Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz, known as Míchel (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmitʃel]; born 30 October 1975), is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the manager of Girona.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 30 October 1975[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Madrid, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Girona (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1992 | Rayo Vallecano | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1996 | Rayo Vallecano B | ||
| 1993–2003 | Rayo Vallecano | 186 | (31) |
| 1997 | → Almería (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2003–2006 | Murcia | 39 | (4) |
| 2005 | → Málaga (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2006–2012 | Rayo Vallecano | 177 | (22) |
| Total | 429 | (58) | |
| International career | |||
| 1991 | Spain U16 | 10 | (2) |
| 1993–1994 | Spain U18 | 17 | (3) |
| 1995 | Spain U19 | 1 | (1) |
| 1995 | Spain U20 | 6 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2012–2017 | Rayo Vallecano (youth) | ||
| 2017–2019 | Rayo Vallecano | ||
| 2019–2021 | Huesca | ||
| 2021– | Girona | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
In a 20-year senior career, he amassed La Liga totals of 182 matches and 25 goals, adding 169 games and 18 goals in the Segunda División and playing mostly with Rayo Vallecano (17 seasons, three spells).[2][3][4]
As a manager, Míchel led Rayo, Huesca and Girona in both top divisions, winning promotion with all three including as champions with the first two clubs.
Playing career
editMíchel was born in Madrid. A product of Rayo Vallecano's youth system, he appeared once for the first team in the 1993–94 season, then alternated between them and the reserves two more years.[4]
After a loan to UD Almería in the Segunda División,[5] Míchel returned to Rayo, being essential as the capital outskirts side finished ninth in 1999–2000 and qualified for the subsequent UEFA Cup through fair play.[6] The following campaign, he scored a career-best ten times in 33 games (all starts) as they ranked 14th; he added six goals in the UEFA Cup, in a run that ended in the quarter-finals at the hands of fellow La Liga club Deportivo Alavés.[7][6]
Míchel moved in 2003 to Real Murcia CF for a €2,7 million fee, being relatively used in his first year, which ended in top-division relegation. He appeared very rarely, however, in his final two seasons, which included a six-month loan spell with Málaga CF in 2004–05, where he was also sparingly used.[8][9]
In July 2006, Míchel returned home and to Rayo, helping it return to the second tier in the 2007–08 season. He continued to be team captain[10] and, during the 2010–11 campaign, still contributed two goals in 20 matches as they returned to the top flight after eight years.[11]
Coaching career
editRayo
editOn 9 July 2012, after having appeared in only nine games as Rayo retained their league status – just 246 minutes of action – the 36-year-old Míchel retired from football, being immediately appointed coach of his main club's youth sides.[12] On 21 February 2017, he replaced Rubén Baraja at the helm of the first team,[13] debuting four days later with a 1–0 loss at neighbours Getafe CF via a last-minute own goal by Chechu Dorado;[14] the side eventually achieved promotion to the top division in the 2017–18 campaign as champions.[15]
Míchel signed a new one-year contract with the option of a second, before 2018–19 began.[16] He was dismissed on 18 March 2019 after seven consecutive defeats left the Vallecas club six points inside the relegation zone;[17] he was replaced by Paco Jémez as the team suffered relegation.
Huesca
editOn 1 June 2019, Míchel was named manager of SD Huesca, recently demoted to the second tier.[18] He and his side won another promotion, again in the top position.[19]
On 12 January 2021, as the team ranked in last place, Míchel was relieved of his duties, while the season ended again in descent.[20]
Girona
editOn 9 July 2021, Míchel signed as coach of Girona FC on a one-year deal with the option of a second year.[21] He achieved promotion in his first season after a 3–1 win over Tenerife in the playoff final,[22] while also making the last 16 of the Copa del Rey where the Catalans lost 2–1 at home to his former club Rayo.[23]
Míchel signed a new contract on 19 May 2022, while his club's promotion was still uncertain; his new deal was to 2024.[24] They eventually achieved this in the playoffs.[25]
Girona finished the first part of the 2023–24 season in first place, level on 48 points with Real Madrid.[26] On 4 May 2024, he led his team to a 4–2 win over FC Barcelona, securing their first ever qualification for the UEFA Champions League.[27]
Tactics
editIn his spell as Girona manager, Michel was noted for utilising a low build-up style in a 3–3–1–3 formation, with principles such as the goalkeeper playing as a center-back and a diamond midfield. He also deployed two wingers high and wide, and a striker pinning the stoppers to create space for the number-ten and inverted full-backs occupying the space left in the middle.[28]
Managerial statistics
edit- As of match played 10 November 2024
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Rayo Vallecano | 
|
21 February 2017 | 18 March 2019 | 89 | 34 | 23 | 32 | 116 | 118 | −2 | 38.20 | [29] |
| Huesca |
|
1 June 2019 | 12 January 2021 | 64 | 24 | 16 | 24 | 75 | 76 | −1 | 37.50 | [30] |
| Girona |
|
9 July 2021 | Present | 151 | 75 | 28 | 48 | 254 | 183 | +71 | 49.67 | [31] |
| Total | 304 | 133 | 67 | 104 | 445 | 377 | +68 | 43.75 | — | |||
Honours
editManager
editRayo Vallecano
Huesca
Individual
- La Liga Manager of the Season: 2023–24[32]
- Miguel Muñoz Trophy (Segunda División): 2019–20[33]
- La Liga Manager of the Month: September 2023,[34] November 2023,[35] January 2024[36]
References
edit- ^ a b c Míchel at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "Michel: "Los plazos de pagos se están cumpliendo"" [Michel: "The payment deadlines are being met"]. Marca (in Spanish). 17 December 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "Míchel, la zurda de Vallecas, se retira después de veinte años en activo" [Míchel, the Vallecas lefty, retires after twenty years as a professional]. ABC (in Spanish). 9 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ a b Pardal, Juan Antonio (5 January 2019). "Míchel: el héroe de la afición del Rayo Vallecano" [Míchel: heroe of Rayo Vallecano's faithful]. El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ Martín, Maite (13 January 2022). "Míchel, un pedazo de la historia del Rayo y ahora su rival de Copa" [Míchel, bit of Rayo's history and now their Cup rival]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ a b Martín, Maite (15 February 2017). "Bolo recuerda el 4–1 al Girondins en UEFA de hace hoy 16 años" [Bolo remembers 4–1 to Girondins in UEFA 16 years ago]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ^ Chaves Velázquez, Daniel (8 May 2020). "El Rayo Vallecano de la temporada 2000/2001, dos décadas después" [The Rayo Vallecano of the 2000/2001 season, two decades later] (in Spanish). Mata Gigantes. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "El Murcia ficha al rayista Míchel por 2,7 millones" [Murcia sign Rayo man Míchel for 2,7 million]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 12 August 2003. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ^ Calonge, Lorenzo (22 October 2018). ""En Vallecas la gente tiene memoria"" ["People have a memory in Vallecas"]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ^ "El capitán Míchel desmiente intentos de "motín" en el Rayo" [Captain Míchel denies attempts at "mutiny" in Rayo]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 9 May 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "El Rayo Vallecano sube a Primera" [Rayo Vallecano promote to Primera]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 22 May 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ^ "Míchel cuelga las botas" [Míchel hangs boots]. Marca (in Spanish). 9 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "Míchel nuevo entrenador del primer equipo" [Míchel new manager of the first team] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ "Nacho: "Entendemos mejor la idea de fútbol que propone Míchel"" [Nacho: "We understand better the idea of football that Míchel is proposing"]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 February 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ a b Martín, Maite (2 June 2018). "El Rayo es campeón de Segunda por primera vez en su historia" [Rayo are Segunda champions for the first time in their history]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ^ Martín, Maite (7 June 2018). "Ya es oficial: Míchel renueva su contrato con el Rayo" [It is now official: Míchel renews his contract with Rayo]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Rayo Vallecano sack coach Michel in bid to escape relegation". Sky Sports. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ "Huesca appoint Michel as their new coach". Marca. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
- ^ a b Ralla, Emilio (20 July 2020). "La SD Huesca cuenta con Míchel para el proyecto de Primera División" [SD Huesca count on Míchel for the Primera División project]. Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "Pacheta releva a Míchel en el banquillo del Huesca" [Pacheta takes over for Míchel on Huesca bench] (in Spanish). RTVE. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Miguel Ángel Sánchez "Míchel", nou entrenador del Girona FC" [Miguel Ángel Sánchez "Míchel", new manager of Girona FC] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ Biescas, Álex (16 June 2022). "Míchel, el hombre ascenso" [Míchel, the promotion man]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ Jiménez, Rubén (15 January 2022). "Guardiola y Zidane hacen soñar al Rayo" [Guardiola and Zidane make Rayo dream]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ Sebastián, Joel (19 May 2022). "El Girona apuesta por Míchel" [Girona bet on Míchel]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ Sebastian, Joel (19 June 2022). "A la tercera fue la vencida... el Girona regresa a Primera" [Third time was the charm... Girona return to Primera]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Girona snatch late win over Atletico to keep pace with leaders Real". Reuters. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Bobbie (4 May 2024). "Girona 4–2 Barcelona". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Girona – Michel – Tactical analysis". The Football Analyst. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Matches Míchel, 2016–17 season". BDFutbol.
"Matches Míchel, 2017–18 season". BDFutbol.
"Matches Míchel, 2018–19 season". BDFutbol. - ^ "Matches Míchel, 2019–20 season". BDFutbol.
"Matches Míchel, 2020–21 season". BDFutbol. - ^ "Matches Míchel, 2021–22 season". BDFutbol.
"Matches Míchel, 2022–23 season". BDFutbol.
"Matches Míchel, 2023–24 season". BDFutbol. - ^ Planas, Pablo (29 May 2024). "Míchel, mejor entrenador de LaLiga en los Globe Soccer Awards" [Míchel, best LaLiga manager at the Globe Soccer Awards]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ Del Mar Cortezón, Julia (21 December 2020). "Míchel, el gran artífice del ascenso del Huesca, trofeo Miguel Muñoz de Segunda" [Míchel, biggest responsible of Huesca's promotion, Miguel Muñoz trophy of Segunda]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ "Michel named LALIGA EA SPORTS Manager of the Month for September". La Liga. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Míchel named LALIGA EA SPORTS Manager of the Month for November". La Liga. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ "Míchel named LALIGA EA SPORTS Manager of the Month for January". La Liga. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
External links
edit- Míchel at BDFutbol
- Míchel manager profile at BDFutbol
- Míchel – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Míchel at Soccerway