jose salomon rondon

José Salomón Rondón Giménez was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on September 16, 1989. His football career began at the age of seven with local club San José de Calasanz, progressing through Deportivo Gulima and Aragua FC’s youth systems. He made his professional debut in the Venezuelan Primera División with Aragua FC at 17, marking the start of a career that would see him become Venezuela’s all-time top goalscorer. Rondón’s early years were characterized by a steady development of his skills as a striker, which prepared him for the transition to European football.

Rondón’s career trajectory saw him move to Spain in 2008, joining UD Las Palmas. Here, he continued to refine his attacking abilities, eventually becoming the youngest foreign player to score for the club. A significant transfer in 2010 to Málaga CF saw him break a transfer fee record, where he surpassed a Venezuelan goal-scoring record in La Liga. His European journey continued with successful stints at Russian clubs Rubin Kazan and Zenit Saint Petersburg, where he won the 2015 national championship with Zenit. His time in England included playing for West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United (on loan), and Everton, consistently contributing goals and assists across these teams.

Returning to the Americas in 2023, Rondón joined Argentine club River Plate, quickly securing an Argentine Primera División title. He then moved to Liga MX club Pachuca, where he achieved significant success, including winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup in his debut season and finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with nine goals. Currently, he is on loan at Real Oviedo in La Liga, showcasing his adaptability and continued impact on the field. Throughout his career, Rondón has been a mainstay of the Venezuela national team, earning over 120 caps and serving as captain, demonstrating his value as a leader and a national football icon.