1. Overview
Rubén Hugo Ayala Sanabria (born January 8, 1950) is a former Argentine football player and manager. Known for his career as a dynamic forward, Ayala achieved significant success in Argentina, Spain, and Mexico. He was famously nicknamed RatónMouseSpanish due to his compact stature and agile playing style. His career highlights include multiple league titles in Argentina with Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro and in Spain with Atlético Madrid, where he also won the Intercontinental Cup. Internationally, he represented the Argentina national football team in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Following his retirement as a player, Ayala transitioned into coaching, contributing to two league titles as an assistant coach for C.F. Pachuca in Mexico.
2. Early Life
Rubén Ayala was born on January 8, 1950, in Humboldt, located in the Las Colonias Department of Santa Fe Province, Argentina. His full name is Rubén Hugo Ayala Sanabria. Throughout his career, he became widely known by his distinctive nickname, RatónMouseSpanish, a moniker that originated from his relatively short stature and quick movements on the field.
3. Playing Career
Rubén Ayala's playing career spanned from 1968 to 1984, during which he became a prominent forward for several clubs across Argentina, Spain, and Mexico, in addition to representing his national team.
3.1. Club Career
Ayala began his professional journey at Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro in Argentina, where he played from 1968 to 1973. He was an integral part of the legendary San Lorenzo team that famously went unbeaten throughout the entire 1972 Nacional championship, a feat that brought him global attention. During his time at San Lorenzo, he made 123 appearances and scored 47 goals, contributing to their Primera División triumphs in both the 1972 Metropolitano and the 1972 Nacional championships.
In 1973, Ayala made the transatlantic move to Spain, joining Atlético Madrid. His La Liga debut for the club took place on October 12, 1973, against RCD Espanyol. In his first season, 1973-74, Atlético Madrid finished as league runners-up. Ayala's time at the club was highly successful; he won several titles, including the Copa Intercontinental in 1974, the Copa del Rey in 1976, and the La Liga title in 1977. Despite missing the 1973-74 UEFA European Cup final against FC Bayern Munich due to cumulative yellow cards, a match Atlético ultimately lost, he remained a key player. Over approximately six seasons with Atlético Madrid, Ayala scored 58 goals in official matches. He played 169 league matches, scoring 45 goals, and his overall club record there was 214 appearances with 58 goals.
In 1979, Ayala moved to Mexico, where he played for Club Jalisco for one season (1979-1980), appearing in 29 matches and scoring 16 goals. He then transferred to Atlante F.C. in 1980, where he spent three seasons until 1984. With Atlante, he won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1983 and was part of the squad that finished as Primera División runner-up in the 1981-82 season. He made 135 appearances for Atlante, scoring 29 goals, before retiring from professional play.
3.2. International Career
Rubén Ayala was a notable figure for the Argentina national football team. He earned 25 caps and scored 11 goals for his country between 1969 and 1974. His international debut came in a friendly match against the North Korea national team in 1969. Ayala represented Argentina at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany, where he played in all six of his team's matches. A memorable moment from his World Cup campaign was his goal against Haiti.
4. Playing Style and Characteristics
Rubén Ayala's playing style was characterized by his agility and quickness, which complemented his physical attributes. Standing at 69 in (175 cm) and weighing 157 lb (71 kg), his relatively short stature earned him the enduring nickname RatónMouseSpanish. Primarily a center forward, Ayala was a right-footed player known for his ability to score goals and contribute significantly to his team's attacking play.
5. Career Statistics
The following table summarizes Rubén Ayala's club appearances and goals during his time in Spain:
| Club | Season | League | Cup | UEFA | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Atlético Madrid | 1973-74 | La Liga | 21 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 6 |
| 1974-75 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 35 | 8 | ||
| 1975-76 | 34 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 47 | 15 | ||
| 1976-77 | 34 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 43 | 18 | ||
| 1977-78 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 34 | 4 | ||
| 1978-79 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 6 | ||
| 1979-80 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||
| Club Total | 169 | 45 | 17 | 4 | 28 | 9 | 214 | 58 | ||
6. Managerial Career
After concluding his playing career, Rubén Ayala transitioned into coaching, primarily in Mexico. He held various managerial and assistant coaching positions throughout the years.
His early managerial stints include:
- Cobras de Querétaro (later Cobras de Ciudad Juárez): 1986-1987 and 1988-1989
- Tampico-Madero F.C. : 1987-1988
- Correcaminos UAT: 1992-1994
Ayala's most notable managerial contributions came during his time with C.F. Pachuca. He served as an assistant coach for the club from 2000 to 2005, playing a significant role in guiding Pachuca to two league titles: the Invierno 2001 and the Apertura 2003. He also had interim managerial roles with Pachuca in 2005.
Beyond senior team management, Ayala dedicated time to youth development. He coached Pachuca's youth teams from 2007 to 2008 and again from 2010 to 2011. His coaching career also included roles with:
- Universidad de Futbol: 2008-2010
- Titanes de Tulancingo: 2011-2012
- Murciélagos: 2012
- Club León (Youth): 2013-2019, including an interim spell with the senior team in 2017
7. Honours
Rubén Ayala achieved significant success during his playing career, collecting numerous titles with his clubs and earning individual accolades.
San Lorenzo
- Primera Division Metropolitano: 1972
- Primera Division Nacional: 1972
- Copa Argentina: Final Canceled in 1970
Atlético de Madrid
- Intercontinental Cup: 1974
- Copa del Rey: 1975-76
- La Liga: 1976-77
- European Cup: Runner-up 1973-74
Atlante F.C.
- CONCACAF Champions Cup: 1983
- Primera División: Runner-up 1981-82
Individual
- Copa Argentina Top Scorer: 1970 (5 goals)
8. Legacy
Rubén Ayala's career left a lasting mark on football in Argentina, Spain, and Mexico, both through his achievements as a player and his contributions as a coach. As a key forward, his explosive pace and prolific goal-scoring were instrumental in San Lorenzo's historic unbeaten run in the 1972 Nacional championship, a defining moment in Argentine football history. His successful tenure with Atlético Madrid further solidified his reputation as a top-tier international player, contributing to multiple domestic and international titles. In Mexico, his later playing years and extensive coaching career, particularly with C.F. Pachuca, underscore his enduring influence on the sport in the region. Ayala's dedication to both playing and coaching, including his work with youth teams, highlights his comprehensive commitment to football development across different nations.