Cristian Ramírez (Ecuadorian footballer)

Contents

Cristian Leonel Ramírez Zambrano (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkɾistjan raˈmiɾes]; born 12 August 1994) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Lokomotiv Moscow of the Russian Premier League and the Ecuador national team.[1] An ambidextrous dribbler, Ramirez has had the foreign press comparing him to Roberto Carlos.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Club career

Independiente Jose Teran

Having started out early with CSCyD Brasilia, he was signed in 2009 by Independiente Jose Teran. His professional debut came on 28 August 2011, against El Nacional, and started most of his 2011 Serie A games. Throughout the season, he was a defender and attacker against the league's top teams, like LDU Quito, Deportivo Quito, and Barcelona SC. He also gained a reputation, having stopped on their tracks young Ecuadorian talents such as Fidel Martinez and Renato Ibarra; the latter being during Ramirez' debut.

Ramírez continued to play with the starting eleven for the 2012 season. After garnering international attention, he had trials with Borussia Dortmund,[9] though he could not be signed by the club then due to UEFA rules restricting signage of foreign players under 18, and a 10-day trial with Harry Redknapp's Tottenham Hotspur, which began on 3 April 2012.

Fortuna Düsseldorf

On 25 January 2013, he signed for German Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf.[10][11][12]

1. FC Nürnberg

On 17 June 2014, it was confirmed that Cristian would be loaned to Nürnberg for the 2014–2015 season.[13][14][15]

Ferencváros

On 2 April 2016, Ramírez became Hungarian League champion with Ferencvárosi TC after losing to Debreceni VSC 2–1 at the Nagyerdei Stadion in the 2015–16 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season.[16]

Krasnodar

On 9 January 2017, he signed a 4.5-year contract with the Russian Premier League club Krasnodar.[17] On 20 February 2021, Krasnodar removed him from the official squad registered with the RPL for the rest of the 2020–21 season due to injury. On 15 May 2021, he extended the contract with Krasnodar to 30 June 2025.[18] On 3 March 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Krasnodar announced that his contract is suspended and he will not train with the team, but the contract is not terminated and remains valid.[19]

Return to Ferencváros

On 14 July 2023, Ferencváros announced Ramírez's return.[20]

On 6 August 2023, he scored his first goal in the 2023–24 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season against Fehérvár FC at the Sóstói Stadion.[21]

On 20 April 2024, the Ferencváros–Kisvárda tie ended with a goalless draw at the Groupama Aréna on the 29th match day of the 2023–24 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season[22] which meant that Ferencváros won their 35th championship.[23][24]

On 15 May 2024, Ferencváros were defeated by Paks 2–0 in the 2024 Magyar Kupa Final at the Puskás Aréna.[25][26]

Lokomotiv Moscow

On 26 July 2025, Ramírez returned to Russia and signed a two-year contract with Lokomotiv Moscow.[27]

International career

Ramírez first played for Ecuador in the 2011 under-17 squad, who participated in the 2011 South American U-17 Football Championship, and just barely qualified for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[28] Ramírez showcased his footballing skills and mental capacity in the 2011 U-17 World Cup to successfully defend against the likes of Germany, Panama and Burkina Faso. It was in this tournament where he has instantly intrigued the international club scene. As of April 2012, he has been called up for the U-20 squad, to be able to participate in the 2013 U-20 tournaments.

Ramírez was called up for the friendly matches against Argentina and Honduras on 15 and 20 November 2013. He made his debut as a second-half substitute against Honduras.

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Independiente del Valle2011Ecuadorian Serie A20000—200
201232000—320
Total5200000520
Fortuna Düsseldorf2012–13Bundesliga00——00
2013–142. Bundesliga16010—170
Total1601000170
Nürnberg2014–152. Bundesliga7010—80
Ferencváros2014–15Nemzeti Bajnokság I13031—161
2015–16284703[29]0384
2016–17140102[30]0170
Total55411150715
Krasnodar2016–17Russian Premier League110103[29]0150
2017–18200104[29]0250
2018–19230408[29]0350
2019–20260109[31]0360
2020–21160008[30]1241
2021–2212010—130
2022–23272120—392
Total13522003211873
Ferencváros2023–24Nemzeti Bajnokság I2414010[32]1382
2024–25Nemzeti Bajnokság I2103113[33]0371
Total45171231753
Lokomotiv Moscow2025–26Russian Premier League8070—150
Career total318747260242511

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Ecuador201310
201430
201620
201720
2018101
201930
202410
Total221
List of international goals scored by Cristian Ramírez
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
16 October 2016Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, EcuadorChile2–03–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

  • Hungarian League: 2015–16
  • Hungarian Cup (3): 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
  • Hungarian League Cup: 2014–15

Personal life

On 3 June 2021, he acquired citizenship of Russia after playing in the country for 4.5 years.[34]

In an interview with Nemzeti Sport, he said that he "used to spend Christmas at his home in Ecuador. However, in the last couple of years [he] usually spends his winter holiday with his family in an Asian country". He said that he is very satisfied with the results achieved in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League with Ferencvárosi TC and it does not matter if they have to face with Olympiacos F.C. in the knock-out stage.[35]

References

  1. 1."Cristian Ramírez, nuevo integrante del Krasnodar de Rusia". 14 December 2016.
  2. 2.Cristian Ramírez at Soccerway
  3. 3."El Sub-17 Cristian Ramírez pasaría al Borussia Dortmund de Alemania" (in Spanish). mifutbolecuador.wordpress.com. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  4. 4."En Inglaterra dicen que el Tottenham contrataría al ecuatoriano Cristian Ramírez" (in Spanish). marcador.ec. 2 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  5. 5."Juvenil ecuatoriano jugará en Alemania". ecuadorinmediato.com. 24 January 2013. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  6. 6.Nixon, Alan (April 2012). "EXCLUSIVE: Spurs line up Ecuador's answer to Roberto Carlos". mirrorfootball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  7. 7."Cristian Ramírez habla sobre su 2012 y el futuro en el exterior" (in Spanish). futbolecuatv.blogspot.com.au. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  8. 8."Volvió tras dejar una buena impresión" (in Spanish). futbolecuador.com. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  9. 9."Juvenil del Independiente José Terán a un paso de fichar por el Borussia Dortmund" (in Spanish). marcador.ec. 1 August 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  10. 10."Fortuna verpflichtet Cristian Ramírez" (in German). fortuna-duesseldorf.de. 9 February 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  11. 11."Düsseldorf vor Verpflichtung von Ramirez" (in German). focus.de. 24 January 2013. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  12. 12."Transferticker: Carlos Eduardo nach Hause - Gekas fündig" (in German). Kicker. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  13. 13."Fortuna Düsseldorf: Avevor-Verpflichtung fix, Ramirez geht". 17 June 2014.
  14. 14."Ecuagol". Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  15. 15."Ya es oficial, Cristian Ramírez jugará en el 1. FC Nürnberg".
  16. 16."Ferencváros crowned Hungarian champions". UEFA.com. 2 April 2016.
  17. 17.«КРАСНОДАР» ОФОРМИЛ ОТНОШЕНИЯ С КРИСТИАНОМ РАМИРЕСОМ (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 9 January 2017.
  18. 18.""КРАСНОДАР" ПРОДЛИЛ КОНТРАКТ С КРИСТИАНОМ РАМИРЕСОМ" (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 15 May 2021.
  19. 19.""КРАСНОДАР" ПРИОСТАНОВИЛ КОНТРАКТЫ С НЕСКОЛЬКИМИ ИГРОКАМИ" (Press release) (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  20. 20."RAMÍREZ HAS RETURNED HOME". Ferencvárosi TC. 14 July 2023.
  21. 21."Fehérvár vs. Ferencváros - 6 August 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  22. 22."Ferencváros vs. Kisvárda - 20 April 2024 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  23. 23."Klubrekord! Sorozatban hatodszor bajnok a Ferencváros". Nemzeti Sport (in Hungarian). 20 April 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  24. 24."Ferencváros crowned Hungarian champions for sixth year in a row". 20 April 2024.
  25. 25.FC, PAKSI (15 May 2024). "KUPAGYŐZTESEK LETTÜNK!". paksifc.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  26. 26."Defeat in the MOL Hungarian Cup final". www.fradi.hu. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  27. 27."Кристиан Рамирес – новый игрок "Локомотива"!" [Cristian Ramírez is a new player of Lokomotiv!] (in Russian). FC Lokomotiv Moscow. 26 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  28. 28."¡"Lío" Ramírez al Borussia Dortmund!" (in Spanish). Extra.ec. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  29. 29.[29.2][29.3][29.4]Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  30. 30.[30.2]Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  31. 31.Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
  32. 32.Appearances in UEFA Conference League
  33. 33.Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, nine appearances in UEFA Europa League
  34. 34."Защитник "Краснодара" Кристиан Рамирес получил российское гражданство" (in Russian). Sports.ru. 3 June 2021.
  35. 35.nemzetisport.hu (26 December 2023). "FTC: A család az otthon – Cristian Ramírez - NSO". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 27 December 2023.