Salva Ruiz closes CD Castellón chapter as president hails him as an example | OneFootball

The club announced on Monday that captain Salva Ruiz will leave CD Castellón, ending the tenure of the last pre-Voulgaris player in the squad.

Since the arrival of president Haralabos Voulgaris, Castellón have grown while frequently refreshing the squad. Four members of the group that secured promotion to Segunda División in 2024 remain, Alberto Jiménez, Israel Suero, Douglas Aurélio and Raúl Sánchez.

Ruiz has been central to that rise, making 127 appearances across five seasons and celebrating one promotion. He also served as a link in the dressing room between long‑standing players and new signings.

Voulgaris said Ruiz had represented the badge with professionalism, commitment, humility and pride. He described him as a true professional and a captain, an example to team‑mates and staff, adding that players like Ruiz help build a club’s culture through daily behaviour. He thanked Ruiz and expressed his respect and gratitude.

Salvador Ruiz Rodríguez, born in Albal, Valencia in 1995, joined in summer 2021. He spent three seasons in Primera RFEF as the first‑choice left‑back when fit, then in two Segunda campaigns he saw reduced prominence but still surpassed 1,000 minutes in both. Versatile, he filled in at centre‑back, wing‑back and occasionally on the right.

Aged 31, he is out of contract on 30 June and will not be renewed. He continues a career shaped by bone marrow aplasia diagnosed at 21, which checked a path towards the elite. Before that he had featured for Mestalla at youth level, debuted in Segunda with Tenerife and in Primera with Granada, and was a Spain youth international.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo