Richard Rufus

Its_Hamer_Time

Along with Deano, Rufus is my favourite player to wear the Charlton Red. Absolute hero of a player, and as mentioned many times....that tackle against Spurs!!!

chazza

Mr. Happy said:

Best defender I've ever seen at Charlton, no doubt at all. Him not ever getting an England cap still winds me up to this day.

This 100%.

Lincsaddick

Like his initials a real Rolls Royce of a defender. Scored his first ever goal in a vital Wembley final .. you couldn't make it up. Reputedly in strife with another ex Charlton defender who was forced by injury into retirement. Irrespective of the rights and wrongs, I know whose 'side' I am on

cafctom

Fantastic player. That crunching tackle at Spurs was memorable and of course the goal at Wembley.

Was England quality, however back then call ups seemed a lot harder to come by (as they should be). Nowadays, they get given out like rolos.

pathdw98

Granpa said:

Best Centre back ever who did not get a cap, what would he be worth today ?

If Rio was worth £30m in 2002, if he played today, I reckon about at least the same, must be. back then I say about £15m
but because he played for charlton, no one would have paid what he was worth. always the same story with big and so called "small" teams sadly.

kentaddick

It seems extraordinary by today's standards he didnt get a call up. But Back then you had the likes of Campbell, Ferdinand, Southgate, Terry that were in front of him and had just as much talent but had more international experience/potential.

Jayajosh

I can't remember but did he ever play alongside Costa?

Jensenwasclass

Best Centre Half I've ever seen play for Charlton, and all round nice guy.
Sadly he had to pack up playing far too young, same as Super Clive and Andy Hunt.
Why are we so unlucky with these great players!

Fiiiiiish

Favourite all time player, hero.

Remember when he broke into the first team as a youngster, some of the tackles he was making were exceptional. Remember him a fair few times being yards away from the striker and slide tackling from behind just as the striker was going to pull the trigger and still coming away with the ball. Magnificent player.

LenGlover

Jayajosh said:

I can't remember but did he ever play alongside Costa?

Young Fish Costa Fortune

I think Costa came in because he (Rufus) was injured along with Steve Brown and others at the time so we were down to the "bare bones"

So the answer to your question, I think, is "no"

pathdw98

Jayajosh said:

I can't remember but did he ever play alongside Costa?

I know they were at the club at the same time, but I think Len might be right about not actually playing together
Kind of hope i'm wrong though. Wonder what it would've been like if they played together for about a season or 2

SuperCliveMendonca

kentaddick said:

It seems extraordinary by today's standards he didnt get a call up. But Back then you had the likes of Campbell, Ferdinand, Southgate, Terry that were in front of him and had just as much talent but had more international experience/potential.

Big club syndrome

BlackForestReds

Big club syndrome - certainly played a part in Johnny H never getting a call up, but around the time Rufus was in serious contention another Charlton player won five caps for England.

What I think counted against RR wasn't his defending skills which were never in doubt, but his poor distribution once he'd won the ball.

killerandflash

Rufus was unlucky that his serious injuries were relatively soon after Sven took over. Under Sven, more players were capped, and from more different clubs. Powell, Luke Young, Konch, Parker were all capped under Sven (I think) so there was no 'anti Charlton bias'.

With Barcelona the shining light in European football in recent years, kids growing up nowadays want to be the next Lionel Messi and Rufus told KSN how he hopes to coach the next generation to play football in a similar style:

Rufus and the Barcelona style, interesting :-)

killerandflash

Incidentally, I'm surprised the soccer elite website doesn't mention Rufus, as he's by far the most 'famous' person on their coaching books.
https://soccerelitefa.com/coaches/

LenGlover

killerandflash said:

Incidentally, I'm surprised the soccer elite website doesn't mention Rufus, as he's by far the most 'famous' person on their coaching books.
https://soccerelitefa.com/coaches/

A lot of those coaches are ex Gillingham one way or the other.

Rufus_Ambition

Rubbish player, never put any effort in.

Only joking! My favourite player, as you might guess from my username

killerandflash

Odd that it's taken him the best part of 10 years to get into coaching though.

JohnnyH2

LenGlover said:

Jayajosh said:

I can't remember but did he ever play alongside Costa?

Young Fish Costa Fortune

I think Costa came in because he (Rufus) was injured along with Steve Brown and others at the time so we were down to the "bare bones"

So the answer to your question, I think, is "no"

The answer to the question is yes.

For example the great challenge at Spurs from Rufus which as proven by this thread is still talked about by some people today had both Rufus & Costa playing

lrobinson11

They do, but not posted on the coaches page. He joined end of Jan after participating in a charity match. Having trouble posting link, google richard rufus soccer elite and you will see some related posts shown. One mentions the charity match and another taking some coaching sessions.

northstandsteve

Spot on BFR, loved Rufus but never England class, just didn't have enough quality with the ball at his feet. Great tackler, but when in possession I just wanted him to get rid.

Norfolk_Addick

Dizzle said:

Rufus is my favourite ever player. I have never had the chance to meet him : (

He's not dead.

AddickUpNorth

He was a phenomenal player and it was a privilege to watch him play. Probably the first name I'd put down on an all-time Charlton XI.