Carlos Ruiz (Baza, 7/20/1983), second captain of the CD Tenerife and current emblem of history in the club. After ten seasons wearing the blue and white shirt, the future of the defender is still in doubt. His imminent withdrawal from soccer professional could be getting closer by not seeing a contract renewal so far after the completion of the current one in June this year.
“It will be a close game, but if we execute the plan, we opt for success”
The Grenadian does not rule out that the match on Saturday against the UD Las Palmas at Heliodoro Rodríguez López it could be his last Canarian derby as a Tenerife player. «I have considered for four seasons that it will be my last derby and my last season here. In the end, due to different circumstances, I have been able to continue extending my career as a professional”, he comments.
«I would like to play a derby in First Division; For now I focus on the one on Saturday »
Ruiz feels prepared so that if he retires in this current campaign, he can “shut down” his football phase.like blue and white However, he does not rule out having the strength to continue at least one more season with the club since he is in “good physical condition” and will leave the decision in the hands of the entity. “We have not yet sat down to talk, when we do we will deliberate a joint decision,” clarifies the Bastetano.
The CD Tenerife board of directors has already put on the table the commitment to reserve a position within the entity for both Carlos Ruiz and Aitor Sanz when they retire. This shows the chicharrero roots that exist with the two figures of Tenerife and the consecration of both referents with the club.
Carlos Ruiz is still not sure what his decision will be after the end of the contract. Among the options to continue his working life, the first, according to the man from Granada, will be to practice as a professional in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, a career in which he graduated from the University of Granada and in which he shows great interest. in the educational sector after specializing in the subject.
«If you relax, you pay for it. We must be together and give 200% for the win.”
Even so, he comments that it is “to always be grateful to have the doors open to the club that I love so much.” However, the central defender is very clear about the special connotations of each match against the yellows and admits that despite dragging the large number of matches of this nature behind him, he always experiences them “as if he were the first”.
When talking about seniority in the Tenerife entity, two names immediately come to mind: those of Aitor Sanz and Carlos Ruiz. They are in charge of creating the competitive atmosphere typical of derbies and transmitting it to their teammates. “In general, we are looking forward to Saturday and to be able to offer the fans victory,” said the man from Baza yesterday. The need for both clubs, both for UD Las Palmas to continue in direct promotion positions and for CD Tenerife to stay away from relegation, will make Saturday’s match a closely contested match at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López.
“Pressure is part of the profession, if you don’t like it, better change jobs”
León and his goal in the ‘playoff’
Far fewer Canarian derbies than the veteran Carlos Ruiz has behind him José León, a Tenerife central defender who is in his second season at the club. He scored the goal in the playoff duel at Heliodoro, which gave his team victory. «If it was already special because of everything we were experiencing with the playoff stage, with a derby, on top of that being able to debut with this shirt in such an important game against the eternal rival, and thanks to that goal to win, well imagine. I lived it in a very special, unforgettable way,” he recounted.
