Míchel (footballer, born 1963)

José Miguel González Martín del Campo, known as Míchel (; born 23 March 1963), is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right midfielder, and the manager of Club Universidad Nacional from Mexico.

He was most noted for his stellar crossing ability, also contributing with a fair share of goals. During his career he represented mainly Real Madrid – over a decade – achieving great team and individual success.

Míchel earned nearly 70 caps for Spain from 1985 to 1992, and appeared for the nation in two World Cups (scoring four goals in the 1990 edition) and one European Championship. He started working as a manager in 2005, notably leading Olympiacos to two Superleague Greece accolades.

Playing career

Club
The son of a footballer who had to retire from the game at 27 after a road accident, Míchel was born in Madrid and joined Real Madrid at the age of thirteen, his technique and physicality on the pitch quickly standing out. He moved quickly through the ranks to the first team, appearing – and scoring – once in the 1981–82 season, in a 2–1 away win against CD Castellón on 11 April 1982.

A member of the renowned La Quinta del Buitre, which also featured Emilio Butragueño, Miguel Pardeza, Rafael Martín Vázquez and Manuel Sanchís, Míchel never played less than 31 La Liga matches from 1985 to 1994. After helping Castilla CF to the second division title in 1984, he was instrumental in the capital club's conquests, which included six leagues and two consecutive UEFA Cups; he opened the score in the 1985 final of the latter competition, against Videoton FC.

In 1989, Míchel announced he would leave Real Madrid after having signed with an Italian side, but this never came to pass and he ended up staying until 1996. In his penultimate season, he suffered a severe knee injury which rendered him unavailable for several months, but still bounced back for a final solid year, after which he left for Atlético Celaya in Mexico – where Butragueño was also playing – shortly after the arrival at Madrid of president Lorenzo Sanz. He retired from football in 1997.

Míchel's career was not without incident: in 1988, he was hit by a bottle while on the pitch and, three years later, he was sanctioned by UEFA for using an unorthodox method of disrupting the concentration of Carlos Valderrama, in a game against Real Valladolid. The presiding judge in the case noted that "manipulating in public that of your neighbour which is a gift given exclusively to males by nature" violated a federation rule protecting a player's dignity.

International
Míchel made his debut for the Spain national team on 20 November 1985 against Austria, going on to appear in a further 65 internationals and score 21 goals (only missed a callup due to injury). He played in the 1986 and the 1990 FIFA World Cups, netting a hat-trick against South Korea in Spain's second fixture during the latter tournament (3–1) and also a penalty against Belgium in the country's final group match. 

Shortly after Javier Clemente's arrival as national boss, Míchel was deemed surplus to requirements and never called again, although only 29. All national categories comprised, he received exactly 100 caps.

Coaching career
In the summer of 2005, after working as a sports commentator with RTVE after his retirement (still active, he had already worked in the capacity at the 1994 World Cup) and also writing articles for Madrid's Marca, Míchel was appointed manager of Rayo Vallecano. The following year he returned to his alma mater as director of Real Madrid's sports city, the entire youth system, and manager duties at Real Madrid Castilla, where he coached one of his sons, Adrián; under his management the side dropped down a level into the third and he was sacked, also leaving his post in the youth sides due to disagreements with president Ramón Calderón.

On 27 April 2009, Míchel was appointed as coach of top flight strugglers Getafe CF until the end of the season. He replaced former FC Barcelona midfielder Víctor Muñoz, and also managed Adrián, helping the club avoid relegation in the last matchday, and renewing his contract for two more years in the following week; he was relieved of his duties at the end of 2010–11, with the team again managing to stay afloat after finishing 16th, just one point clear of the relegation zone.

Míchel joined Sevilla FC on 6 February 2012, replacing fired Marcelino García Toral and signing until the end of the season. On 14 January of the following year, after a 0–2 away loss to Valencia CF that left the Andalusians in 12th place, he was relieved of his duties.

Míchel moved to Olympiacos F.C. in the Superleague Greece on 1 February 2013, penning a contract until June 2015. In his first 18 months in charge, he won two national championships and the 2013 Greek Cup; he was fired on 6 January 2015, whilst the side was still competing in the Europa League and only a point behind PAOK FC in the domestic campaign.

On 19 August 2015, Míchel succeeded Marcelo Bielsa at the helm of Olympique de Marseille. He was sacked the following 19 April for his behaviour, with the team ranking 15th in Ligue 1.

Míchel became Málaga CF's third manager of the season on 7 March 2017, following Juande Ramos and Marcelo Romero. He signed until 30 June 2018 but, on 13 January of that year, with his team in last position, he was relieved of his duties.

On 20 May 2019, Míchel was appointed at Club Universidad Nacional of the Mexican Liga MX.

Career statistics

Club

International goals

Managerial statistics

Honours

Player
Real Madrid
La Liga: 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1994–95
Copa del Rey: 1988–89, 1992–93
Supercopa de España: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
Copa de la Liga: 1985
UEFA Cup: 1984–85, 1985–86
Copa Iberoamericana: 1994

Manager
Olympiacos
Superleague Greece: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
Greek Football Cup: 2012–13

Individual
La Liga Spanish Player of the Year: 1986
European Cup top scorer 1987–88
FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot: 1990
Ballon d'Or: 1987 (4th place)

References

External links

Stats at Medio Tiempo 

Category:1963 births
Category:Living people
Category:Sportspeople from Madrid
Category:Spanish footballers
Category:Madrilenian footballers
Category:Association football midfielders
Category:La Liga players
Category:Segunda División players
Category:Real Madrid Castilla footballers
Category:Real Madrid CF players
Category:Liga MX players
Category:Club Celaya footballers
Category:UEFA Cup winning players
Category:Spain youth international footballers
Category:Spain under-21 international footballers
Category:Spain amateur international footballers
Category:Spain international footballers
Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players
Category:UEFA Euro 1988 players
Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Spanish expatriate footballers
Category:Expatriate footballers in Mexico
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Mexico
Category:Spanish beach soccer players
Category:Spanish football managers
Category:La Liga managers
Category:Segunda División managers
Category:Segunda División B managers
Category:Rayo Vallecano managers
Category:Real Madrid Castilla managers
Category:Getafe CF managers
Category:Sevilla FC managers
Category:Málaga CF managers
Category:Superleague Greece managers
Category:Olympiacos F.C. managers
Category:Ligue 1 managers
Category:Olympique de Marseille managers
Category:Liga MX managers
Category:Club Universidad Nacional managers
Category:Spanish expatriate football managers
Category:Expatriate football managers in Greece
Category:Expatriate football managers in France
Category:Expatriate football managers in Mexico
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in France
Category:Spanish television presenters