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The A-Z guide to Rayo Vallecano (Addition edition): C is for Celta de Vigo, Part 2 (17th December, 2017)

Continuing from part 1 yesterday...

However, after just two first team opportunities [at Barcelona], and a Jorge Valdano-influenced move to Real Madrid resulted in two dull seasons at Real Madrid Castilla left Roberto in serious doubts. Racing Vilalbés, his boyhood club, would take him back in a heartbeat.

But it was Numancia, in the Segunda, who saved what could have become a forgotten career. It was in Soria where he showed his ability to dictate games. Even though he played just 12 league games, his quality was clear.

From 2006-08 he played with Las Palmas. That summer he had offers from different foreign teams, but his desire to stay in Spanish soccer led him to the Canary Island club. His passing and service to strikers was well remembered, especially his connection with Marcos Márquez.

Las Palmas never tabled a renewal offer, and out of the many offers he received the chance to return to his native Galicia enticed him the most, and Balaídos was graced with the pass-master from 2008 to 2011. At this time his performances were catching the attention of international clubs, especially Qatari clubs. During the 2009-10, he had his best season, scoring nine goals in 38 matches and helping the Galicians to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, where they were valiantly ousted by eventual finalists Atlético Madrid (2-1 on aggregate, with the player netting in the first leg in Madrid in a 1-1 draw).

Trashorras, after deciding to terminate his five-year contract with Celta after three fruitful seasons there, took up one of many offers from La Liga teams. He signed for Rayo Vallecano.

And, for the Rayo captain and legend, the rest is history.





Roberto Trashorras was never the defensive midfielder he is now.

He started out as a attacking midfielder, dribbling past players with skill rather than pace. In fact, he would often play on the left wing as a wide play-maker, and even played there for Rayo in his first season (2011-12), because of his passing and creative abilities.

“He knew my strengths, above all with the ball. He told me that he wanted me to be important, but that I would have to work defensively and tactically to pressure up the pitch and be intense. He asked for a little more from me and I think I have given it to him. I feel in the best form of my career, individually and as a team.”


-Roberto Trashorras, on what Paco Jémez said to him when he first became manager.


Roberto Trashorras became the metronome of a suicidal Rayo team that became synonymous with a crazy coach. A coach who once said his theory on playing football was "one ball and two bollocks".

But a coach who understood that Trashorras' technical ability had to be harnessed into a role that took into account his aging legs. And the statistics don't lie - he was the best passer in La Liga in the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, and the best passer in the Segunda in the 2016-17 season.

Thanks, Trashorras.

"He asked for a little more from me and I think I have given it to him."

Damn right he did.

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