Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz, known as Míchel (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmitʃel]; born 30 October 1975), is a Spanish former footballer who played as a left midfielder, currently manager of Girona FC.

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).[1][2]

Playing career

Míchel 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.

After one loan to UD Almería in the Segunda División, Míchel returned to Rayo, being essential as the capital outskirts side finished ninth in the 1999–2000 campaign and qualified for the subsequent UEFA Cup through fair play, in a run that ended in the quarter-finals at the hands of fellow La Liga club Deportivo Alavés.[3] The following season he scored a career-best ten goals in 33 games (all starts), as his team ranked 14th.

Míchel moved in 2003 to Real Murcia 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.[4][5]

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[6] and, during the 2010–11 campaign, still contributed with two goals in 20 matches as they returned to the top flight after eight years.[7]

Coaching career

On 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.[8] On 21 February 2017, he replaced Rubén Baraja at the helm of the first team,[9] eventually achieving promotion to the top division in the 2017–18 campaign as champions.[10]

Míchel was dismissed on 18 March 2019,[11] being subsequently replaced by Paco Jémez. On 1 June, he was named manager of SD Huesca, recently relegated to the second tier.[12] He and his side won another promotion, again in the top position.[13]

On 12 January 2021, as the team ranked in last place, Míchel was relieved of his duties.[14] On 9 July, he signed as coach of Girona FC.[15]

Managerial statistics

As of match played 13 November 2022

Managerial record by team and tenure

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	038.20	[16]
Huesca		1 June 2019	12 January 2021	64	24	16	24	75	76	−1	037.50	[17]
Girona		9 July 2021	Present	65	30	13	22	92	70	+22	046.15	[18]
Total				218	88	52	78	283	264	+19	040.37	—

Honours

Manager

Rayo Vallecano

• Segunda División: 2017–18[10]

Huesca

• Segunda División: 2019–20[13]

References

External links

• Míchel at BDFutbol
• Míchel manager profile at BDFutbol
• Míchel – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Míchel at Soccerway

На других языках

[es] Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz

[fr] Míchel (football, 1975)

[it] Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz