, with Benfica eventually winning the match 3–2.[42]

On 26 November, Jimenéz scored his first two goals in the UEFA Champions League, striking at both ends in each half as Benfica salvaged a 2–2 away draw against Astana.[43] On 9 March 2016, he helped Benfica to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League in a 2–1 away victory against Zenit Saint Petersburg. In the 85th minute of the match, Jimenéz struck a long-range shot which was saved by Yuri Lodygin onto the bar, with the ball rebounding to Nicolás Gaitán who tied the match 1–1.[44][45] On 9 April, he came off the bench and scored the winning goal in the 2–1 victory against Académica, securing Benfica's lead in the Primeira Liga.[46] Four days later, due to the suspension of Jonas in the first leg, Jiménez started the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final match against Bayern Munich, scoring the first goal in the 2–2 draw at the Estádio da Luz; a 3–2 defeat on aggregate meant Benfica were eliminated from the competition.[47]

International career

Mexico U23

2012 Toulon Tournament

In 2012, Jiménez was selected by coach Luis Fernando Tena to participate in the 2012 Toulon Tournament with the under-23 national team. Jiménez managed to score Mexico's third goal in the 4–2 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals on 30 May.[48] Mexico would subsequently win the final, defeating Turkey 3–0.[49]

2012 Summer Olympics

Jiménez made the final cut in the squad participating in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[50] He made his Olympic debut in the group stage match against South Korea on 26 July, which ended in a 0–0 draw, with Jiménez coming in as a substitute and coming close to scoring a late goal, with the ball ricocheting off the goalkeeper's left-hand post.[51] He subsequently made appearances against Switzerland,[52] Senegal,[53] Japan,[54] and Brazil in the final, coming on as a substitute in those matches. Mexico would go on to defeat Brazil 2–1 and win the gold medal.[55][56]

Mexico national team

Jiménez made his debut for the senior national team in a 1–1 draw against Denmark on 30 January 2013, coming on as a second-half substitute.[57]

2013 FIFA Confederations Cup

On 20 May 2013, Jiménez was named in the 23-man squad participating in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup held in Brazil,[58] and featured in all three group games for a combined 96 minutes. On 22 June, he was named in the starting eleven for the third match against Japan, being substituted off in the 90th minute for Javier Aquino in Mexico's 2–0 victory.[59]

2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup

On 26 June 2013, it was announced that Jiménez was included in Mexico's 23-man squad for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, replacing midfielder David Cabrera due to injury.[60] He was a starter and played in every group stage match, managing to score against Canada in Mexico's 2–0 win on 11 July.[61] On 20 July, Jiménez scored the only goal in the quarterfinal victory over Trinidad and Tobago.[62] Mexico would be eliminated by Panama in the semifinal.

2014 FIFA World Cup

On 5 June 2014, Jiménez was confirmed in coach Miguel Herrera's final 23-man team participating in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[63] He did not appear in Mexico's opener against Cameroon. On 17 June, Jiménez made his World Cup debut against host nation Brazil, entering as a substitute for Giovani dos Santos in the 84th minute.[64]

2015 Copa América

In Mexico's second game of the 2015 Copa América tournament against hosts Chile, Jiménez headed from a corner to give Mexico the 2–1 lead in an eventual 3–3 draw at the Estadio Nacional.[65] In their next match against Ecuador on 19 June, he scored from the penalty spot after Gabriel Achilier brought down Hugo Ayala, but the 1–2 defeat saw Mexico eliminated in last place in their group.[66]

Career statistics

Club

As of 2 May 2016[67]
Club Season League Cup1 Continental2 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
América 2011–12 182——182
2012–13 391420—4114
2013–14 351621223919
2014–15 44—0044
Total 9636412210239
Atlético Madrid 2014–15 2115010271
Benfica 2015–16 265631034211
Career total 1434215413517151

1Includes the Copa MX, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga.
2Includes the CONCACAF Champions League and UEFA Champions League.

International

As of 30 March 2016[68]
Mexico national team
YearAppsGoals
2013204
201482
2015142
201610
Total438

Honours

Club

América
Atlético Madrid

International

Mexico U23
Mexico

References

  1. 1 2 "Raúl Jiménez". UEFA.com.
  2. ↑ "Mexico's breath of fresh air". FIFA. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Alcibvia, Rafael. "América 1-1 Morelia… Las Águilas se alejaron de la calificación" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  4. ↑ Alcivia, Rafael. "América 2-3 Puebla... Las Águilas se despidieron del Azteca con derrota" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  5. ↑ Garrido, José Maria. "Atlas 1-1 América... Húmedo empate en el Jalisco" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  6. ↑ Zamora, Jessica. "Tijuana 1-1 América... Con nueve, Xolos rescató empate ante el Águila" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  7. ↑ Malagón, Edgar. "América 2-0 Santos... Águilas abollan corona del Campeón" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  8. ↑ Montes, Jose Martín. "América 1-1 Morelia... Ninguno convence" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  9. ↑ Terán, Jose Manuel. "San Luis 1-2 América... 'Chucho' Benítez regresó y el Águila voló" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  10. ↑ Terán, Jose Manuel. "América 4-0 Pachuca... 'Chucho' destrozó las esperanzas tuzas" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  11. ↑ Montes, Juan Martín. "América (3)1-2(2) Morelia... Clasificación dramática" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  12. ↑ Terán, Jose Manuel. "América 4-0 Atlante... Águilas de hierro" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Regresa América al triunfo y sin esforzarse vence 3-0 a Querétaro" (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  14. ↑ McCauley, Kevin. "Chivas Guadalajara vs. Club América, 2013 Super Clasico: Final score 0-2, Goats crumble". SB Nation. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  15. ↑ Collazo, Jonathan. "América vuela otra vez ante Pumas, ahora en Liguilla" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  16. ↑ "América vence 2-1 a Monterrey y 'vuela' a la final del futbol mexicano" (in Spanish). CNN México. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  17. 1 2 "¡América es Campeón de la Liga MX!". ClubAmérica.com.mx (in Spanish). Club América. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  18. ↑ "América 3-0 Atlas: Las Águilas homenajearon con goles a 'Chucho' Benítez". Univision.com (in Spanish). Univision. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  19. ↑ Ruiz, Alberto (13 September 2013). "Santos freno el vueló del ave" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  20. ↑ McCauley, Kevin (5 October 2013). "Club America vs. Chivas Guadalajara: Final score 2-0, Raul Jimenez the Super Eagles' hero". SB Nation. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  21. ↑ "América 1-1 Tigres" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  22. ↑ Contreras Legaspi, Carlos (15 December 2013). "León, campeón del Apertura 2013". La Afición (in Spanish). Grupo Milenio. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  23. ↑ "América 5 - 3 Santos - mediotiempo.com". mediotiempo.com. 30 April 2014.
  24. ↑ "Santos 3 - 1 América - mediotiempo.com". mediotiempo.com. 3 May 2014.
  25. ↑ Raúl Jiménez Liga MX stats at Medio Tiempo.com (Spanish)
  26. ↑ "Raúl Jiménez sueña con Europa luego del mundial". El Diario de Yucatán.
  27. ↑ http://www.goal.com/es-mx/news/4832/mercado-de-pases/2013/11/19/4419596/raúl-jiménez-pinta-para-alemania-y-holanda
  28. ↑ "La Crónica de Hoy - Raúl Jiménez suena para el Porto". cronica.com.mx.
  29. ↑ "Las negociaciones de América-Porto, por Raúl Jiménez, están estancadas". ESPNDeportes.
  30. ↑ "Report: Raul Jimenez to join Reyes, Herrera at Porto". Goal.com.
  31. ↑ http://www.ligamx.net/home/noticia.html?id=8232
  32. ↑ "Agreement with América for the transfer of Raúl Jiménez". Atlético Madrid. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  33. ↑ "El Atlético ficha a Raúl Jiménez" [Atlético signs Raúl Jiménez] (in Spanish). Marca. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  34. ↑ "Welcome Raúl Jiménez". Atlético Madrid. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  35. ↑ "Raúl Jiménez ganó primer titulo con el 'Atleti'" (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  36. ↑ "Spanish Super Copa: Real Madrid and Atletico draw 1–1 in first leg". Sky Sports News. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  37. 1 2 Jenson, Peter (22 August 2014). "Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid (agg 2-1): Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez fail to fire as quickfire Mario Mandzukic secures Spanish Super Cup for Diego Simeone". Daily Mail. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  38. ↑ "R. Jiménez". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  39. 1 2 "Raúl Jiménez overslept and missed West Ham medical". Diario AS. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  40. ↑ "Mostrar que posso ajudar a equipa" [Show that I can help the team] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  41. ↑ "Mexico striker Raul Jimenez reaches deal to join Benfica". ESPN FC. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  42. ↑ "Benfica fights back for 3-2 win over Moreirense". Fox Sports. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  43. ↑ "Benfica fight back to eliminate Astana". Uefa.com. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  44. ↑ "Zenit St Petersburg 1-2 Benfica (1-3 agg)". BBC Sport. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  45. ↑ van Poortvliet, Richard (9 March 2016). "Benfica's Zenit late show wins quarter-final spot". UEFA. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  46. ↑ "Raúl Jiménez da triunfo al Benfica y lo mantiene como líder" [Raúl Jiménez gives the victory to Benfica who remain in lead]. Excélsior (in Spanish). 9 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  47. ↑ "Benfica 2-2 Bayern Munich". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  48. ↑ Gomez, Eric. "Mexico U23 4-2 Netherlands U23: El Tri, Fabian make Toulon history". Goal.com. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  49. 1 2 Gomez, Eric. "Mexico U23 3-0 Turkey U23: El Tri win their first Toulon tournament". Goal.com. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  50. ↑ "Convocatoria de la Selección Mexicana para Juegos Olimpicos". (In Spanish) Mi Seleccion. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  51. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/stories/18911187
  52. ↑ "Mexico vs. Switzerland". London 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  53. ↑ "Mexico vs. Senegal". London 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  54. ↑ "Mexico vs. Japan". London 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  55. ↑ "Mexico vs. Brazil". London 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  56. 1 2 Borden, Sam. "Mexico Has Its Moment in Upset Over Brazil". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  57. ↑ "Mexico and Denmark play to 1-1 draw in exhibition match". Fox News.
  58. ↑ "Convocatoria de la Selección Mayor" (in Spanish). Femexfut. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  59. ↑ "Japan 1 Mexico 2: Hernandez heads home twice before shocking late miss as both teams bow out of Confederations Cup". Daily Mail. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  60. ↑ "Raúl Jiménez jugará la Copa Oro". ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  61. ↑ Mayers, Joshua (11 July 2013). "Mexico knocks off Canada, 2–0, in Gold Cup match". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  62. ↑ Lee Rigg, Zach (21 July 2013). "Mexico Edged Trinidad & Tobago: Raul Jimenez Goal Lifts El Tri Into Gold Cup Semifinal (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  63. ↑ "Mexico squad for 2014 World Cup: the 23 chosen by Miguel Herrera". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  64. ↑ Smith, Ben (17 June 2014). "Brazil 0-0 Mexico". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  65. ↑ "Hosts Chile draw with Mexico in six-goal Copa América thriller". The Guardian (Reuters). 16 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  66. ↑ "Bolanos, Valencia score as Ecuador bounce Mexico from Copa America". ESPN. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  67. ↑ "Raúl Jiménez stats". ESPN FC.
  68. ↑ "Raúl Jiménez". National Football Teams. Retrieved 9 June 2015.

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