He appeared once for the first team, in 1995–96's final round, a 2–2 away draw against Deportivo de La Coruña on 26 May 1996,[2] and his first full professional season came in 1997–98 with Segunda División club Toledo.

[3] He was instrumental, alongside Catanha and José María Movilla, in the side's promotion to La Liga (they were in the Segunda División B the previous season).

Although almost never an undisputed starter, he contributed good overall performances and, on 14 March 2004, scored twice at Celta (2–0)[5] as the Che went on to win another domestic championship; he was already part of the title-winning squad of 2001–02.

[17] Rufete returned to Espanyol as sporting director, and became their interim manager on 27 June 2020 when Abelardo Fernández was sacked from the last-placed club with six games to go.

[18] The next day, in his first professional game in charge, his side lost by a single goal at home to Real Madrid;[19] he oversaw their first fall from the top flight since 1993.